By Christine Reid.
For those who’ve always hankered to learn more about gardening in Texas, keep reading! The 2013 Hays County Texas Master Gardener classes, part of an education/volunteer program coordinated through the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, are starting soon.
Beginning Sept. 4, classes will be held the first and third Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until May 21, 2014. Except for a few field trips, instruction will take place at the Hays County Agrilife Extension office at 1253 Civic Center Drive in San Marcos.
The course is made up of class trips and speakers from the horticultural and gardening industry. The curriculum will cover botany, oak wilt and other plant diseases, gardening for wildlife, roses, turf grass, fruit production, soil science, plant propagation and more.
Hays Free Press file photo |
The program is open to anyone interested in learning and sharing Texas gardening knowledge. Certification comes after attending the classes and contributing 50 volunteer hours in the community. A certified Texas Master Gardener can continue to help with school and church gardens, answer gardening questions from the public at the extension office and work in community gardens, among other activities, including working ‘smart’ in their own garden!
The cost is $175, which includes the Master Gardener handbook, a soil analysis kit and other training material. People who attend all the classes and contribute 50 community service hours within one year of training will receive a $25 refund. For those who have the time and interest, this can be one of the most rewarding things they’ll ever do.
For an application or more information, contact the extension office at (512) 393-2120 or send an email to: [email protected]. The application deadline is 5 p.m., August 16, 2013 and the payment of $175 is due the first day of class.
