Garden - Lawn - Landscape

WSU Master Gardeners

in Spokane County

2008 Programs

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Master Gardener Volunteers engage in numerous educational services throughout the community. Major projects must be scheduled a year in advance. If you or your organization would like assistance in one of the following areas, call 477-2181.

INFORMATION BOOTHS

Master Gardeners staff booths at a variety of locations such as community events, parks, school fairs, and garden stores to answer questions, hand out free fact sheets, and sell County publications. Organizations may request specialized information such as gardening for the disabled or sustainable gardening.

SPEAKERS LIST

A Speakers List is provided to clubs or organizations requesting a speaker for a meeting or event. Master Gardeners list a variety of topics on which they are willing to speak. Groups requesting speakers will make their own arrangements with individual speakers. You can print off your own list or call 477-2048 and we will mail you a list.

ADAPTIVE GARDENING ASSISTANCE

The Gardening for Life program has information to help seniors and those with physical limitations keep gardening throughout their lifetime. The 94-page booklet "Gardening for Life" discusses various tools and techniques to make gardening easier for those with a wide range of physical limitations. Also available in the Plant Clinic are handouts on accommodating specific physical problems, reference books, and other resource materials. The committee can provide speakers, demonstrations, and a portable display of adaptive tools to local organizations and groups.

PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS

Don’t know what’s bugging your plants? Bring insects and sick plants into the Master Gardener Plant Clinic and Resource Center. Master Gardeners can identify insects and insect damage, diagnose various types of plant disease, and suggest pest management solutions ranging from cultural to organic to WSU-approved chemical treatments. Avoid pesticide misuse and overuse.

Master Gardener Volunteers serve as human links between WSU research-based horticulture information and the general public. Becoming a Master Gardener involves completing an application packet, being accepted for training, attending an orientation and 64 hours of horticulture training, passing weekly quizzes and a final exam, and volunteering 40 hours or more each year in Spokane County.

Volunteers answer questions about a wide variety of horticulture issues, including plant selection, installation and maintenance, plant problem diagnosis and treatment, environmentally sound gardening practices, pest identification and management, and effective landscaping practices.Volunteer work includes helping in the Master Gardener Center, teaching youth, adults and seniors about gardening, researching and writing educational information, staffing information booths at community events and other activities.

Master Gardener Volunteers make significant contributions to furthering safe and sound gardening practices. If you are an experienced gardener, want to increase and share your knowledge, and are available to volunteer during weekday hours, think about applying to be a WSU Master Gardener.