To become a certified master gardener, specific qualifications, requirements, and steps must be completed. Trainees must take 40 hours of classes in everything from botany and basic entomology to turf grass management and composting. Once classes are completed, a final exam testing trainees’ knowledge is administered. A score of 80 percent is required, along with 50 additional hours of volunteer work for Penn State Extension. To remain an active, certified master gardener, 10 hours of continuing education and 20 hours of volunteer service are needed each year.
“ I’ m happy to report we have our biggest class to date,” says Delach.“ We have 65 active members from all walks of life and they’ re all there because of their love of gardening. They are thrilled to be learning as much as they do in our classes and glad to be with like-minded people.”
At its roots, the Penn State Master Gardener Program has civic-oriented goals. It focuses on helping anyone who needs it – from the individual to the community.
“ Along with the training classes for adults, we hold workshops for children,” says Delach.“ Beginning in June through August, we hold four different classes where kids learn about things like hummingbirds and pollinators. We also help them make their own salsa from the foods they grow.”
As for adults, and communities, efforts are far reaching.
“ We help people of all ages and abilities learn how to grow a garden that works for them,” Delach explains.“ We teach how to grow raised gardens for folks who have a difficult time getting on the ground and we can also help people plant container gardens if they have small living spaces. One of the exciting projects we have going on this year is the implementation of a therapeutic garden in the Alzheimer’ s Unit at the Health Center in Washington County. It will be amazing.”
On the community front, one of this year’ s bigger projects will take place at Trinity Church in Washington.
“ Trinity Church was interested in planting vegetables and herbs for the food bank and learning how to collect rain water,” says Delach.“ So we will work with church employees and volunteers and teach them the best way to complete their mission.”
While Campbell, Martin and Delach each have their personal likes about gardening,
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I thought I knew a lot about gardening because my family and grandparents always had a garden, but I’ ve developed
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my knowledge tenfold over the last five years.
they agree it’ s the social aspect of the program that cannot be beat.
“ The gardeners in the Washington County program are wonderful people,” says Martin.“ We don’ t really know what anyone does outside of gardening because when we come together it’ s all we talk about. There’ s so much to learn and we’ re all so curious. We like to give back to the community and do good for others.”
For Delach and Campbell, they are happy to be getting the word out that the program exists. n
To learn more about Penn State Extension’ s Master Gardener Program, visit the website at extension. psu. edu / plants / master-gardener. Or, email gardening questions to the program’ s“ Hort-Hotline” at washingtonmg @ ag. psu. edu. Also, follow on Facebook at Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County.
Clockwise from top: Master Gardeners Children’ s Gardens; Gazebo Garden at Washington County Fairgrounds; Inside the John White House looking at the kitchen garden; John White Historical Garden; Wheelchair accessible gardens; Wall garden at Washington County Fairgrounds.
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