Washington County Master Gardeners

Who are the Master Gardeners?

Our Master Gardeners are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who love to share their gardening passion and know-how. Master Gardeners create and revitalize gardens, teach kids how to garden, give talks and offer plant clinics at local events. They benefit from 40 hours of formal training by University of Maryland educators plus stimulating, ongoing learning opportunities.

The Master Gardeners are at work in our community in dozens of programs including:

6 teaching gardens through the C-Safe program
An historic 4-square garden at the Rural Heritage Museum
Plant clinics at the City Farmers Market in downtown Hagerstown
A memorial garden restoration project at Hagerstown Community College
Therapeutic garden renovations at the Western MD Hospital Center
A speaker’s bureau that offers free talks through the community
An annual plant sale in April with Master Gardener-grown plants
Information booths at local events including the HCC Flower & Garden Show, Ag Expo and Boonsboro Days.

Join the Master Gardeners

If you have a green thumb, love to learn and share what you know, you could be a Master Gardener.

Master Gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach people safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics, talks, demonstration gardens and more.

Trained by University of Maryland experts, Master Gardeners grow their gardening know-how through 40 hours of classroom training. They learn about everything from botany to bugs, pruning to propagation and weeds to wildlife.

Then the giving starts. Master Gardeners turn their gift for gardening into gifts to the community. You’ll find them answering questions at the farmer’s market, teaching kids about vegetables at local schools, planting heirloom plants at the Rural Heritage Museum and giving talks to garden clubs. Over a dozen projects reach every corner of the county.

“It’s our mission to help build healthier gardens and communities,” said Master Gardener coordinator Annette Ipsan. “By teaching environmentally responsible techniques, we give gardeners effective tools to solve problems and build a greener world.”

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Master Gardener training classes in Washington County, which will be held Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. from February 11 to April 8.

Class size is limited. To learn more about the Master Gardener program and to request an application, contact Annette Ipsan, Extension Educator for Horticulture at aipsan@umd.edu or 301-791-1604.

To learn more about the Master Gardener program, contact: Annette Ipsan,Extension Educator for Horticulture, at 301-791-1604 or aipsan@umd.edu.

For more information, contact Annette Ipsan

Last updated: 03/10/2009