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[GWL]: Master Gardeners versus Garden Clubs

Gene wrote:
>I can not speak for your state,

province, arghhhh! that's p-r-o-v-i-n-c-e. Nova Scotia, Canada to be exact.
sorry.....don't really know why that touched a nerve.

>but here in southern Indiana, MG program
> takes about 14 weeks of instruction, 4 hours once a week.

Gene, really, thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I 
do appreciate learning more about this program, though I have no 
desire to pursue it for myself, I have had others ask me about it. 
The closest province to us here in Canada that have Master Gardeners 
is Ontario. As far as I know there are none in Quebec, New Brunswick, 
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland.

> Cost is about $125, part of which is refundable,  if
> you complete the classes do your volunteer hours.

Cost to join typical garden club is $10-$15 annual membership fee. 
Volunteering is encouraged, but not required.

> You will find it is one of the best ways to not only get an introduction
> to hort, but make friends with another 50 gardeners.

The 60+ garden clubs in this province average 50-90 members, ranging
from novice to very experienced. I believe garden club camaraderie
is unparalled. Q&A sessions are popular, guest speakers are generally
booked for each month. These local professionals in the industry
present info on a tremendous variety of horticultural topics.

> Networking is strong thread through the organization.

Garden club members in Nova Scotia receive a quarterly newsletter and 
are encouraged to attend the 2-3 day annual convention.

> MG have their own "garden club" of past"graduates". You are introduced
> to the community in which you live, get to know most of the charitable
> organization, garden clubs, etc.

Each community is the nucleus for each garden club, composed of 
members who live in the area. All of the garden clubs that I know of 
are proud of the extensive work they do in their community, be it with school 
children, senior citizen homes, churches, physically and/or mentally 
challenged individuals, etc. All hold annual plant sales, flower 
shows and teas, local garden tours and some rent buses to visit 
nurseries en masse. Hallelujah.

>No one is replaced by MGs.

oh....I thought they supplied their articles for free to newspapers?

>The Kentucky extension agent does a question and answer column for the
> Courier Journal once a week. I have never been into that type of gardening
> writing so was not upset when she got the position. Being a state employee
> she can not accept money from the Courier... is my understanding.

Up until last year, we had a government agricultural department known as the 
Production Technology Branch. I'd often turn to these wonderfully 
knowledgeable people for articles....and paid them par as I would our 
other writers....
This branch was made obsolete in May 2000. I believe the gov't. found 
it unnecessary due to all of the other sources for garden info.

>Incidentally, the titles MG and "professional writer" are not mutually
>exclusive. Many on this list are probably both.

No doubt you are right on that one. And I'm not bashing MG's despite 
the above. I'm just sticking up for garden clubs. I have a real tie 
with these groups, and respect for them, wherever they are. I 
understand that MG's are undoubtedly more educated 
and better connected...but also required to volunteer in order to
obtain their titles. Garden club members do it out of love.

Carla Allen
http://www.carlaallen.ca
~A Canadian East Coast Gardener~
:-)

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