Summary
The Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada are nearing their 30th year of supplying citizens of Southern Nevada with good research based horticultural information to help them be successful desert gardeners.
Each of the over 300 volunteers had to complete 80 hours of classroom time as well as an internship before being certified. Master Gardeners commit to at least 50 hours of volunteer service as well as 10 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their status. The Master Gardeners volunteer hours equate to close to $1,000,000 annually in un-paid service to the citizens of Clark and Nye counties.
Master Gardeners use a variety of instruction models and continue to expand their outreach efforts by teaching or leading projects at various community gardens, schools, libraries and Sr. centers and garden clubs. Master Gardeners will tailor their instruction to audiences specific needs or interests.
Our out reach efforts are continuing to expand by adding new programs such as:
On-line Master Gardener Program under development
the new Extension Gardeners Certificate program which gives participants in-depth training in local horticulture practices. Participants do not have to volunteer to be in this program but if they decide to become a Master Gardener at a later date, some of the classes taken will be used toward certification at the annual Master Gardener training.
Extension Gardener in Spanish program is currently being developed and is set to be introduced in Spring 2020 Bilingual Master Gardeners will be teaching this certificate program in various areas of the County.
Master Gardener Digital Outreach project is taking research based horticulture information to a much wider audience by using social media platforms, online education and work-shops and Video horticulture instruction to name a few. Master Gardeners in this project receive additional instruction in not only the basics of digital platforms but how and why information has to be made "accessible" for all users. The additional training also includes ways to engage, manage and educate a Social Platform, the importance of "Free Speech", how to deal with difficult users or "Trolls" and how to put the "Social" in social media.
