Backyard Gardener: Master Gardener Volunteer training starts in October

Research shows that people who volunteer live longer, are more physically active, and are happier! If you don't believe me, just ask any of the Washington County OSU Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs). This group of volunteers is incredible. They work as one cohesive unit to accomplish many great things in our community, and as the volunteer coordinator, it's beautiful to watch. It's amazing seeing people from all types of backgrounds come together over a single common interest, plants!

The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested Ohio residents who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local OSU Extension county office. Volunteers are not required to have gardening skills or knowledge; a passion for learning about gardening and sharing this knowledge with others is a must! Examples of topics covered in the training include: Botany, Soils, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Organic Gardening, Trees, and more!

Working with county Extension personnel, Master Gardener Volunteers provide educational services to their communities such as: answering gardening questions from the public; conducting plant clinics; gardening activities with children, senior citizens, or disabled persons; beautifying the community; developing community or demonstration gardens; and other horticultural activities.

The Master Gardener Volunteer program originated in Seattle, Washington in 1972. The Extension agent in the King County office of the Washington State University Extension Service began to train and utilize the expertise of volunteers to more effectively reach the gardening public with research-based educational information. It was a great concept that has now spread across the United States, to Canada and other countries.

The Master Gardener Volunteer program in Ohio has existed since the late 1970s and has grown steadily. Although its initial start and growth was in the more urban counties of our state, there are now more than 3,000 active Master Gardener Volunteers in more than 62 Ohio counties (urban, suburban and rural).

This year's MGV training will begin this October. Classes will be held at the OSU Extension office from 9:00 - 3:00pm. In total, there are 8 sessions. All sessions will be on Tuesday, except for one Thursday training. For more information about the Washington County OSU Master Gardener Volunteer program or an application to participate in this year's training, please contact the OSU office at 740-376-7431 or email Marcus McCartney at mccartney.138@osu.ed. You can also visit our website to access and view the application package: https://washington.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers. The training schedule with dates are included in the application package.

Can you dig it? This training is only offered once every two years, so don't miss your chance to get involved.

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Marcus McCartney is the OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for Washington County. He has been with extension since 2014. Marcus received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from West Virginia University.