Maybe You Can Make Time to Become a Certified Alaska Master Gardener in Haines this Spring!

I'm coming to a time in my life when I can no longer set aside that list of "things I've always wanted to do." And one of those things is to become an Alaskan Master Gardener. The class has been offered before in Haines by our much loved and respected extension agent, Jim Douglas. But I was "too busy." What a pity. So, setting aside regrets, I contacted the Cooperative Extension Service to inquire about a Master Gardener class for Haines. Michele Hebert and I have been exchanging emails all day.

Michele can offer the class in Haines tentatively the week of May 18; perhaps as early as the 15th. And I do mean "week." It is a 40-hour class based on the information in the "Alaska Gardener's Manual." Michele would like to conduct the class from 9-noon, and 1-5, Monday through Friday. She would like to have 10 students. The class needs to meet in a place where she can show slides. The class is $50 which covers the cost of the manual and other supplies. Topics include Introduction to Botany and Taxonomy; Soil and Fertilizers; Plant Propagation and Pruning; composting and Water Quality; Vegetables; Landscape Gardening; Fruit and Berry Crops; Lawn Care; Houseplants; Entomology and Vertebrate Pest; Plant Disease; Weed Management. All topics I've dabbled in - none of which I could even begin to say I've "mastered"!

The Master Gardener program exists throughout North America. (See the American Horticultural website for a map of all the different programs.) It is a huge outreach program. Certified Master Gardeners are volunteers with regionally specific horticultural knowledge who are educational resources for their communities. After we are trained we can fulfill our 40-hour volunteer commitment by talking about what we know ( we could host our very own version of You Bet Your Garden! Move over Mike McGrath!), by writing about what we know, by working side by side with others.

Maybe with our certificates tucked under our arms, we might get up the gumption to approach the school district and offer our services to help create a youth gardening program. That's what I am aiming for. Though I have been an Alaskan certified teacher for years, I am definitely a "cowgirl" gardener and need to bolster my credibility in that department. (If you are interested in youth gardening programs, check out Kids Gardening.) The school garden registry at Kids Gardening shows schools gardens in Palmer, Shageluk, and Anchorage. I'd love to see Haines School District listed there in the not too distant future.

If you are interested in a Master Gardener Class, please leave a comment and I will contact you. I will also post notices in the PO, the Library, Howsers, and Mountain Market. Let's do it!