ATLANTA, GA -- Over the past 30 years, more than 5,000 people across the state have worked for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and never received a paycheck. They are the state’s Master Gardeners, volunteers trained in horticulture who make up the network of dedicated individuals who love gardening and share their time and talents with the community. In 2009, more than 3,000 individuals donated more than 206,500 hours to the organization.

             Hall County’s 150-member Master Gardeners organization led the state with more than 17,000 hours donated in 2009.

             This year Gov. Sonny Perdue has declared March 20 Georgia Master Gardener Day to commemorate the thousands of hours that the state’s Master Gardeners have given in service – teaching classes, doing community work, mentoring young people, educating the public and spending hours on the telephones answering gardening questions for the public.

             “Our Master Gardeners are amazing,” said Judy Mitchell, 2010 president of the organization. “All across the state, they are involved in so many projects that promote gardening and horticulture. And every one of them is enthusiastic in sharing their love of all things gardening.”

             Georgia Master Gardener Association, Inc. is a non-profit association of Georgia Master Gardener volunteers that works cooperatively with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension. There are a number of active chapters in the state, each training between 15 and 30 volunteers each year.

             The association was formed to provide a platform to bring Master Gardener associations in the State of Georgia together; to provide a forum for information and idea exchange ; and,  to assist the Extension by providing qualified volunteer help to educate and inform the general public about good horticultural practices.

             Membership for GMGA is available exclusively to Master Gardeners who have completed their courses through their county UGA Cooperative Extension, given volunteers hours to community projects and paid an annual membership fee.

             GMGA currently has more than 2,000 certified active Master Gardener members across the state. As graduates of the UGA College of Agriculture’s Master Gardener Program, volunteers across Georgia give of their time to assist county Extension agents in their educational outreach efforts and to beautify their communities.

             For more information about Georgia Master Gardeners Association, please visit www.georgiamastergardeners.org.

 

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