New Master Gardener volunteers sought

OSU Extension information

The Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program is a national and international organization designed to provide opportunities for gardening enthusiasts of all types and levels to acquire training in numerous aspects of gardening and landscaping, to develop long-lasting friendships with other MGVs, to learn from other MGVs, and to provide an outlet for those who wish to serve their communities through a unique form of volunteering.

Ohio State University MGVs work together with The Ohio State University Extension to provide such services to their communities as answering gardening questions, beautifying the community, developing community or demonstration gardens, and other horticultural activities.

Applications are being accepted for the MGV Training Class of 2012. OSU MGVs are initially given 50 hours of training that includes information pertaining to gardens, landscapes, plants, diseases, insects and more, but the training does not stop after the initial training programs.

Opportunities for many types of continuing education are provided through multiple training programs offered through OSU Extension, both locally and statewide.  After the training class is completed, new MGV interns are to provide 50 hours of volunteer service to the community as volunteer educators. Even though this sounds like a lot of time, it is not difficult to fulfill the requirement. In fact, most volunteers quickly exceed this number long before the end of their first year of service.

Van Wert County MGVs have developed The Children’s Garden, located in Smiley Park on Leeson Avenue in Van Wert to provide an outdoor learning lab for children of all ages. Additional projects include an annual plant sale, semi-annual garden tour, the Garden of the Senses in downtown Van Wert, a garden bus tour and more.

An orientation meeting for Van Wert County MGV training will be held Tuesday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Microtel Inn and Suites, 480 Moxie Lane in Delphos. Training will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., September through November 15.  All classes will be held at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Delphos.

Classes will cover a multitude of topics, including Basic Botany, Soil Science, Fruits and Vegetables, Diagnostics, Herbs, Annuals and Perennials, Trees and Shrubs, Entomology, Houseplants, Landscape Maintenance, Plant Pathology, and Pesticide Safety and Use.

For more information on cost and how to obtain an application for the MGV program in Van Wert County, contact Curtis E. Young at 419.238.1214 or email young.2@osu.edu.