Welcome to the Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program!

The Master Gardener program in Georgia is a volunteer training program designed to help University of Georgia Cooperative Extension staff transfer research-based information about gardening and related subjects to the public by training home gardeners. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are active in many Georgia counties. Through this program, Cooperative Extension is able to reach out and serve more citizens with educational programming and demonstrations in these 5 target areas:

Environmental Stewardship – Increasing awareness and knowledge of landscape and garden management for the optimum use and protection of the environment, including management of all aspects of the residential landscape (soil, plants, insects, diseases, and wildlife); and understanding and proper use of equipment, pesticides, fertilizers, and other landscaping inputs to have the greatest value with little negative impact on the environment.

Home Food Production – Teaching the benefits of home food production and developing skills and knowledge in growing food, managing community gardens, or contributing to food banks or kitchens.

Gardening with Youth – Increasing young people’s awareness and understanding of the value of horticulture and landscaping, using horticulture as a tool to increase responsibility and leadership for youth, and teaching individuals and professionals (i.e., teachers and therapists) how to use horticulture to reach young people.

Value of Landscapes – Developing within communities the knowledge and skill to ensure proper design, installation, and maintenance of sustainable landscapes for economic benefit to residents, state and local government employees and agencies, and professionals in impacted fields, such as tourism and real-estate development.

Health Benefits of Gardening – Teaching the value of the interior and exterior landscape to human health, well-being, and quality of life, transferring knowledge and skills to intended audiences that they might utilize this information for personal health and a healthier workplace and community.

Volunteers benefit from the training, networking with other garden enthusiasts and the opportunity to serve their communities. For more information about the Master Gardener program in your area, contact the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office nearest you.

Looking for an answer to a gardening question? Use your ZIP code to search for the UGA Cooperative Extension office nearest you or call 1-800-ASK-UGA1 to connect.

 

News from Georgia FACES!

• The cool spring has kept mosquitoes at bay, but watch out this summer
  May 21, 2013 - This year’s unseasonably cool spring has left middle and north Georgia virtually mosquito free so far. But with the return of warmer nights that old familiar buzz won’t be far behind.
• Tomato yellow leaf curl virus threat to tomato crop
  May 16, 2013 - Tomato yellow leaf curl virus has been a chronic threat to tomato production in South Georgia for more than a decade. The problem is only getting worse.
• Early detection and persistence are the key to defeating Japanese beetles
  May 15, 2013 - Adult Japanese beetles seldom become a problem when gardeners are following a regular spray schedule for the control of other insects. However, if you find yourself fighting Asian beetles, you can protect the foliage and fruit of most plants by spraying them with insecticides like sevin or malathion.
• Adding mulch to vegetable plants increases yields, saves water
  May 13, 2013 - Adding mulch around vegetable plants like peppers, tomatoes, squash and eggplant can mean extra veggies at harvest time. Mulching prevents the loss of moisture from the soil, suppresses weed growth, cools the soil and keeps vegetables off the ground.
• Keep garden rows wide enough to cultivate, narrow enough to shadow out weeds
  May 13, 2013 - As a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent, I answer hundreds of gardening question. This week, a gardener wanted to know how far apart to space her garden rows. The short answer is: it depends.
• UGA-Tifton Campus holds annual Agricultural and Environmental Awareness Day
  May 10, 2013 - Area third graders got a chance to get outside and explore Thursday morning on the Tifton campus of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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Upcoming Events in Extension

 

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