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The Master
Gardener Program
of Western Colorado Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Ouray Counties |
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The Master
Gardener Program
of Western Colorado Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Ouray Counties |
The Colorado "Green Industry" and Extension have long recognized that an informed horticultural consumer will have more plant growing success. This success encourages them to expand into other gardening activities, broadening their interests and enriching their home environment.
The Colorado Extension Master Gardener program is a major outreach avenue to Coloradans regarding yard care and gardening information. With a relatively small horticultural staff, trained Master Gardeners enable Colorado State University Extension to respond to thousands of requests for information from Colorado residents.
Master Gardeners share the commitment of the "Green Industry" and Extension to promote gardening success, while maintaining a healthy Colorado environment. These individuals are driven by a desire to serve their communities and improve their own understanding of the world around them. They promote successful gardening by answering questions by phone, in person at farmers' markets, county fairs, and other community events. Many Colorado State University Extension Master Gardeners have answers to help Colorado gardeners prosper with healthy trees, flowers and foods.
• Colorado's Master Gardener Program began in 1975 in 5 counties on the Eastern Slope of Colorado. Currently, 34 Colorado counties participate in the Master Gardener Program. Each year in Colorado, 1700 Master Gardeners provide services to their communities valued at $1.1 million, based on figures provided by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Tri River Area (TRA) program began in 1978 with 8 local gardeners making up the first class. In the year 2006, 80 Apprentice and 202 Advanced Master Gardeners were involved with the Tri River Area Program. Sixty-nine of the Tri River Area Master Gardeners were affiliated with the Green Industry. Based on the 2005 determined value of volunteer time, Master Gardener assistance to the four counties of the Tri River Area (Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray) in the first three quarters of 2006 was valued at $213,575.
Master Gardeners are trained from all four area counties supporting the three area county offices.
Master Gardeners receive training from Extension specialists, county and area horticultural agents and members of the "Green Industry" to meet the information demand of a growing and increasingly sophisticated Colorado gardening public. More than sixty hours of formal classroom instruction is provided, which coordinates with the 500 page training manual provided in the Tri River Area program. Green Industry personnel are an integral part of the Tri River Area training program.
Training begins in mid-January and continues weekly until the end of March. Topics include plant growth and development, soils and fertilizers, planting, pruning,vegetable and herb production, insect and disease management, lawn care, tree and shrub care, and environmental issues. Information on fruit tree and small fruit (grapes, caneberries & strawberries) care, and composting is also provided through the Tri River Area program.
There is a $125.00 training fee for the course, which covers the cost of the manual, a notebook of fact sheets, and supplemental materials. A limited number of scholarships are available, on a need basis, which provides half of the fee. Individuals wishing to take the series without volunteer time later, are required to pay an additional fee of $300.
Training does not stop after the formal eleven (11) week classroom program. The horticultural agent, horticultural technician, and Continuing Master Gardeners supervise on the job training of the Apprentice Master Gardeners. Continuing Master Gardeners provide a minimum of 12 hours of office training for each Apprentice during the mentoring process. Extension sponsored tours, classes, and laboratory work provide Master Gardeners continual learning opportunities.
After successfully completing the basic training program, Apprentice Master Gardeners are expected to devote a minimum of 50 hours assisting the CSU Extension office in their respective county answering requests for Horticultural information.
Apprentice Master Gardeners are presented a certificate of completion upon completion of the 50 hours of assistance. Graduates of the program are given the opportunity to join the Continuing Master Gardener program.
Advanced Master Gardeners coordinate and provide some of the training for the Apprentice Master Gardeners, and serve as mentors to the Apprentices. The Advanced Master Gardeners conduct house calls, and assist in diagnosing plant samples that arrive at the area offices. They assist with research and demonstration plots, conduct classes for area groups and programs, including pesticide applicator training workshops and `Green Industry' programs coordinated by the area horticulturist.
Programs are conducted for Advanced Master Gardeners on a regular basis to assist them in improving their skills and knowledge. These sessions are coordinated and arranged by a committee of Advanced Master Gardeners based on the needs expressed by the TRA Advanced Master Gardeners.
In addition to the advanced workshops , a scholarship fund has been developed to financially assist TRA Advanced Master Gardeners in attending workshops that will improve their knowledge in the many areas of gardening/horticulture.
As with the Apprentice Master Gardener Program, admission into the Tri River Area Advanced Program is through an application and interview process.
In previous years, Colorado's Best Master Gardeners were selected for special recognition and received awards for their dedication to the Colorado Master Gardener program. Two levels of awards were presented: a `Quality of Service' award and the prestigious `Master Gardener of the Year' Award.
Due to a change in State management, no `Master Gardener of the Year' awards have been presented since 1998.
The 1998 recipient of Colorado's `Master Gardener of the Year' award was Ralph Selch (Mesa County).
The 1997 recipient of Colorado's `Master Gardener of the Year' award was Susan Alexander (Mesa County).
In 1996 Advanced Master Gardener Linda Corwine (Montrose County) received Colorado's `Master Gardener of the Year' award.
In 1995 Advanced Master Gardener Bob Chen (Mesa County) received a Quality of Service Award for his dedication to Colorado's Master Gardener program at a presentation in Denver.
In 1994 Advanced Master Gardener Jim Crook (Delta County) received Colorado's `Master Gardener of the Year' award at the Denver Home and Garden Show.
Residents of Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray counties can register for the Master Gardening Program by contacting their respective Extension office or by contacting Susan Rose, Horticulture Technician at the Mesa County Extension office at 970-244-1841.
Colorado residents living outside the Tri River Area (Delta, Mesa, Montrose and Ouray counties) are encouraged to contact the Extension office in their respective county regarding the Master Gardener program. You may also wish to contact David Whiting, Colorado's State Master Gardener Coordinator.
Residents of other states should contact their County Extension office or the Extension Administration in their respective state.
Comments on this page should be address to
Curtis E. Swift, Area Extension Agent,
Horticulture
Colorado State University Extension
2775 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO. 81503
voice: 970-244-1834
fax: 970-244-1700