Lowcountry Master Gardener Association

Master Gardener Program

The Master Gardener program, developed by Clemson Extension Services, is a 40-hour curriculum program that includes education and training in topics such as botany, physiology, plant pathology, soils, landscape design and plant selection. Following this rigorous course of study, participants must serve a 40-hour internship of service and education, after which they become a Master Gardener.

The purpose of the Master Gardener program is to educate the public about good and effective horticulture and environmental practices; this is done through projects located throughout the community. Currently, there are ten projects on Hilton Head Island, three in Bluffton, and eleven in Beaufort; there are several projects awaiting approval.

The Lowcountry Master Gardeners Association is a non-profit organization that provides continuing education for Master Gardeners, as well as providing support and guidance for the Master Gardener projects. The LMGA serves all of Beaufort County and collaborates with Jasper County.
Class Information

Have you ever wanted to learn more about growing plants? Are you interested in fruits, vegetables, ornamentals or lawns? Do you enjoy helping others? A horticulture program, called Master Gardener, is offered by the Beaufort County Extension Service and Colleton County Cooperative Extension Service to provide horticultural training for selected home gardeners in South Carolina.

If you would like to be on the waiting list for the 2011 classes in Beaufort County please give me a mailing address, and I will mail out applications in October for the class beginning in January. Applications will be posted online.

There are approximately 14 classes and two field trips. At the end of training classes we ask you to volunteer 40 hours of service as an intern to become a certified Master Gardener.

Laura Lee Rose, Beaufort County Extension Service   
Phone: 843 255-6060 ext. 117
Email:  LROSE@clemson.edu

 

Beaufort Area Master Gardener Class

Held weekly in Beaufort at the
Clemson Extension Office
 1pm-4pm
 

 


Hilton Head Island Master Gardening Class
Held weekly in Hilton Head at the
PSD #1 office on Matthews Dr
Wednesdays 1-4pm

If you have friends who have expressed interest in becoming Master Gardeners please pass this information on to them.  The class will be held in the PSD Community Room near Sam’s Club.

Beaufort County Extension Service
PO Box, 189
Beaufort, SC 29901
843-470-3655 for further information

 

Jasper County Area: Master Gardener Class
and
Colleton County Area: Master Gardener Class

Dates: t/b/announced
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: Blue Heron Nature Center, 321 Bailey Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936


 Clemson Master Gardener Volunteers

Master Gardeners receive a minimum of 40 hours of instruction. Along with an orientation, volunteers are given core training in soils and plant nutrition, basic botany, entomology, plant pathology, vegetable and fruit gardening, landscape design, and several other subjects. Altogether, they comprise 30 hours of training. The core section gives the Master Gardener trainee the basic horticultural knowledge necessary to assist Extension staff effectively. The remaining 10 hours of training may be a further elaboration of core curriculum topics or of specific gardening subjects deemed most relevant to local needs, such as meadow or wildflower gardening and plant propagation. This allows the Master Gardener to specialize in an area of particular personal interest.

After training is completed, the volunteers are ready for action. Each new Master Gardener provides the county Extension office with at least 40 hours of horticulture related volunteer work for the 40 hours of instruction. Clemson University Master Gardeners:

  •      Answer gardening questions

  •     Assist County Extension office staff

  •     conduct school gardening programs

  •     coordinate Master Gardener programs

  •     create and maintain demonstration gardens

  •     design and maintain community and school landscapes

  •     develop visual aids for presenting, Extension programs

  •     diagnose plant specimens

  •     garden with the elderly and handicapped

  •     make home gardening visits

  •     organize Master Gardener graduation picnics

  •     photograph Master Gardener activities

  •     plan and complete community beautification projects

  •     present lectures or demonstrations to groups interested in
     horticulture

  •     produce a newsletter

  •     staff county and state exhibits

  •     volunteer as 4-H leaders

  •     work at county fairs and plant clinics

  •     work in trial gardens at research stations

  •     work on special events.

After a trainee has satisfactorily completed the formal training, he or she is awarded a South Carolina Master Gardener certificate.



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