January 2017 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   Many of you have enquired about Master Gardener training. If you are interested check out the announcement below:   We are pleased to announce that classes to train new Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Master Gardener volunteers in Erie County will be offered on Fridays, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, beginning February 24, 2017 and ending April 7, 2017.  There may be slight changes to this schedule to accommodate certain speakers.  Most classes will be held at the CCE offices in East Aurora, with the possibility of an occasion class session in the city.      The training classes provide six weeks of instruction followed by testing in key areas relevant to carrying out the duties of a CCE Master Gardener volunteer including Botany, Soils, Composting, Climate Change, Pest Identification and Management, Wildlife Management, Plant Diseases, Native Plants, Pruning and Lawn Care.  To successfully complete the course, a score of at least 70% must be attained on the testing portion.  Seven hands-on projects/events with site visits are also planned.  Participation in at least three of the events is required.  Once the training requirements are met, the Trainee becomes a Master Gardener Program Apprentice and must complete 50 hours of volunteer service for each of the next two years to become an Active Program Volunteer.   Selected course participants will pay a course fee of $225.  Class size is limited to 30.   Each trainee is expected to attend all training classes with any missed sessions to be made up at the discretion of the supervising CCE Educator.     Information about the program can be found on-line at http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/gardening including our Master Gardener Program policy statements.    All paperwork must be received by the CCE office no later than January 20th, 2017 at 11:00 am.  Please do not send payment for the class until you receive an acceptance letter!   If you have questions, please contact Sharon Bachman at 716-652-5400 x 150 or [email protected].  Thank you for your interest in the CCE Master Gardener Program of Erie County!           Copyright © 2014 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. Our mailing address is: Lessons from Nature 37 N Union Rd Williamsville, NY 14221 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences