I am one of the newest great deal of Master Gardener Interns . This intend that this preceding spring over the course of 3 months , we have had a massive amount of info poured into our heads . We have been educated by a variety of implausibly well-educated speakers whose wealth of info astounds me . From abiotic emphasis ( who even love what that was ? ) , to vegetable horticulture , to pruning , to water tone , to plant multiplication , to native plants and why they are authoritative to keep in our landscapes , we have covered more issue than I have fingerbreadth to reckon them on . It has been a prodigious experience .
And what I have see is this : I knownothing ! ! Forget the idea of being a “ master ” of anything at the end of our 3 - month training . It will take yr and age to hit a stop of expertise in any apply area . Shucks !
The value of the training is the learning and picture it generate you to knowhowto receive entropy and how to transmit that entropy to others . We are now cognisant of the many resources out there and how to use them – for example , that using .edu sites and extension sites are preferable to using commercial-grade sites when explore a topic
We bestow only science - based information . We now know there is an Integrated Pest Management Plan ( this is going to take me a long time to wade through — the contentedness cloth is not quite as riveting as the latest secret novel . Actually , now that I consider of it , it sort of IS a mystery story novel — at least to me . ) We have been introduce to some fine gardener throughout the state and source of good calibre supplies . We have learned about soil pH and the value of a grunge trial . That by itself is worth the cost of the path . We have been insert to many of the projects move on throughout Albemarle County , which are run by Master Gardeners , using both their expertise and their muscle power . We have take on some gravely attain local gardener . We have sweat with anxiety stick out in front of the stratum , giving our short presentations . It is the adept row I have ever lead .
During our 3 - month grooming , we flew from topic to topic faster than a mosquito find a human dupe to bite . I volunteered in one of the MG demonstration garden at the Senior Center Rose garden one Friday daybreak and learned about using Pisces photographic emulsion as a honest fertilizer . I immediately snuff it out to buy some . But then it rained for 2 week and I bury about fish photographic emulsion . By then we were on to pruning . The Pisces the Fishes photographic emulsion is still setting on the floor of our kitchen unopened . After the lesson on pruning , I get a pruning power saw for my natal day and could hardly wait for daytime so I could start my next project … getting rid of a beautiful but too vigorous vine that was grow up into our chimney , one that had been indentified as an trespassing plant by a neighboring nurseryman . We had just wind up the family on encroaching mintage and I was not get to have that thing live to see another time of year . Did I know exactly what I was doing ? No . But it was fun and I felt like I was making head ! I ’m die to be a Master Gardener ! ( Too big that it turned out to NOT be the invasive variety and we now have a gaping hole on the side of our home where we once had lovely green foliage . ) Two steps forward , one step back , I always say !
If you love flora and horticulture and have time to hang one day per hebdomad stratum and do lots of say ( OK , and the meter for a few panic attacks from the sheer amount of fabric you are presented with ) , the Piedmont Master Gardener Program might just be the next step for you . Any of the newest houseman would be thrilled to tell you about their experiences . And someday I may even know enough to actually answer a motion when work the Horticulture Help Desk !
Here is how you too can become a Master Gardener :
Call the Extension office at 434 - 872 - 4580 to get the software . Deadline 12/09/16 or contact your local Extension office staff
Virginia Cooperative Extension is here to train , enable and support member of the community of interests who wish to become educated and then give back to the community their time and energy volunteering . All of our volunteer projects address community require through outreach instruction that provides skill base , environmentally sound gardening practices . Come join us … we are a fun fill group eager to learn more about garden and share that knowledge with others !
