Cooperative Extension An off-campus teaching arm of the University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension conducts educational pro-gramming in these areas: ~ Horticulture ~ Agriculture ~ Children, Youth, and Families ~ Nutrition and Health ~ Natural Resource Management ~ Community Development The purpose of Cooperative Exten-sion is “To discover, develop, dis-seminate, preserve and use knowl-edge to strengthen the social, eco-nomic and environmental well-being of people.” Cooperative Extension is funded jointly by the federal government, the State of Nevada, and each of the counties it serves.

NEVADA MASTER GARDENER

PROGRAM

"Gardening for a More Beautiful Nevada"

The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Opportu-nity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discrimi-

nate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, and sexual orientation, in any program or ac-tivity it operates. The University of Nevada, Reno em-

ploys only United States citizens and aliens lawfully

Contact the Master Gardener coordinator: hansonw@unce.unr.edu

Have a gardening question? Ask a Master Gardener:

mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu

Persons in need of special accommodations or assis-tance must call or notify Wendy Hanson, (775) 784-4848 at least three days prior to the scheduled class.

Cooperative Extension Offices in Western Nevada

Reno 4955 Energy Way Reno, NV 89502 (775) 784-4848

Fax (775) 784-4881

Carson City 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 15

Carson City, NV 89706 (775) 887-2252

Fax (775) 887-2065

Gardnerville 1329 Waterloo Lane

Gardnerville, NV 89410 (775) 782-9960

Fax (775) 782-9968

Incline Village 855 Alder Ave., Suite 104 Incline Village, NV 89450

(775) 832-4150 Fax (775) 832-4139

Who Are Master Gardeners?

Master Gardeners are trained in the finer points of gardening to improve their own knowledge and to share it with others. As volunteers, Master Gardeners contribute 50 hours per year in a va-riety of projects, including answering telephone inquiries, conducting plant clinics, performing soil tests, staffing booths at fairs and home shows and consulting at school and community gardens. Master Gardeners also ap-ply their knowledge to improve their own gardens and landscapes. The Master Gardener program has been operating in northern Nevada since 1976.

Who Conducts the Training?

Classes are taught by horticulturists and specialists from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the Nevada Department of Agricul-ture. The training does not earn uni-versity credits.

What Do Master Gardeners Learn?

Training covers a wide range of gar-dening topics including: ~ Basic botany ~ Soils and composting ~ Identification and control of in-

sects, diseases and weeds ~ Diagnosing plant problems ~ Appropriate water use ~ Lawn and tree care ~ Pruning techniques ~ Edible gardening ~ Water-efficient landscape design

How Much Class Time is Involved?

Each class is three hours long. The course includes a total of 63 hours, spread over six to nine weeks.

When and Where are Classes?

Classes are offered weekday morn-ings in even years and weekday af-ternoons in odd years. They are held in early spring in Reno and in the fall in Carson City. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for class dates and times. A fee is charged to cover program costs in-cluding a comprehensive Master Gardener Handbook. Contact Ashley Andrews at 775-336-0231 for infor-mation on the next available class. Next Class: March 2012 live in Reno, and video-linked to Carson City and Douglas County.

Volunteer Community Service

Master Gardener interns commit to 50 hours of community service in re-turn for their training. Once the com-munity service is completed, interns become Certified Master Gardeners. A wide variety of community service activities are available. The program is open to anyone in-terested in gardening and willing to volunteer. To learn more, contact a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office listed on the back.

The Role of Plants in our Environment

Plants add beauty to our surround-ings, soften the landscape, provide food and shelter, and create habitat for wildlife. They also clean our air, cool our homes and improve prop-erty values. Plants are an important part of a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment. The mission of Master Gardeners is to help people improve their lives through education. Master Garden-ers are committed to improving themselves, their community and their environment by participating in horticulture educational activities. They are leaders in environmental stewardship.