By Linda Lee

Being a WSU Master Gardener is a lot of work, but it’s also fun.

Back in the early 80’s I learned about the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program from a co-worker whose husband was taking the course. I waited almost 20 years to take that course.

I spent most of my working life helping folks get where they needed or wanted to be: maybe a new job after a lay-off, unemployment benefits, training for that new job or maybe just a better paying job or one more enjoyable to that person. When I quit working, I checked to see if there was still a Master Gardener program and I applied to take the course. I felt this would be a terrific opportunity to learn and a chance to continue helping folks. That was 17 years ago and I have never looked back.

Being a Master Gardener is not only a great learning experience, but it also gives you the opportunity to share what you have learned. It is great fun! The people I have met over the years are the best and some have become close friends. I had always been interested in gardening (except when asked to help weed my Dad’s garden as a teen).

Our Master Gardener class was two days a week for six weeks in the fall. Between classes we had tests to take and studying to do. Now there are classes on alternate Saturdays January-June, and the rest of the week trainees use online workbooks that allow them to study when it is convenient. This has given many working folks a chance to take the classes who couldn’t in the past.

The idea of teaching folks how to grow flowers was appealing, but when we got to the diagnostic part of the training I knew I’d found my niche, and plant clinics became my favorite activity. It was great fun meeting people who came with problems and helping them solve these problems.

What was even more fun was coming up with ideas on how to better help solve plant problems. We made notebooks with pictures of the most common pests and diseases and their damage. Many folks bring in a sample but forget to do so or the sample is pretty worn by the time they get it to us. With the photo notebook, we could show them what we thought they were talking about and then continue questioning until we had a pretty good idea of what the problem was.

I think I most enjoyed the problems we couldn’t solve right there at the clinic. These were the ones we took home to research and then contacted to the client with an answer. This also gave us newer Master Gardeners the chance to consult a veteran Master Gardener or the County agent to be sure what we had decided was the problem.

If you would like to explore training as a WSU Master Gardener, you can attend a free preview at the Hoquiam library on September 30, from 10 to noon. For more information or for an application, contact the Grays Harbor WSU Extension Office (360.482.2934) or send email to 2018mgtrainees@gmail.com.

Linda Lee, WSU Master Gardener from Cosmopolis.