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Published: January 25 2012

Broward County residents interested in improving their skills and knowledge of gardening – whether it’s gardening vegetables, fruits, or flowers – can now request an interview for the Spring 2012 Florida Master Gardener Program. Interviews for prospective students for the session that begins on March 8 and runs through June 14 will be held at the Extension Education Office, 3245 College Ave., Davie. Interviews will be available from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: February 6-9, February 14, February 16-17, and February 21-22. Appointments are strongly requested, although walk-ins will be accepted if openings are available. For an appointment, e-mail Horticulture Technician Sandy Granson at sgranson@broward.org or call her at 954-357-5274.
 
During the interview process, you will fill out a Master Gardener application and a Request for Criminal Background Information form. Please bring a valid Florida driver’s license to the interview, and allow yourself half an hour to complete the necessary paperwork before the interview. If the background check is approved and you are accepted, you will pay a course fee of $250, along with a good-faith deposit of $150, payable by Visa, MasterCard, money order, or cashier’s check. The deposit will be returned after you serve your 75 approved volunteer hours (a minimum of 40 of which must be spent taking public inquiries at the Extension Education Office) within the first calendar year after successful completion of the course.
 
Applicants selected to participate in the program will receive 112 hours of classroom and field training from University of Florida professors, horticulture professionals, gardening specialists, and county agents. All classes are held at the office of the Broward County Extension Education Section in Davie. The course fee covers all bibliographic, lecture, and lab materials for the course.
 
Among the topics Master Gardeners learn about: sustainable, Florida-friendly landscaping, including the use of native species; water and soil conservation; best management practices for irrigation; and integrated pest management for homes and landscapes. They also receive intensive instruction in their central role of working the Public Answer Hotline, and as Florida Yards and Neighborhoods/NatureScape Yard Inspectors as they serve the residents of Broward County.
 
Upon successful completion of the course, Master Gardeners share knowledge with their communities through volunteer work coordinated through Extension Education. During Fiscal Year 2010, Master Gardeners served more than 80,000 Broward residents and presented 387 educational programs in 28 Broward County municipalities.
 
For further information on the Florida Master Gardener Program, e-mail sgranson@broward.org; call the UF-IFAS/Broward County Extension Education Office at 954-357-5270; or go to www.broward.org/parks and click on the Extension Education button on the left navigation.