MANCHESTER – The 2009 Master Gardener Volunteer Program for Kennebec and Waldo counties will start in early March.

The program will focus on ornamentals and will begin on Tuesday, March 10. Classes will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays until April 30 at Longfellow’s Greenhouse. Training will continue in the spring with a required minimum of two hands-on workshops.

After completing all 13 classes, an open book exam and two workshops, participants are required to give 40 hours of volunteer time to their community. There are many ways for trainees to share their new gardening knowledge – demonstration gardens, school programs, Plant-A-Row for the Hungry campaigns, newsletter articles, public talks and slide shows.

After 40 hours of volunteerism, master gardeners become certified and can maintain yearly certification with as little as 20 hours. Advanced training opportunities and newsletters are available to all certified master gardener volunteers.

The total program costs $90 and includes a large reference manual and handouts from Extension specialists and industry experts.

Those interested in taking the program and becoming a master gardener volunteer should call or e-mail for an application. Class size is limited.

For more information, contact the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Kennebec County Office at 1-800-287-1421 or 622-7546 or e-mail [email protected].