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If you've been reading the Saturday Union Democrat, you probably have read the articles about plants and insects and gardens and green thumbs. You’ve been shown how to use water effectively; you’ve been told why certain plants should or should not be cultivated in our area; and you may have even read about interesting bugs and fungi and why your tomatoes have blossom end rot.

But just who are the people telling you all this interesting stuff?  UCCE Master Gardeners of Tuolumne County, that’s who.  And who are these master gardeners? Well, they may be your neighbor or a friend or someone you talked to last week at the local nursery. In fact, they most likely are very much like you. Rather than “experts,” they are simply people who like to see things grow well and who choose to apply sound, scientific research-based principles to their gardening.

Master Gardeners are University of California-trained and certified volunteer educators, and the approximately 100 master gardeners in Tuolumne County and the 60 in Calaveras County are often contractors, teachers, homemakers, students, or people who retired from professions like those—again, chances are they are just like you.

The Master Gardener Program is administered locally by the county office of UCCE (University of California Cooperative Extension) and is part of the public education arm of the University’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The UC County Director or a UC Advisor administers the program.

But what kinds of things are Master Gardeners expected to do? Certainly, they answer questions. You may have seen some of them doing just that at a booth at the Sonora or Tuolumne Farmer’s Market. You may have even called the MG Hotline in Tuolumne County (209-533-5912) with a question about powdery mildew, harlequin bugs, or peach leaf curl.

But they do much more than that. Master Gardeners donate a minimum of 25 hours per year (50
the first year) manning demonstration gardens, providing information tables, helping with school gardens, responding to inquiries and more.

Perhaps the greatest thing about becoming a Master Gardener is the wealth of research-based information the gardeners learn and apply to their own gardens.  If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener please enter your contact information on the paper interest list or online here.

Volunteer Needs:

• Information Booths
• Help Line/Help Desk
• Fair Grounds Triangle
• Radio Show, “Over the Garden Gate” kaad-lp.org
• Home and Garden Show
• Seed Share with FoCuS
• Summer Recreation and Spring Break Programs
• Master Gardener Demonstration Garden
• School Gardens
• Growing Plants for Plant Sale
• and more.......