Becoming a MG

To view the 2009 Training Brochure click here.

Marylanders love to garden – and Calvert County is no exception! You’re sure to see evidence of time and care spent on landscapes and in garden plots wherever you travel throughout Calvert. And, if you’re one of the many gardeners who just can’t stay out of the yard (winter or summer!), we’ve got great news - you can become a Maryland Master Gardener by attending training right here in Calvert County!

The Calvert County Office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension offers the Master Gardener Training Program each year in March and April. This informative series of classes covers just about everything you need to know to create beautiful landscapes and gardens that will thrive in southern Maryland. Presented by Cooperative Extension specialists, educators, and other horticultural professionals, topics cover an extensive variety of subjects including: Botany, Composting, Entomology, Pesticides, Soils and Fertilizers, Plant Varieties, Plant Propagation, Landscaping, and Flower and Vegetable Gardening. You’ll learn how to diagnose plant problems, determine what pesticides and fertilizers to use, how and when to prune trees and shrubs, what native species thrive in this area, and much more.

The training session is held in the Cooperative Extension training facility located in the recently renovated Community Resources Building directly across from the Prince Frederick Post Office on Duke Street. The building is handicapped accessible with plenty of convenient parking. Classes typically meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm, from early March through the middle of April. The program fee (currently $125, but subject to change annually) includes all course material and the Master Gardener Handbook, an extensive reference guide on all topics covered in the series.

After you complete the initial training, you will receive designation as a Master Gardener Intern and must then complete 40 hours of volunteer service in order to be designated as a fully-qualified Maryland Master Gardener. Volunteer activities include a wide-range of opportunities to work with other Master Gardeners to continue your gardening education while benefiting the Calvert County community – and it’s lots of fun!

So, if you’re ready to take your gardening expertise to the next level, please consider joining us for the next Master Gardener Training Series – we’ll look forward to seeing you there!

More Information: The Master Gardener Training Program is one of several educational activities offered by the CCMGs throughout Calvert County. For more information, or to register for the next Master Gardener Training Program, email us at ccmg@umd.edu or call the Calvert County Office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension at 301-855-1150 or 410-535-3662.

For more information, contact Kathleen Mickley

Last updated: 03/21/2009