State Master Gardener Advanced Training Program Annual Report 2011 the State Advanced

State Master Gardener Advanced Training Program Annual Report 2011 The State Advanced Training Program trained 1191 Master Gardeners in 2011 and was coordinated by Robin Hessey.

SUMMARY:

 211 took Level II Advanced Training classes in Plant ID/Taxonomy, 200 Common Landscape Plants of Maryland, Ask a MG Practicum, Landscape Design for Water Management, and Master Composter.  207 were trained in a single day continuing education workshops on Plant Diseases, Entomology, Youth Gardening, Home Fruit Production and Vegetable Gardening (Grow It Eat It).  773 attended Annual Training Day in May 2011 at UMCP.

211 were trained In Advanced Training Level II - classes offered Master Gardeners an opportunity for in-depth learning about many important subjects. They had opportunities to learn the basics of plant taxonomy, specifics about 40 Evergreen Trees and Shrubs, and 45 Shade Trees, how to diagnose plant problems in "Ask a MG" Practicum, how to become compost experts in the Master Composter Class and how to design landscapes that would best handle and infiltrate stormwater in the Landscape Design for Water Management class.

These courses were designed to give Master Gardeners the in-depth knowledge they need to better understand their environment and how to advise the public. They are all certificate classes and are multi-part and multi-day.

 Plant ID/Taxonomy- 89 total students received 9 hours of training. Course was taught by Wanda MacLachlan in 4 different locations: Montgomery, Frederick and St. Mary’s county, and Baltimore City. 97% of students taking these classes rated the class a 4 or 5 (5 being the highest rating). Students now know how to identify woody plants in the landscape using dichotomous keys.  Landscape Horticulture- 200 Common Landscape Plants of MD. 41 total students trained in 2 different 9-hr courses taught in 5 different locations. o Evergreen Trees and Shrubs- Queen Anne’s Co. 17 took this class taught by Sever Dubik. o Shade Trees- Anne Arundel Co. 24 took these two classes taught by Bob Stewart.  Master Composter Classes- 27 trained. 10 hour course taught in 1 location (Baltimore Co.). 86% gave this class an excellent or very good rating. 100% passed their final exam. All are expected to perform 10 hours of volunteer work in the field of composting.

 “Ask an MG” Practicum. 25 trained. One 12 hour class spread out over 3 days. Included 2 fields trip and 4 instructors. 86% rated this course as excellent or very good and 97% said they’d be more likely to work at a Plant Clinic as a result of taking the course.  Landscaping Design for Water Management. New course for Howard Co. location. 29 trained. One 17-hr class spread out over 3 days. 75% rated the class good or excellent and 97% said they would use what they learned in this class. 207 were trained in a single day continuing education workshops where MGs had the chance to deepen their knowledge about Youth Education, Plant Diseases, Entomology, and Vegetable Gardening (Grow It Eat It) and Home Fruit Production.

 Youth Education. 40 trained (20 MGs and 20 teachers). One 6 hr course taught in Baltimore City by 4 educators from Great Kids Farm (part of Baltimore City school system) and Jon Traunfeld.  Plant Diseases. 31 trained. One 6-hr. course taught by Dave Clement, Ph.D. in St. Mary's County.  Entomology. 32 trained. One 6-hr. course taught by Mike Raupp, Ph.D. in Montgomery Co.  Vegetable Gardening (Grow It Eat It) Field trips. 84 were trained in field walks lasting 2 hours in 4 locations (Washington Co. Montgomery Co, Kinder Farm park (Anne Arundel Co.), Charles Co. Detention Ctr.  Home Fruit Production. 20 were trained in one 6-hr course taught in Prince George’s Co. Upper Marlboro Facility by Chris Walsh, Ph.D and Dave Myers.

773 were trained at Annual Training Day- MG’s received 6.5 hours of training with keynote speaker, 30 workshops, a trade show, breakfast and lunch. A wide variety of topics from container gardening to irrigation to labs on plant diseases were offered to better educate MGs with current, relevant information.