Ask anyone who lives in New Mexico; the Southwest is not an easy place to plant a garden. The highly alkaline soil can be downright unforgiving with its “caliche,” hard-as-rock consistency. Add in a chronic lack of precipitation and weekend gardening becomes more of a chore than an enjoyable pastime. Luckily, there’s help to be found through the Master Gardeners Program in New Mexico.
The Master Gardeners program is an educational association that trains and assists the Cooperative Extension System, a nationwide, non-credit educational network where experts provide useful, research-based information to agricultural producers, small business owners, and consumers in communities of all sizes.
The program began in 1972 when an extension agent found himself swamped with too many tough garden questions. To solve the problem, experienced gardeners were recruited and trained by horticulture professors, becoming certified experts, capable of fielding all the many queries.
The concept took root, and spread across the country. Now most states offer Master Gardener programs with instruction in such topics as botany, composting, soils, xeriscaping, and pest management. Albuquerque and Santa Fe counties were the first in New Mexico to adopt the program in 1981.
Certification to become a Master Gardener includes both classroom training and volunteer work. But this is no garden club-- the program is a serious one, where attendance is vital (only two missed classes are allowed). Participants take notes and must earn a grade of at least 70% to pass.
Classes meet once a week for a 3-hour lecture conducted by extension agents, New Mexico State University professors, and local plant industry experts. Each student must also complete 30 volunteer hours by the end of the year in public contact and hands-on experience.
Certified Master Gardeners must continue to hone their skills through volunteer work and continuing education, passing what they’ve learned on to the community.
According to Bernalillo County Extension Agent, Cheryl Kent, the mission of the program is primarily altruistic in nature; well-trained volunteers are doing a good environmental service by sharing it with others.
The Master Garden program in New Mexico is available in 13 counties and typically begins in the late winter/early spring. Each county varies in the number of classes (10-16), and costs can range from $50 to $175.
While the program may seem intense, Master Gardeners receive excellent fundamental botanical skills that can help local gardeners understand more about the soil and planting.
The New Mexico Master Gardener program has become increasingly sought out and has expanded greatly over recent years. Many county classrooms are full, some even have waiting lists. In Sandoval County, the program is one the most popular, and garnered national attention when it received the 2009 Master Gardener International Search for Excellence Award.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please contact Natalie Goldberg, New Mexico State University, at 575-646-1621.
Comments