The Louisiana Master Gardener program is a service and educational activity designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet the needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for those involved. The volunteer aspect of the Master Gardener program allows individuals to dedicate their time and talents to help educate the public on best management practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship. Master Gardener volunteers play an important role in reaching the consumer horticulture audience and learn quickly that being a Master Gardener volunteer provides a fun, interesting and rewarding experience.

Local residents of St. Charles and St. John parishes who have an interest to become a certified Louisiana Master Gardener volunteer are invited to participate in the 2014 LMG training program scheduled to begin May 7.

The 12-week training will involve one class session per week conducted each Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon and three Saturday sessions from 9 a.m. to noon. Classes will alternate between the St. Charles Parish County Agent’s office of the LSU AgCenter located at 1313 Paul Maillard Road in Luling, and the St. John Parish library located at 2920 U.S. Highway 51, LaPlace.

Classes will involve more than 14 subject matter areas in horticulture with instruction provided by PhD specialists and parish county agents of the LSU AgCenter. Additional instruction will be provided by certified horticulturalists, master gardeners and other professionals. Participants are not required to have an extensive horticulture background or knowledge as the course work is tailored for beginners and experienced gardeners.

There is a $150 registration fee to cover the cost of the training manual and teaching supplies. It is due at the first class (orientation) on May 7. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 20 participants. To qualify for selection, a Louisiana Master Gardener application must be submitted and received at the St. Charles Parish or the St. John Parish Extension County Agent’s Office by April 1. To request an application for participation in the 2014 LMG training program call the St. John Parish Extension office at 985-497-3261 or the St. Charles Parish Extension office at 985-785-4473.

Mariah Bock is the LSU AgCenter County Agent for St. John Parish, she can be reached by email at mbock@agcenter.lsu.edu.