Submitted by Gail Reynolds
(August 17, 2023) — The UConn Master Gardener Program is now accepting applications for the Norwich-based class beginning in January 2024. The classroom portion of the program will be held at the New London County Extension Center in Norwich on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Since New London and Middlesex Counties alternate years hosting the classroom, anyone from the Haddam area can affiliate their office hours and outreach projects with the Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam. Applications must be submitted by October 13, 2023. The program cost is $495. Partial scholarship is available.
Other class sites for 2024 include New Haven, Stamford, Torrington, and a virtual class affiliated with Tolland County on Saturday mornings. Anyone from the Haddam area can affiliate their office hours and outreach projects with the Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam once the classroom concludes.
Students enrolled in this program receive training in an extensive range of horticultural and environmental topics, including botany, plant pathology, entomology, integrated pest management (IPM), herbaceous and woody ornamentals, edibles, turfgrass, invasive plants, and diagnostic techniques for the home gardener.
Program Requirements:
100+ class hours. Classroom training includes approximately three hours of online material as well as one half-day per week for 16 weeks, 9:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m., January – April 2024
30 hours of supervised service answering the public’s horticultural questions and researching gardening problems and 30 hours outreach on approved educational outreach and/or community project(s); both to be completed by the end of September 2023
Subject quizzes and graded mid-term exam
Tree/Shrub/Vine identification and research project due by the end of August 2024
Attendance at one of five summer diagnostic practice sessions
Final diagnostic exam at the end of in-service training
Final essay due at the end of September 2024
Most UConn Extension Master Gardeners find the class to be a life-changing experience! “Individuals become master gardeners because they are interested in gardening and, most importantly, learning more about the science behind good gardening practices. In addition, the collegiality of master gardeners allows us to share our knowledge with the public at many outreach venues,” according to Ken Sherrick, a 2013 graduate of the UConn Extension Master Gardener Program in Middlesex County.
For additional information on the program and to apply online, please visit https://mastergardener.uconn.edu/2024-uconn-master-gardener-application/
