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The Master Gardener (MG) training is an Oregon State University Extension program that delivers a comprehensive education program on all aspects of growing and caring for plants. This program includes both a 66-hour classroom training focused on the art and science of sustainable gardening and a 66–hour internship in which participants continue their learning by serving as gardening educators in the communities.

This training is a fun, interactive, and informative educational program. The MG program is the equivalent of a college-level introduction to horticulture course. OSU Master Gardeners are trained by OSU Extension faculty and other gardening experts. A major goal of the program is to give Master Gardener trainees the information, resources, tools, and skills that they need to serve in our volunteer program.

Enrollment Options for 2012

The MG training is an 11–week course that takes place January through March each year. Nearly 200 people participate the MG training each year at convenient locations in the Portland metro area.

There are two enrollment options for the MG in the Portland metro area in 2012:

1. The Master Gardener Training Program ($395) is a comprehensive course in sustainable gardening, which includes both a 66–hour training and 66–hour volunteer internship. The cost of $395 includes:
   • Course instruction facilitated by OSU Extension faculty and other gardening experts
   • Sustainable Gardening, the Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook (preview book)
   • A Master Gardener identification badge upon completion of our 66-hour internship
   • Volunteer Support
2. The Master Gardener Certificate Training ($790) is the same program as above, but does not include the volunteer time associated with the traditional Master Gardener Program. This option is intended for professionals working in the nursery and landscaping industry. The certificate training costs $790 and includes:
   • Course instruction facilitated by OSU Extension faculty and other gardening experts
   • Sustainable Gardening, the Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook (preview book)
   • Official OSU Extension Service certificate of completion.

Participants in both enrollment options will attend the same classes and receive the same information. The Master Gardener Certificate Training (second option) does not have a volunteer internship requirement.

Training Topics Include:

• Botany for gardeners
• Soils and compost
• Home vegetable and container gardening
• Small fruits and home orchards and pruning
• Ornamental plant and lawn care
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Garden entomology (insect identification) and household pests
• Plant diseases and plant disease diagnostics
• Safe pesticide use and weed management
• Vertebrate pest management
• Organic Gardening
• Plant Identification
• Volunteer resources, training, and communication

2012 Master Gardener Training Specifics

The MG training is offered in the metro area starting the first week of January 2012 and ending the week of March 13, 2012 as described below.

Location	Day	Dates
Beaverton, First Baptist Church, 5755 SW Erickson Ave.	Tuesday	January 3 – March 13, 2012
Oregon City, Museum of the Oregon Territory, 211 Tumwater Drive, 3rd Floor	Thursday	January 5 – March 15, 2012
Portland, Multnomah Co. Headquarters, Council Chambers, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.	Friday	January 6 – March 16, 2012

Classes are held from 9am – 4pm with a lunch break from 12pm – 1pm

Online Registration

To register for the training, please use OSU's secure online registration payment system where you can pay by credit card or check. Cost of the training including volunteer internship is $395.

Click on the link below for the day/location that works best for your schedule.

• Beaverton, Tuesdays January 3 –March 13
• Oregon City, Thursdays January 5 –March 15
• Portland, Fridays January 6 –March 16

You may register for the Master Gardener Certificate Training ($790, no volunteer time option) by clicking here. Please indicate which location/day you plan to attend in the "Notes/Other Requirements" field of the online registration/payment form.

Completing your Registration

Please ensure that your contact information is correct so that we can easily contact you with training information. Your spot in the 2012 training will be reserved once your payment is received.

Once you have registered we will send you a packet of OSU forms via postal mail including:

• 2012 MG Application and questionnaire
• Pest control recommendation agreement
• Master Gardner volunteer position description
• OSU volunteer insurance information
• Volunteer survey and photo release consent forms.

Please promptly fill out these forms and return them to us so that we can enter your information into our data base. Your registration is not complete until after we have received and reviewed your application packet and you have received notice of acceptance from the Master Gardener program office.

Limited half-price scholarships are available, please ask.

Attendance and Internship Policy

Participants must attend 80% of the class time(53 of 66 hours). Attendance is tracked through a sign-in system. Attendees participating in the Master Gardener Training Program (option 1 from above) will receive an official OSU Extension Service Master Gardener name badge after completion of the 66-hours of documented volunteer time through our internship program. For insurance purposes, we also require that volunteers read and sign Position Description and Pest Control Agreement Form.

 

Call or email Jordis Yost, Master Gardener Program Coordinator, if you have any questions regarding the upcoming Master Gardener training in 2012 or to receive a registration packet. Email Phone: 503-650-3118

Mailing Address:

Master Gardener Program

200 Warner-Milne Rd.

Oregon City, OR 97045