The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested Ohio residents, who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local OSU Extension county office. Volunteers are not required to have gardening skills or knowledge, but a passion for learning about gardening and sharing this knowledge with others is a must! Working with county Extension personnel, Master Gardener Volunteers provide such educational services to their communities as answering gardening questions from the public; conducting plant clinics; gardening activities with children, senior citizens, or disabled persons; beautifying the community; and developing community or demonstration gardens. The first group of Master Gardeners to be trained by Extension professionals was in the state of Washington in 1972. The first MG programs in Ohio originated in the late 1970s in the larger urban counties. More than 65 Ohio counties are now served by about 4,000 MG volunteers.
Henry County Master Gardener Volunteer Program began in 2004. Today, the Master Gardener Volunteer Program is still going strong with volunteers active throughout the County providing education, service, and beautification. Master Gardeners would like to thank the community for their support and look forward to serving the public with more project work and education in the future!
If you are interested in applying to become a Master Gardener Volunteer, call the OSU Extension office, or contact Alan Leininger leininger.17@osu.edu. Ask to be added to the mailing list for the next MG training class. You will be contacted by the Extension office when the next training class will be offered. Each prospective MG fills out an application, is interviewed by the MG coordinator, and then is notified if he/she has been selected to become part of the MG training class. Upon successful completion of fifty hours of the MG training program, each volunteer is expected to provide fifty hours of horticultural education to the community through activities and programs of the Henry County Master Gardeners organization. You could make a great Master Gardener Volunteer if:
• You want to learn more about plants and gardening.
• You are eager to participate in practical and intensive training programs.
• You enjoy sharing your knowledge with others.
• You have the time to attend training and serve your community as a volunteer educator.
Henry County Master Gardener Help Line
Need some INFORMATION?
Call us at the Help Line! Phone: 419-592-0806
OR
Fill out our online questionnaire: https://u.osu.edu/henrymgv/mgv-helpline/
The Master Gardeners of Henry County offer a Help Line during the growing season. This is open to gardeners in the area who have questions or requests for information. This line is staffed with trained Master Gardener volunteers who can assist you. Its main purpose is to provide county residents with a competent, unbiased source of horticulture information, which may be consulted for answers to their plant or insect problems. Master Gardener Volunteers take advantage of yearly continuing education opportunities and provide volunteer community service to educate the public with specific answers to questions regarding botany, soils, fertilizer, IPM (integrated pest management), entomology, plant propagation, plant pathology, plant diagnostics, woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, herbs, houseplants, water gardens, weeds, turf, vegetables, small fruit production, and trees. So, if you have questions about a plant or insect in your lawn, garden, or landscape, the Henry County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can help you find an answer. You can also bring samples to the Ohio State University Extension of Henry County office. Samples may be left at any time. Bring a sample in a Ziploc bag or covered container. If someone is not available to assist you at that time, you will be called when someone is available. Often plant problems directly relate to availability of soil nutrients. Our extension office has soil test kits for home use. The cost is around $10 which includes analyses by an agricultural lab. It can be the best first step for accurate diagnosis. Please note: We do not have laboratory facilities, so we do a visual analysis only. Sometimes we are unable to arrive at a conclusion and may direct you to send plant or insect samples to a diagnostic lab.