Part of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES)
About CCMGA
Montgomery County Master Gardeners
Who We Are
What is a Master Gardener?
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers sharing their love and knowledge of gardening while serving a vital role to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Our members have been trained and certified by attending a one day a week class for 13 weeks, usually in the spring, at a local Alabama Cooperative Extension Service office.
As a requirement of certification, interns are required to perform community service hours and usually have a great time doing it, making new friendships and learning about all aspects of gardening through many fun hands-on experiences. There are endless rewarding opportunities to meet the required hours. We help educate our members and the public through workshops, seminars and other educational events throughout the year.
What is the Master Gardener Program?
The Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer Program is an educational program offered through county offices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas. These individuals, in turn, volunteer their expertise and services to help others through horticultural projects that benefit the community.
The Master Gardener Program trains volunteers, who work through Extension, to bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to their communities’ landscapes and gardens.
Through the Master Gardener program, thousands of people in the United States and Canada have been trained as volunteers.
How did the Master Gardener Program Begin?
The concept of Master Gardener volunteer training began more than 25 years ago. Overwhelmed by requests for gardening information, Seattle Extension agent David Gibby recruited home gardeners. In exchange for specialized training in horticulture, these gardeners made a commitment to spend time doing volunteer outreach work.
What does the Master Gardener Program Provide?
The Alabama Master Gardener training program provides from 50 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas. The classes provide home gardeners with the information they need to become skilled Master Gardeners.
What does the Master Gardener Program Require?
In exchange for the training, participants are obligated to return an equal amount of volunteer service time on projects that benefit their communities. These projects can range from working on community horticultural projects, to helping answer questions through the county Extension office, to conducting garden club programs.
When and where is the Master Gardener Training Course Offered?
The Master Gardener training program is most often taught during a 10-to-12-week period in the fall or winter. A minimal registration fee, which varies from county to county, is charged to cover the cost of the training manual and supplies.
Classes in the Training Program include:
Landscape Design
Turf and Lawn Care
Plant Physiology
Pruning of Plants
Plants Selection
Pesticide Safety
Annuals and Perennials
Plant Propagation
Vegetable Gardening
Soil & Plant Nutrition
Composting
Entomology
Fruit Culture
Container Gardening
Herbs
Plant Diseases & Disorders
Courses are taught by Specialists from Auburn University and Alabama A&M University, Extension agents from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, local specialists, and veteran Master Gardeners.
Our Work Seminar – Alabama Extension
Megan Ross, Coordinator, Student Development & Programs from Auburn University’s College of Agriculture visited EAT South and a couple of CCMGA Master Gardeners to film and discuss the ACES Grow More Give More program and give everyone a look at our demonstration raised beds.
Click on this link to watch the video: https://youtu.be/0AfxOc0YLgw