Organizers say becoming a Master Gardener can be a life-changer

February training classes set for Hidalgo, Cameron counties

EDINBURG —  The registration deadlines to become a Master Gardener this year are Feb. 12 in Hidalgo County and Feb. 23 in Cameron County.

But for those who register, it’s more than an opportunity to learn about gardening; it can be a life changer, according to organizers.

“Some people become so involved in Master Gardening that their life is positively altered forever,” said Barbara Storz, an organizer and retired horticulturist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Edinburg. “We just never know how we are going to use our education. Sometimes, opportunity is just not planned.”

Among many such examples, certified Master Gardener Norma Sanchez took a Junior Master Gardener teacher training program to Honduras and Guatemala, Storz said. Several have started nursery businesses and others sell fruits and vegetables at the Grow’n Growers Farmers Market in McAllen.

“There are countless retirees who now fill their lives teaching others the wonders of horticulture,” Storz said. “They each have their own stories about how this program has improved their life. It all really depends on how much a Master Gardener wants to get involved, because there are so many opportunities to go into the community with their new knowledge.”

And that’s the objective of AgriLife Extension’s Master Gardener program, to train people willing to give back to their community by volunteering, she said.

Master Gardener volunteer training classes in Hidalgo County begin Feb. 17 and will meet each Tuesday through April 7. Classes will be held from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the South Texas Master Gardener Educational Garden and Classroom at North San Juan Park, 509 E. Nolana Loop in San Juan.

In Cameron County, an orientation will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 25; classes will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. beginning March 4 and every Wednesday thereafter until April 22. Both orientation and classes will be held at the Cameron County San Benito Annex Building at 1390 W. Expressway 83, San Benito.

The cost of the Master Gardener volunteer training in both counties is $185, which includes the Master Gardener manual and several field trips, Storz said. Acceptance into the program is by application.

For application or program information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Hidalgo County at 956-383-1026 or in Cameron County at 956-361-8236.

Master Gardeners learn about soils, turfgrass, vegetable and fruit gardening, and using native plants in the garden, Storz said. They learn the principles of design, how to zone plants to maximize water efficiency, and are introduced to gardening with children.

Sharing horticultural expertise with the community is a requirement of becoming certified as a Master Gardener, the phase of the program Storz believes opens new avenues to pursue.

“Obviously we are training people who are willing to give back to their communities by volunteering,” she said. “Once they finish their Master Gardener certification, they have many choices of ways to further their education and their experiences. That’s where a whole new world can open up for many of our Master Gardeners.”

Mirtala Rodriguez, a Hidalgo County Master Gardener now volunteering in the community, said that during a typical week, requests can come in to give a school program on plants, provide a demonstration on water conservation at an event, work in the educational garden or provide a tour for visiting groups.

“Working together in the garden provides a sense of accomplishment, and it’s a great way to meet and know people,” she said. “We also take several field trips to school gardens and provide workshops for our local communities.”

Jennifer Herrera, the AgriLife Extension horticulture agent in San Benito and coordinator of the Cameron County Master Gardener Association, said the popularity of the Master Gardener classes in the Valley continues to grow.

“We get inquiries from all points in the Valley and from people of all ages,” she said. “Class size is limited, so we urge anybody interested in becoming a Master Gardener this year to register as soon as possible.”