Deschutes County - Central Oregon Master Gardener Program

The OSU Master Gardener™ Program in Central Oregon

The OSU Master Gardener™ program is entering its 28th consecutive year, serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. Over the years, this program has trained hundreds of volunteers and they, in turn, have reached thousands of clients within our communities.

The program targets individuals interested in learning and sharing research-based gardening information. Currently, the program has over 50 active volunteers who find the program educational, fun and very rewarding.

OSU Master Gardener™ Online Training

The OSU Master Gardener™ Online Training offers the opportunity to become a certified Master Gardener and to earn the Master Gardener badge. In addition to the basic training course, participants are required to put in 40–70 hours of volunteer work at their local OSU Extension office. The course begins January 2010 and costs $390. Registration for will open in late fall for the course that begins in January 2010.

"Certified OSU Master Gardeners are highly trained volunteers who share the art and science of sustainable gardening and OSU resources in home horticulture with the citizens of Oregon". More than 3,500 people across the state have become Master Gardeners through the OSU program.

Topics included in the Master Gardener basic training course include botany and entomology; integrated pest management and pesticide safety; soils, fertilizers and composting; ornamental, herbaceous plants and woody plants; vegetable, indoor and container gardening; sustainable landscaping; and plant pathology.

Registration for this class is online at: http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/mastergardener

The Master Gardener online course is offered by the OSU Extended Campus (Ecampus) and Extension Service.