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Statewide Mission Statement

Our Mission -   The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program provides knowledge to and develops the leadership abilities of volunteers who, in turn, enable others to improve the quality of their lives by enhancing their home and community environments through horticultural education and activities.

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Clark County Master Gardener Association
Mission and Vision Statement

Mission:
The Master Gardeners Association of CLARK COUNTY provides horticultural leadership and education through programs and activities within the community, while striving to develop, improve and preserve the quality of our natural environment.

Vision:
THE CLARK COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION strives to be a leader of horticultural education and to be recognized as a model among Master Gardener programs.

Values:
As Clark County Master Gardener volunteers we value the world we live in, and seek to preserve and improve the beauty and safety of our environment through horticultural related education without discrimination. We believe in:

    EDUCATION:
    To provide sound educational programs to develop Master Gardener volunteers, and to increase the horticultural knowledge and skills of the public without regard to diversities of age, gender, or other personal status.
    To provide accurate, current, research-based, and understandable horticultural information and guidance.

    COOPERATION:
    To foster cooperation and camaraderie within the Clark County Master Gardener Association, and with other Master Gardener volunteers at all levels.
    To collaborate with community organizations.
    To enrich the community by sharing our love of gardening through fellowship with other gardeners of all ages.

    LEADERSHIP:
    To cultivate the leadership skills of volunteers in preparation for leadership roles at local, state and national levels.

    SELF-SUFFICIENCY:
    To develop funding alternatives to achieve a self-sufficient Master Gardener Association and program.

    SERVICE:
    To provide services in support of the above with integrity, reliability and promptness.

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What is the Master Gardener Program?

The OSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a premier statewide network of volunteer education and leadership development; as well as a consumer horticulture education delivery system that maximizes human, material, and natural resources, and values teamwork and excellence in educational programming.

The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program has rapidly expanded in the last five years. In 1991, there were less than 10 Ohio counties with Master Gardeners. In 1998, over 53 counties involved with the Master Gardener program. In addition, there are a number of counties that have expressed interest in starting the program in the near future.

There are many exciting opportunities for continuing education and camaraderie and this has helped OSU Extension to develop a corps of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers are an important component of the OSU Extension system. The Master Gardeners' knowledge, experience and enthusiasm have become essential to Extension education of consumer horticulture in the state of Ohio.

Please feel free to contact our facility with any questions about our programs and services to the community. We are available for presentations, programs and information sharing that your group, company, or organization might like to know more about. 

The formal training program is the responsibility of the Clark County Extension professionals. Instructors are Ohio State University faculty, Extension Specialists, Extension Associates, experienced Master Gardeners, and other experts. 

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Training

The training program provides a balanced, integrated practical course in plant science. Core topics that are to be part of the training in every county are oriented to Extension and the Master Gardener Program:

  • Basic Botany
  • Plant Physiology
  • Soils and Soil Fertility
  • Basic Entomology
  • Basic Plant Pathology
  • Plant Disease Diagnosis
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Pesticide Use and Safety
  • Plant Identification
  • Home Lawn Care
  • Annuals
  • Perennials
  • Bulbs
  • Trees and Shrubs
  • Home Vegetable Production
  • Home Fruit Production
  • Backyard Wildlife Management
  • Organic Gardening
    Special topics, based on local needs, may be part of the curriculum.

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Volunteer Commitment

The Master Gardener training course consists of a minimum of 50 hours of instruction. An equivalent number (50) of horticulturally significant volunteer hours is required to become a certified Master Gardener. Master Gardeners may recertify by completing 25 additional hours of public service and 6 hours of advanced educational training.  Only unpaid public service in Ohio State University Extension-sponsored activities count toward the requirement. 

State Master Gardener

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Special Projects  : Horticulture Home Page


Layout, design and revisions © 2001-2002 Clark County Ohio State University Extension
Revised: November 2007

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. 
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension 
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868