Time to join the Smith County Master Gardeners

It's that time of year again when the Smith County Master Gardener program is seeking applicants to become part of a highly trained core of volunteers to assist Texas Cooperative Extension in conducting educational programs and projects in Smith County.

Consider the following:

Do you like to share with friends, young people and others your interest in plants and gardening?

Would you like to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants?

Would you like to participate in a practical and intensive horticulture-training program? Do you have time to attend a 2-month training? Are you willing to complete 72 hours of volunteer work within a year after the training?

If you answered yes to all these questions, the Smith County Master Gardener program could be for you.

The Smith County Texas Cooperative Extension program is seeking gardeners who would like to use their gardening knowledge and experience to teach and help others the joys of gardening in exchange for some of the best training in horticulture available.

The Master Gardener program, sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension, is a volunteer program where trained volunteers provide research-based home gardening information to the residents of Smith County through various programs, projects and activities. The $100 fee includes the 450 + page "Texas Master Gardener Handbook."

There are many opportunities to use your talents and serve the community through the Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners speak to local groups on gardening, conduct workshops and seminars, establish community garden plots, work with 4-H, Junior Master Gardener and other youth or school groups, and assist the Horticulture Extension agent in other activities.

Participants become certified Master Gardeners after they have completed the training and internship by fulfilling their volunteer commitment. The certification is good for one year and is renewed through continued participation in horticulture classes and volunteering.

The 2007 Smith County Master Gardener class will begin Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. through March 15.

For more information and an application, call the Smith County Extension office at (903) 590-2980, or write or come by the office at the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 116, Tyler, TX 75702. Applications are also available on-line in the Master Gardener and Programs sections of East Texas Pineywoods Gardening (http://EastTexasGardening.ta mu.edu).

Deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 15. Applicants will be notified of their status in the program by Dec. 29.