A new season of Master Gardener classes will be starting soon at the Middlesex County EARTH Center in Davidson Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick.
Master Gardeners are community volunteers trained in earth-friendly gardening and environmental principles. These lecture classes will meet once per week for three hours each from mid-September through mid-April. The 60 to 70 hours of classroom instruction include practical field experience.
Optional orientation sessions are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 for the Thursday evening class and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 for the Friday morning class. Classes begin Sept. 18 or 19. They are open to all New Jersey residents.
"Middlesex County is currently the only county that offers the Master Gardeners course in the evenings," said Freeholder Kenneth Armwood, chair of the County’s Business Development and Education Committee. "I encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from some of the County’s most knowledgeable gardeners."
Outdoor, hands-on garden classes will meet weekly for three hours each from mid-April through mid-September (every other week in summer). New students create and care for large demonstration vegetable and herb gardens.
Topics covered will include: sound gardening techniques; composting; creative methods of conserving resources; and horticulture therapy. The program also requires participants to volunteer some hours of service toward Extension Services projects, activities and events throughout the year.
"This popular program is just another way that the county can meet the needs of our residents while offering quality and fun education," said Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios. "I commend the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener program for all of the earth-friendly and educational programs they provide."
All classes are offered at the EARTH Center, in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick.
Interested parties can call the EARTH Center at 732-398-5278 for more information or visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices.
