What is the Master Gardener Program?

The Alabama Master Gardener Program is an educational program offered through county offices of the Alabama cooperative Extension System.

Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas.

The individuals, in turn, volunteer their expertise and services to help others through horticultural projects that benefit the community.

The Master Gardener Program trains volunteers who work through Extension to bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to their communities’ landscapes and gardens.

What does the Master Gardener Program provide?

The Alabama Master Gardener training program provides more than 50 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas.

In Shelby County classes are taught by specialists from Auburn University, Extension agents from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, local specialists and veteran Master Gardeners and provide home gardeners with the information they need to become skilled Master Gardeners.

What does the Master Gardener Program require?

In return for the training, participants are obligated to return an equal amount of volunteer service time on projects that benefit their communities.

A new 10-14 week series of classes begins Aug. 18.

The Shelby County Extension Office can also provide valuable information on a variety of topics such as gardening, farming, nutrition, family relationships and more.

For more information contact Regional Extension Agent Nelson Wynn at 669-6763 or by e-mail at wynnnel@aces.edu.