Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer County Horticulturist, announces the opportunity for Mercer County residents with an interest in horticulture and the desire to share their knowledge with others, to enroll in the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program for 2008.
The 21-week training program, which is offered through Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, will begin at the end of September and continue into March.
The Master Gardener program was created to meet an enormous increase in requests from home gardeners for horticultural information, and extends to the community the educational efforts of the Extension by using trained and certified volunteers.
Trainees receive more than 60 hours of instruction in a wide variety of horticultural subjects. The teaching staff consists of Ms. Bromley, faculty from Cook College of Rutgers University, and other horticultural experts.
Classes meet Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mercer County Extension office, 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence (next to the Trenton Farmers Market).
Following the classroom instruction, trainees volunteer 60 hours with Mercer County Extension or related programs, including at least 30 hours supplying information to the public on the Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, (609) 989-6853. Trainees also volunteer five hours of service at the award-winning Mercer County Educational Gardens in Pennington.
Information about the program is available on the Master Gardeners of Mercer County Web site, www.mgofmc.org.
Applications and program descriptions are available at the Extension office or can be requested by calling (609) 989-6830, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Class size is limited to 30 people. Mercer County residents are given priority and are admitted in the order in which applications are received.
The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 5. A $150 tuition fee is due with the application. The fee covers the cost of the training manual, name badges, class supplies and guest speaker fees. Scholarship opportunities may be available.

