By Sharon Omahen


University of Georgia

It seems fitting that the special event to celebrate Master
Gardener Day this year involved classes and work.

In a day-long event planned just for them at the UGA campus in
Griffin, Ga., Master Gardeners learned UGA horticulturist Terry
Kelly’s latest tips for growing the best vegetables.

They heard about the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s efforts to
fight hunger through community gardening. They got an update on
the UGA Research and Education Garden on the Griffin, Ga.,
campus. And, yes, they got their hands dirty volunteering in the
afternoon chores in the garden.

Governor declares Master Gardener Day

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue declared March 15 to be Master
Gardener
Day in Georgia. The day honors more than 5,000 Georgians who have
earned the title.

The Georgia Master Gardener Volunteer Program is run by the
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. It’s presented across the state through UGA Extension
Service county offices.

People interested in gardening or community service can sign
up
for the program. They get 40 hours of training from the UGA
Extension Service faculty.

Once they complete the training, they use their new expertise
to
help with community education projects. After at least 50 hours
of service through their local Georgia Extension office, they’re
certified as Master Gardeners.

Essential to county offices

“Our Master Gardeners do everything from make presentations to
garden clubs and other civic groups to visit home gardens to help
consumers with specific problems,” said Marco Fonseca, the state
Master Gardener program coordinator.

In some cases, Fonseca said, Master Gardeners have helped keep
county extension offices open. “They answer the phones and help
agents prepare for workshops,” he said, “often in offices that
are understaffed.”

The program began in 1979. Since then, UGA has trained more
than
5,000 Master Gardeners, including 500 last year.

In 2002, the value of the 1,800 active Master Gardeners gave
125,000 hours of service, at a value of more than $2 million. If
you add in their travel costs, it was $2.3 million.

Plant a Row this year’s project

In their special program in Griffin, the volunteers broke
ground
on a site where area Master Gardeners will take part in the
“Plant a Row for the Hungry” campaign.

Plant a Row for the Hungry is a public service campaign of the
Garden Writers Association. It urges home gardeners to plant
extra vegetables and donate them to their local food bank.

Master Gardeners have taken on PAR as their 2003 statewide
community project.