Polk County Master Gardener Program

Master Gardener Training is offered once a year at the Polk County Extension Service in Bartow. In 2007, the program will start on September 18th and meet every Tuesday (except Thanksgiving week) for 5 hours until December 11th. Classes hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. If you are interested click on The Sprouting Kit (88.32KB pdf), which will give you all the details about the program, along with an application and short quiz. Or, you can call the Extension Office at (863) 519-8677 Ext. 109 and request a Sprouting Kit.

Please keep in mind that the program is designed to train volunteers to help the Environmental Horticulturist with his programs, which include taking homeowner telephone calls, working on demonstration gardens, working with school children, working with the disabled and the elderly and many more. After training is completed in December, you will be expected to contribute 50 volunteers hours over the next year. To maintain Master Gardener status in following years, you will need to contribute 50 hours of volunteer service per year.

The Master Gardeners of Polk County is an association with officers and by-laws. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. until noon. Attendance is recommended but not required. Upon completion of the Master Gardener training you will automatically become a member of this group. There are no dues or other costs associated with being a member. The Master Gardener Meetings often have guest speakers and sometimes the group goes on field trips. The association has a number of committees which coordinate association volunteer projects.