POLICY STATEMENT
PURPOSE:
Master Gardeners are volunteers who support Penn State Cooperative Extension's educational programs in consumer horticulture. They develop their horticultural expertise through participation in educational programs conducted by Penn State University faculty and cooperative extension staff. Faculty and extension staff also provide diagnostic support for horticultural issues and questions to those Master Gardener volunteers participating actively in the program. Extension publications, teaching materials, and/or other program support materials are provided as deemed appropriate by faculty and county extension staff responsible for leading and supervising the Master Gardener program. Information presented by Master Gardeners must be consistent with Penn State Cooperative Extension recommendations concerning various aspects of consumer horticulture.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong interest and knowledge in horticulture as evidenced by scoring a minimum of 80% on a final exam administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension.
- Willingness and availability to undertake extensive training in consumer horticulture practices. Trainees may not miss more that one training session.
- Dedication and willingness to provide a minimum of fifty (50) hours of volunteer service for Penn State Cooperative Extension. Master Gardeners have one (1) year from the end of training to complete the volunteer requirement.
- Ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with others either by telephone, personal contact, group contact, and/or in writing.
- Willingness to support Penn State Cooperative Extension staff in providing extension audiences with up-to-date consumer horticulture information.
EXPECTED COMMITMENT:
- Attend required training sessions.
- Perform the required number of volunteer hours for Penn State Cooperative Extension.
- Maintain an activity log and submit it to the county extension office on a monthly and/or quarterly basis, as required by county operating procedures.
- Attend meetings as scheduled to update information, discuss gardening problems and coordinate Master Gardener activities.
- Participate in cooperative extension activities as needs arise.
- Provide own transportation.
- Maintain a flexible schedule which permits day and/or evening and/or weekend activities.
TRAINING:
County Master Gardener Programs will offer core and elective training totaling a minimum of thirty (30) hours.
CORE CLASSES (required in all counties): 20 hours
| Orientation to MG Program |
Plant Propagation |
| Communication Skills |
Entomology |
| Plant Science |
Plant Pathology |
| Soil Science |
IPM & Pesticide Safety |
SUGGESTED ELECTIVE CLASSES (varies by county): 10 hours minimum
| Turfgrass Culture |
Indoor Plant Culture |
| Herbaceous Ornamental Plant Culture |
Vegetable Culture |
| Woody Ornamental Plant Culture |
Diagnosing Plant Problems |
| Pruning |
Horticulture Tours/Workshops |
| Tree & Small Fruit Culture |
Office Orientation |
CERTIFICATION:
A Penn State Master Gardener must attend the prescribed hours of instruction, pass the final examination and fulfill the 50-hour volunteer commitment before becoming a certified Master Gardener. Upon completion he/she will be awarded a Penn State Master Gardener certificate. This certification is restrictive in nature in that it is valid only when the individual is participating in the Penn State Master Gardener Program and for one year only. Recertification will be issued each year only to those individuals who make a commitment for participation in the program for the coming year as outlined below. When individuals cease active participation, then their designation as Penn State Master Gardener becomes void. Those not continuing in the program should be aware that if they represent themselves as Master Gardeners, they are violating their original commitment to Penn State Cooperative Extension.
RECERTIFICATION:
A Master Gardener may recertify for participation in the program for another year by:
1) committing to a minimum of twenty (20) hours of volunteer work to be completed each year, and
2) completing or having completed eight (8) additional hours of horticulture training each year.
Examples of additional training are : New Master Gardener training, Master Gardener Advanced Training, State/Regional/National MG conferences, University or Community College courses, Arboretum and Botanical Garden seminars, annual horticulture conferences, and Pennsylvania Federation of Garden Club courses. The training must be approved as acceptable by the county extension agent responsible for supervising the Master Gardener program.
INACTIVE STATUS:
An inactive Master Gardener is one who is unable to commit to an additional 20 hours service plus 8 hours training at present, but would like the opportunity to recertify themselves in the future. The following policies apply:
1) An inactive Master Gardener is one who is in good standing, having completed the original commitment of training, exam, and volunteer service.
2) The inactive Master Gardener must attend or have attended eight (8) hours of acceptable horticulture training for each year of inactive status. (See Recertification #2 for examples of training).
3) An inactive Master Gardener may recertify within three (3) years as long as the above criteria are met. Individuals on inactive status for more than three years are required to retake the New Master Gardener training.
OUT-OF-STATE:
Master Gardeners who are certified in another state may be admitted to a Penn State Master Gardener program by meeting the following criteria:
1) acquire or be provided with a current Penn State Master Gardener training manual.
2) acquire or be provided with a Penn State Master Gardener name badge.
3) score a minimum of 80% on a final exam administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension.
4) meet the Recertification requirements listed above.
FEES:
To cover the cost of training manuals and supplies, a non-refundable standardized fee determined by the State Coordinator will be charged. Upon an individual's acceptance into the program, this fee will be paid at the county level by the county extension office or the Master Gardener volunteer as per county policy.
LIABILITY:
Master Gardener Volunteers are insured under the P.W. Woods & Son, Inc. liability insurance program. Coverage applies only to individual volunteers while they are performing their volunteer activities for Penn State Cooperative Extension. The coverage does not extend to other organizations or groups that volunteers are working with. Volunteers may not sign contracts or leases assuming liability responsibility on behalf of other organizations or groups. All contracts or "facilities use" agreements that require volunteer signature must be reviewed by the Wood office prior to signing.
County offices are asked each year to identify the number of volunteers to be covered and the appropriate premium charge is applied. If volunteers are not reported, there is no liability coverage.
GUIDELINES:
The title "Penn State Master Gardener" is to be used only and exclusively by individuals trained and certified to assist Penn State Cooperative Extension, and the title is valid only when the volunteer is participating in the Penn State Master Gardener Program. The title Master Gardener is to be used only when doing unpaid, volunteer work in a program activity approved by an extension agent.
Master Gardeners are not to advertise their name or their place of business nor be listed on the advertisements of business places as Penn State Master Gardeners. Because the Master Gardener Program is a Penn State Cooperative Extension public service program providing unbiased research-based information appearing as a commercial activity, having association with commercial products, or implying Penn State Cooperative Extension endorsement of any product or place of business is improper and grounds for dismissal from the program.
The training and experience gained by participating in the Penn State Master Gardener Program are valuable, and may rightfully be listed as qualifications when seeking employment. Once employed and while serving as a paid employee, or if self-employed, Master Gardeners should not display credentials or give the appearance of being a Master Gardener at the place of business, unless the place of business is specifically designated by an extension agent as a Master Gardener clinic location.
When Master Gardeners speak before groups on horticulture topics it is permissible for them to accept unsolicited reimbursements or gifts. It is inappropriate, however, to seek paid speaking engagements while participating in an authorized extension function and while using the Master Gardener title. In all cases the county extension office policy on speaking engagement fees should be honored. When a Master Gardener travels out of county for a speaking engagement, it is appropriate to request payment for travel expenses from the county cooperative extension office or other organization requesting the Master Gardener 's services.
When making recommendations which include the use of fertilizers and pesticides, Master Gardeners must follow current cooperative extension recommendations. Horticultural problems which are not specifically covered by extension recommendations should be referred to an extension agent. Questions concerning commercial production of crops and pest control on such crops should be referred to an extension agent.
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