Many have noticed landscape projects around Columbus that have had the hand of the Lowndes County Master Gardener volunteers placed on them – like the landscape at the downtown post office, or even the front beds to the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library.
“Maybe you have spent time at Lee Park and noticed the containers with colorful flowers. Yes, the Master Gardeners had a hand in that,” said Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent Reid Nevins. “They even installed a butterfly garden connected to the Riverwalk, to be used as a teaching garden in the future and promote knowledge on butterflies and butterfly life cycles.”
Master Gardeners not only want to install beautiful plants around Lowndes County, Nevins said, they want to teach others how to as well. Master Gardener training is offered Feb. 17 through March 24. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The location for interactive video training will be the Lowndes County Extension Office at 318 Seventh St. N.
The program trains individuals who want to serve the County Extension Office as volunteers to assist in Extension horticultural programs, 4-H youth horticulture training and community service projects. Work is done under the direction of the Lowndes County Extension Agent.
Program requirements
This program requires 40 hours of initial training given by Extension specialists. After completing 40 hours of volunteer time in the county during the 12 months following, those in training will be certified as official Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.
To maintain certification in following years, individuals must attend 12 hours of advanced training and also volunteer 20 hours of service to the county Extension program annually. Lowndes County Master Gardeners volunteer an average of 50-plus hours per year.
How to participate
To enroll, individuals must pre-pay the $90 fee that funds the training program, materials, CDs and meeting refreshments. Make checks payable to the Lowndes County Master Gardener Volunteers. Should circumstances prevent you from attending after registration, $50 of the fee is refundable, if claimed the first week of class.
To register, contact the Lowndes County Extension Office or contact Nevins at 662-328-2111, or email [email protected]. Nevins serves Lowndes County with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service.
“Individuals who require special accommodations to participate should contact the Extension office to make their request known prior to the program,” he said. “Contact should be made soon to ensure appropriate accommodations.”
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