Recruitment event, hands-on activities planned for Saturday
Local horticulture enthusiasts have a reason to be excited, as the Logan County Master Gardeners program is returning to the area, with the potential to expand its premier volunteer network and to provide education and helpful tips to local gardeners, while also beautifying their community.
The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested Ohio residents who then volunteer their time assisting with educational program for other residents through their local OSU Extension county office.
The program has not existed in the county since 2021, but has been getting a jumpstart during the past several months, under the guidance of the Logan County OSU Extension’s new agriculture and natural resources educator Jacob King.
This weekend, area residents have the chance to get a taste of Master Gardener activities during a recruitment event and free hands-on demonstrations Saturday, Sept. 13, at the extension office, 1100 S. Detroit St., Bellefontaine.
The session takes place from 4 to 7 p.m., where garden-inclined individuals are invited to attend and to discuss the future of the Logan County Master Gardeners. King invites both those with years of horticulture experience and novice gardeners alike to check out the activities.
The agriculture and natural resources educator will be leading several demonstrations as well, including a weed identification walk outside the building and a propagation 101 activity.
“Every gardener fights with weeds each year. We’ll take a walk outside to talk about what direction your mind should go as you’re working on weed control,” King said.
“I’m excited about the propagation 101 program as well, where we’ll talk about what you can do with those plants that you really cherish, how to bring them indoors and etc.”
To sign up for Saturday’s session, participants can register online through a link on the Extension Office’s Facebook page, by searching for “Ohio State University Extension – Logan County” on Facebook.
The Master Gardener Volunteer program first originated in Seattle during 1972, according to https://mastergardener.osu.edu/. The Extension agent in the King County office of the Washington State University Extension Service began to train and utilize the expertise of volunteers to more effectively reach the gardening public with research-based educational information.
Now the concept has spread across the United States, to Canada and other countries. In Ohio, the program got its start in the late 1970s. There are now more than 3,000 active Master Gardener Volunteers in more than 62 Ohio counties in urban, suburban and rural communities.
King said previously, the Logan County Master Gardeners had approximately 20 Master Gardener Volunteers, and he’d love to see the program grow to that level or beyond.
Becoming a certified Master Gardener Volunteer is a step-by-step process, starting with interested individuals filling out an application and obtaining references, and then sitting down for an interview with King and others.
A background check is part of the process, and volunteers complete educational training as well.
Then to become an official Master Gardener Volunteer, interns must complete 50 volunteer service hours in their first year.
After the first year, they need to complete 20 hours a year to maintain their Master Gardener certification, along with continuing education, King explained.
Through their dedicated efforts, Master Gardener Volunteers offer a wealth of knowledge and educational opportunities to their community. Working with county extension personnel, the Master Gardeners field lawn and garden questions from the public, along with hosting horticulture programs throughout the year and oftentimes managing a community garden, too, King said.
For more information about the program, reach out to the agriculture and natural resources educator at the Extension Office (937) 599-4227 or e-mail is king.3013@osu.edu.
