Master Gardener Program
Master Gardener Volunteers in Racine and Kenosha Counties
The UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Racine and Kenosha Counties are a group of dedicated, trained volunteers who provided more than 11,500 hours of volunteer service in 2009 on 40 MGV approved community projects. The Racine/Kenosha Master Gardener Association was formed in 2002, but the Master Gardener Volunteers have been helping Extension serve communities nationwide since 1972.
To become a certified Master Gardener Volunteer you must attend the designated training sessions, volunteer 24 hours of service to an approved project in your community, and pass an open-book final exam. To remain certified each year you will need to take 10 hours of additional training and volunteer 24 hours of your time on an approved Master Gardener Volunteer project.
Master Gardener Volunteers are trained by UW Extension in all areas of gardening and the environment.
- Spring General Training for new Master Gardener Volunteers- 12 basic classes covering all areas of gardening including botany, soils, diseases, insects, vegetables, fruits, perennials, annuals, trees and other topics (36 hours of education.) General Training will be offered on Wednesday afternoons beginning January 26, 2011. Registration information will be available in September, 2010.
- Fall Specialized Master Gardener Volunteer Training - Continuing education is offered each fall for active Master Gardener Volunteers who have completed their volunteer hours for the year. Two programs are available Fall 2010 for continuing Master Gardener Volunteers in good standing:
Download a flyer for GARDENING AND WELLNESS program here. This program will be live lectures and hands-on activity format on Wednesdays, Oct 27th, Nov 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 9 to noon.
Download a flyer for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Landscaping and Lawns program here. This program is Distance Education through teleconference and PowerPoint on Tuesdays from Sept 28 to Nov 30th, 5:45 -9:00 p.m. at the Kenosha County Center in Bristol.
- Monthly RKMGA meetings are on the 4th Monday evening of each month and include 1 hour of educational programming – these programs are open to the public
- Special Events are available throughout the year.
Master Gardener Volunteer General Training is Taught Annually
- UW-Extension Offers General Training for Beginning Master Gardener Volunteers
Please call 886-8460 or e-mail patti.nagai@goracine.org to have your name put on the Prospective MG list in the database. Information will be mailed out in September. A mandatory orientation class will be held in October and/or November. Applications will be due in November. A criminal background check must be completed by December. Classes begin January 26, 2011.
