The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners are seeking applicants for their education and volunteer program to begin training this fall.

The basic training course runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays from Sept. 10 to Nov. 5 and includes everything from the basics of botany to plant selection. Area residents interested in the program should contact K-State Research and Extension in Douglas County (2110 Harper St., douglas.k-state.edu, 785-843-7058)as soon as possible to apply or for more information.

Being a Master Gardener is more than a fancy title: It indicates a willingness to learn and a willingness to give back to the community. To officially call oneself a Master Gardener, a person must complete the basic training course, then complete a number of volunteer hours in the organization’s volunteer initiatives.

To stay active each year after the basic requirements are met, a Master Gardener volunteer must participate in continuing education and continue to volunteer in the group’s activities.

The basic training and continuing education sessions are typically taught by Kansas State University professors, Extension Agents, industry leaders, and by other Master Gardeners. Trainees are provided with an extensive manual and are opened up to a wealth of resources through Kansas State University Research and Extension.

In Douglas County, there are many volunteer activities sanctioned by the group. Some of the largest projects are maintenance of demonstration gardens at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, the Monarch Waystation No. 1 on the Kansas University campus, and Tom Swan Park in Baldwin City. They are called demonstration gardens because they demonstrate good plant choices and good landscape practices such as mulching, composting, drip irrigation, etc.

Other organizational activities include helping area residents resolve gardening dilemmas on a horticulture hotline and at the Saturday morning Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, organizing a biannual garden tour (also a fundraiser for the group), distributing research-based gardening information at a Spring Garden Fair and various community events, working with youth through a Junior Master Gardener program, speaking to other local organizations, and more.

The training and volunteer activities are consistent with other Master Gardener programs in the area and across the nation because they are mostly sponsored through University Extension programs. In general, Master Gardeners work to help others make better gardening choices.

There is a $125 fee associated with the basic training course to cover the cost of the manual and materials used in class activities. Lunch is included with the course. Continuing education courses are typically free to active program volunteers although participants may choose to attend advanced sessions that have a charge such as the state and international master gardener conferences.

Master Gardeners are active in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several provinces in Canada. A national survey in 2009 estimated nearly 95,000 Master Gardener volunteers

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show” and has been a gardener since childhood. Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.