Master Gardener training to begin January 9 in Coos Bay, Dec. 13

OSU’s Coos County Extension Service is offering a ten-week Master Gardener training course beginning Thursday, January 9, 2014.  Master Gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach community members safe, effective gardening techniques through Plant Clinics, garden seminars and involvement in plant sales and community booths. Training for the program comes through OSU professionals and local experts who offer research based information to help gardeners, or wanna-be gardeners, increase their gardening enjoyment and knowledge.  This training includes classes in botany, entomology, and plant identification. Participants will also learn important information about beneficial insects, soils, compost, plant diseases and much more.  To become an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer each student must attend all the training sessions, pass an open-book exam, and volunteer 60 hours of horticultural service to the community from mid-March through October 31, 2014.  Cost of the 10-week training is $150, $50 of which is refunded upon completion of the program requirements. Participants will receive a copy of EM8742 Sustainable Gardening: the Oregon and Washington Master Gardener Handbook plus detailed handouts.  Most of the training sessions will be held in Coos Bay at the South Coast ESD office on Teakwood Avenue. Over 100 people have shown interest in participating this year, so early application is recommended for the 30 trainee slots available. If you have not already requested or obtained an application packet, you may do so by calling the Coos County Extension Service at 541-572-5263, ext. 240 or 299. You may also visit http://extension.oregonstate.edu/coos and click on Master Gardening Training 2014. Applications must be received by Dec. 13, 2013, and they will be considered in the order in which they are received. For more information call Coordinator Cindy Peterson at 541-572-5263, ext. 299.