The Union County Master Gardeners have announced an upcoming training opportunity for those interested in volunteering and joining the local arm of the organization. The Master Gardeners work with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to share their knowledge of horticulture and beautify their communities with gardens.
The upcoming training session will be held via Zoom in September. The deadline to register is August 1.
“Usually the Master Gardeners training is presented live in front of the trainees. Over the last few years, it has become harder to get the different specialists to travel to different areas of the state to conduct the training,” said Barbie Luther, a Union County Master Gardener. “The Zoom format has the same instructors presenting by video conference from Little Rock or Fayetteville to groups of trainees in many counties at the same time.”
Those interested in becoming Master Gardeners don’t need to be master hobbyists to participate; according to a press release, trainees only need to be willing to work with the Union County Master Gardeners on their community projects.
The Union County Master Gardeners are currently involved in projects at the South Arkansas Arboretum, the El Dorado City Hall garden, HOPE Landing, the Medical Center of South Arkansas Cafe Courtyard garden and at Yocum Primary. They also host the biannual Dirt Friends Festival, as well as smaller horticulture trainings throughout the year.
“The Master Gardener training covers many different areas of horticulture including botany, soil science, garden pests and lots more. Growing vegetables and fruit are covered along with trees, flowers and shrubs,” Luther said. “Beyond the initial Master Gardener training, we are constantly learning and being exposed to the latest research-based horticulture information.”
Those who wish to register for the upcoming training should contact the Union County Extension Office at 870-864-1916. The training will be held each Wednesday from September 2 through 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the South Arkansas Community College Library. The fee for training is $85, which includes a book and other training supplies. Hands-on training will be scheduled later, along with additional classroom time, according to the press release.
“One of the benefits of being involved with Master Gardeners is the time you spend with others who share your interest, whether it be vegetables or flowers,” Luther said.
In order to qualify as a Master Gardener, volunteers are required to work with their local group for at least 40 hours their first year. After that, they must volunteer at least 20 hours annually.
There are currently 75 Union County Master Gardeners made up of a diverse group of men and women, Luther said. For her, the group is about planting seeds, both in the ground and in members’ hearts and minds.
“Twenty-five years ago I knew a little about growing tomatoes and peas from having grown up on a very small ‘truck farm’ in east Texas. Today I am an avid gardener who loves growing shrubs and flowers and doing my own landscaping,” she said. “I have gotten to know Master Gardeners from all across the state and fellow Master Gardeners locally are some of my closest friends. I have heard it said that ‘having something you are passionate about and people to share that passion with is the key to happiness.’ That is what being a Master Gardener has given me: a passion and people to share it with.”
This story has been updated with the correct phone number for the Union County Extension Service.