Training Program
2021 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program
The Master Gardener Volunteer training will take place online in 2021 and will include self-paced learning modules coupled with live virtual sessions where participants will have direct access to dozens of horticultural experts from across the state. The course, designed to train volunteers for horticulture and food system related community service projects, will cover vegetable and fruit production, plants for the Maine landscape, soil health, composting, pesticide safety, food security, and more. Participants will be expected to engage in fun volunteer opportunities over the summer months and beyond.
Application deadline: January 24, 2021
Course Fee: $250 (limited financial assistance is available)
Course Schedule: The training program will be divided into two parts, a spring and fall semester, which will take place:
- Spring semester: March 1 to May 23, 2021
- Fall semester: September 7 to October 31, 2021
Program Requirements:
- 2 to 4 hours of self-paced learning content in the form of short videos, readings, activities, online discussions and self-graded quizzes each week
- County led sessions, the first and last virtual sessions of each semester (4 total)
- Optional: Panel Q&A sessions with Extension experts and industry experts (attendance is highly recommended)
- A mid-term and final assessment (open-book, grade of 70% required to pass)
- Volunteer at least 40 hours on a community project (includes virtual volunteer opportunities) in 2021 to complete certification. Please note: Service opportunities and expectations will be adjusted based on public health safety guidelines.
- In order to maintain the Master Gardener Volunteer certification, volunteers must commit to volunteering a minimum of 20 hours every calendar year with an approved project and submit an annual enrollment form.
Technology Requirements: This program will be entirely online. An email address, access to a reliable internet connection, the newest version of your web browser and an electronic device (i.e. laptop, desktop, iPad, or tablet) with video/audio capabilities are required to complete this course.
Accommodations: If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at extension.mastergardeners@maine.edu or 207-581-3188 by January 24, 2021. If requests are received after this date, we may not have sufficient time to make necessary arrangements.
Refund Policy: 50% refunds will be available until March 8th.
Live Virtual Sessions: These sessions will take place for about 1½ hours the same time every week (only 4 are required). Please check your county meeting time below and the course schedule for more details.
- Tuesdays at 6pm: Aroostook, Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc and Somerset counties
- Wednesdays at 12pm: Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Washington and York counties
Course Schedule (tentative)
| SPRING SEMESTER | ||
|---|---|---|
| Week of | Self-Paced Content |
Live Virtual Sessions (*Required) |
| March 1 | Pre-work: Intro and Orientation to Brightspace | One-on-one Brightspace/Zoom training sessions (15 min each) |
| March 8 | Orientation & Volunteerism | County Led Session: Welcome and Introductions * |
| March 15 | Botany | Botany Activities and Panel Q&A |
| March 22 | Propagation | Plant Propagation Tips & Tricks |
| March 29 | Soils | Panel Q&A: What’s your soil wellness routine? |
| April 5 | Small Fruits | Panel Q&A: So you want to start a new volunteer project? |
| April 12 | Food Safety | Panel Q&A: Small Fruits and Food Safety in the Garden |
| April 19 | Pesticide Safety | |
| April 26 | Plant Diseases | Panel Q&A Plant Diseases and Pesticide Safety |
| May 3 | Vegetables | Panel Q&A Vegetable Crops |
| May 10 | Vegetables Maintenance | Panel Q&A Vegetables Maintenance |
| May 17 | Mid Term Exam | County Led Session: Spring Semester Wrap Up * |
|
FALL SEMESTER |
||
|---|---|---|
| Week of | Self-Paced Content |
Live Virtual Sessions (*Required) |
| September 7 | Food Systems and Food Security | County Led Session: Fall Semester Welcome Back * |
| September 13 | Plants For the Maine Landscape (part 1) | Panel Q&A: Food System and Food Security |
| September 20 | Plants For the Maine Landscape (part 2) | Panel Q&A: Landscape Design & Maintenance |
| September 27 | Landscape Design and Maintenance | Panel Q&A: Plants for the Maine Landscape |
| October 4 | Entomology | Panel Q&A: Entomology, Ticks and Pesticide Safety |
| October 11 | Tree Fruits | Panel Q&A: Tree Fruits |
| October 18 | Composting | Panel Q&A: Composting |
| October 25 | Final Exam | County Led Session: Final Assessment and Wrap Ups * |