Master Gardener training to be offered

Secrest Arboretum, located on the Wooster campus of the Ohio State University, will offer Master Gardener Volunteer training. This marks the third year the training has been offered in Wayne County.

The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program is an educational program designed to meet the consumer horticulture needs of Ohio citizens. Its purpose is to train volunteers and utilize their expertise to teach people more about plants and pests, their culture, and their importance to the environment and to quality of life.

MGVs provide technical assistance to their county extension office in order that consumer horticulture activities and programs can be more effectively and efficiently delivered to Ohio's gardening public.

MGV trainees receive formal training from their county extension office, covering a wide range of pertinent horticultural topics. To become an MGV, the trainee must complete the training program, pass the required exams and volunteer a specified number of hours to OSU Extension.

Participants will receive training in the following subject areas: botany, fruits and vegetables, soils, plant pathology, lawns, therapeutic horticulture, pollinators and more.

The deadline to apply for this year's training program is Jan. 19 and is limited to 30 people. Interviews with prospective volunteers will take place the second and third weeks of February.

Return the application to Paul Snyder, OARDC, Secrest Arboretum, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

Email Snyder with questions at snyder.1062@osu.edu or call 330-263-3761. The application also can be found at u.osu.edu/secrestmg/apply/.