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The Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario Vol. 63 No. 2 An Organization for Personal Growth and Community Action Summer 1997 HOME & COUNTRY Regional Profile: Western Master Gardeners: The Way to Grow By Jean C ranford Master Gardener is a volunteer who must give at least 30 hours of gap dening service a year. At least twenty must be providing advice to the public and helping gardeners solve problems. An- other ten hours must be devoted to administrative work. attendance at garden related meetings and events. and prepara- tion work in order to keep up-to-date. To become a Master Gardener you have to attend an orientation meeting and take a test comprised of basic gardening ques- tions. The test is prepared and marked by the University oqueiph. but given by the local Horticultural Society. Those who pass the test are interviewed by appointed Master Gardeners and the successful can didates are admitted and become Master Gardeners in Training. Gardeners in Training take three inde- pendent Study courses - Horticulturist I. II and III - by correspondence through the University of Guelph. The courses in- clude books. cassettes and video tapes. Written tests are mailed in. marked and returned Once you have successfully completed the courses and fulfilled the required volunteer commitment for two years. you have become a certified Master Gardener. There are several ways to accomplish your volunteer requirements. You can help out at a Master Gardener booth at a fair, home show. garden Centre or farmers market. Or. you can answer questions over the phone. write articles for publica‘ tions. speak at meetings or participate on a Master Gardener discussion panel. The advice you give must be consistent with the latest research at the University of Guelph and you cannot promote trade marked products. Each Master Gardener group is unique. but each is set up in a similar fashion. Locally. the program is managed by a coordinating committee. including a co- ordinator. a horticultural society member. a local OMAFRA contact and other volunteers. Provincially. the Master Gare dener Program is managed by a steering committee composed of representatives from the Ontario Horticultural Associa- tion. the University oquelph. Landscape Ontario. OMAFRA and Master Gardener Coordinators. Each fall. the provincial steering committee reviews applications from hor- ticultural societies wishing to sponsor a MasterCardenergroup. A minimum of l 5 people should be interested and the group The Master Gardener Program began in Washington State in 1972. Dr. David Gibby. an extension agent tor horticulture. created the program in response to the over- whelming number at requests lor gardening inlormation. Volunteers were trained in horticulture to provide gardening information to the public. Created in 1985, the Ontario Master Gardener Program is directed by a provincial steering committee and cosponsored by the Ontario Ministry at Agriculture, Food and Rural Aiiairs and horticultural societies. Jean Crawford is pictured show With her hus- band. Alistaira. at their beauiIIu/ly dosrgned home garden should have ideas for activities needed in their community. The Rural Community Advisor iii your local OMAFRA office can prowde you with information and an application for the program. As well as being it Mus/2r (itlfrjt’ilt’r. lean ('mivfirrrl I.r I’Icrlrlt'iii it] Ihr' Mirt'lirll S riimrr. WI r'ri lilt‘ Siriir‘ric-Kernpuijeldl Dirtricl Inside: metheHaan........ Board Briefings . . . . . . The Chair Challenge . . . Rota at Board Directors . . , FWlO Vision Statement . Program Ideas . . . . . . . . Promo: HosallaClancy FWIGFlcpoit.... . Discus-ion Guide Donors Lists . . . . . . ACWWConlerenca . . .. , 13 Cross Country Calendar . . . . . . 14-15 FYI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18