Mercer County residents with an interest in horticulture and the desire to share their knowledge in service to others are invited to enroll in the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program for 2018. The 21-week training program, which is offered through Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, will begin on Sept. 28, 2017 and continue into March 2018.
Trainees receive over 60 hours of instruction in a wide variety of horticultural subjects. The teaching staff includes Mercer County horticulturist Barbara J. Bromley, county agricultural agents, faculty from Rutgers University and other horticultural experts. Classes meet Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension office, 930 Spruce St., Lawrence, adjacent to the Farmers Market.
Following the classroom instruction, trainees volunteer 60 hours with Mercer County Extension or related programs, including at least 30 hours providing information to the public on the Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline. Trainees also volunteer five hours of composting service at the Mercer Educational Gardens in Hopewell Township.
Mercer County residents are given priority and are admitted in the order in which applications are received. Class size is limited to 30 people. The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 6, 2017. A $230 tuition fee is due with the application. This fee includes the cost of the training manual, supplies and speakers. Scholarship opportunities may be available.
Information about the program is available online at mgofmc.org. Applications and program descriptions are available at the Extension office or can be requested by calling (609) 989-6830, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County Facebook photo.),
