| If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener in Gilmer County, contact Jennifer Post at the Gilmer County WVU Extension Service office at 201 North Court Street, Glenville or call 304-462-7061. If there is enough interest, the Extension Service will offer a class in the spring of 2009. Please contact the office by January 1st.
From enjoying trees that shade park benches to admiring flowers blooming along public roads, people everywhere love the beautiful sights of summer.
However, many may not realize that the sights they enjoy so much may be attributed to the hard work of the Master Gardeners Program, a volunteer organization sponsored by West Virginia University Extension Service.
Each county's Master Gardener group completes projects around its community to improve the land and to create sights pleasing to the eye.
In Gilmer County, Master Gardeners have redone the flower beds around the United State Postal Building in Glenville. They have plans to work with SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation and the Gilmer County Recreation Center in the future.
The Master Gardeners Program began in Seattle, Washington in 1973. Eventually, the program spread across all 50 states, making its way to West Virginia in 1993. John Jett, WVU Extension Service horticulture specialist, and county WVU Extension agents helped develop the program to its present level.
Today, serving the state with 1,000 active members, West Virginia University Extension Service's Master Gardeners are in 33 of the state's 55 counties.
The amount of time and effort these volunteers put into their service is extensive and valuable. In 2004, the 1,061 members volunteered 26,109 hours to WVU Extension programming and community service. Of that total, 1,458 hours were spent presenting educational programs to community members.
The work these volunteers performed in 2004 alone is valued at $365,526.
Master Gardeners are valuable, but they are not exclusive. They welcome new members. It's not difficult to become a Master Gardener.
Each member completes 30 hours of instruction coordinated by WVU Extension through one of the WVU county offices. Subjects include plant science, plant propagation, soil science, plant pathology, entomology, communication skills and integrated pest management.
Once the volunteers have completed the training and their 30-hour service intern position, they become an official Master Gardener.
Master Gardeners love what they do, and they love to continually grow their on knowledge. One opportunity they have each year is the West Virginia Master Gardeners statewide conference.
For more information visit the West Virginia Master Gardener Web site www.wvu.edu
Next time you stop to smell the roses; you might be enjoying a rose planted by a Gilmer County WVU Extension Master Gardener.
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