Taking The Plunge

[Smart Red]

Congrats Thistle!

I just signed up for the same thing about two weeks ago (they still need to get back with me about my application). 50 hrs minimum required volunteer work, and $130 for both classes and required fingerprinting. I was surprised that I was one of the only ones there interested in vegetable gardening (there were a lot of people there), everybody else was interested in flowers/aquatics/foliage plants/etc.

I don't think that you start off as a master gardener, but as a master gardener volunteer. You have to work your way up.

Have you decided were your going to put your volunteer time in at yet? (gardening hotline, community gardens, etc.) I'm going with the local hotline, which can be done at home (saves time!).

Good luck!

SeedO, we got our certification for passing the curriculum after completing our 50 volunteer hours. We also managed to get DH at half price since we used the same materials and he was auditing the class rather than seeking MG Cert. FINGERPRINTING!?!
Did they suspect seedling-molesters might use the MG class to get closer to their victims? We can't even require photo IDs to vote here in Wisconsin and MG classes are hooking in to our Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)? Something is screwy here in the "land of the free".

I think you made a great choice in volunteer hours. Over the phone, you will sound intelligent and knowledgable. Your youthful appearance won't be a reason to disregard your advice.

 

[baymule]

fingerprinting........must be because of all those criminal plants......

 

[Smart Red]

fingerprinting........must be because of all those criminal plants......

I can't remember the last time I left my fingerprint on a plant. I guess it is garden gloves for me from this time on.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

That makes sense, probably similar in OH.
Seedling-molesters? No - I was the youngest person there by decades. I guess that they didn't want serial-killers signing up to work with small children and the elderly. (Still though, what's the chance of that?) I need a photo ID just to get a bank account. Yes, something is up with this whole "increased-surveillance" thing.

I do have a lot of criminal plants in my garden - all of them have been convicted of stealing the valuable areas of soil on which I could be growing decent crops plants, and murdering my shorter, more feeble crop plants by suffocation - weeds!

 

[so lucky]

You all will have fun in your MG classes. I still have all the booklets and hand-outs from mine from nearly 20 yeas ago; still refer to them occasionally. I am not active in the organization any more...can't really remember why I stopped with the volunteering. Too busy with work at the time, I guess. I should check to see if they have an amnesty program, lol.

 

[thistlebloom]

Wow SeedO, ...fingerprints? That's bizarre.

I haven't received my application yet, so I only know what the friendly gal I spoke with on the phone said. She said 30 to 50 hours of volunteer work, so maybe if you do the more onerous jobs they let you off easy? haha. Just kidding.

Actually since I haven't even received my application, much less submitted it I don't know for sure if I really will be taking the course.

Gasp! What if they reject me?

I have no idea what the slant of the teaching will take. It's in the county north of me in a town which is sort of known as artsy/hippieish. I already know one of the instructors, an arborist that I have met on a few jobs for consultation. A really nice guy and a natural teacher.

I'm so looking forward to this. I agree@ninnymary, time to get my tushy up and doing!

 

[Smart Red]

Wow SeedO, ...fingerprints? That's bizarre.

Gasp! What if they reject me?

I'm so looking forward to this. I agree@ninnymary, time to get my tushy up and doing!

If they dare contemplate rejecting you for the class give them my phone number and/or E-mail address. I can give them a long list of reasons thistlebloom should be an asset in the class.

 

[thistlebloom]

If they dare contemplate rejecting you for the class give them my phone number and/or E-mail address. I can give them a long list of reasons thistlebloom should be an asset in the class.

Awww, thanks Red. If they need somebody to make everybody else look smarter, I'll be a shoo-in.

 

[digitS']

Ya know, they might let you volunteer at . .

. Farragut State Park.

How would that be?

Steve

 

[Smart Red]

@thistlebloom, the only ones who are concerned about looking smarter are the instructors. They do NOT appreciate someone who points out they may be mistaken. Like growing blueberries in Rock County. Like after being told not to buy end-of-season rhodies or azaleas from KMart and expecting them to grow is NOT a good time to ask how such plants should be pruned down from their 7 foot height.