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Preston County Master Gardeners

The Master Gardener Program is officially sponsored by the WVU Extension Service. The program develops volunteer gardening specialists who assist local Extension Agents in:

Providing horticultural education for all age groups,
Supporting the spirit of volunteerism and community service, and
Developing and encouraging participation in local Extension programs.

Master Gardeners are also available to provide on-site gardening consultations or formal presentations to community groups.

Requirements

To become a Master Gardener, you need to take a 30-hour Master Gardener course. The next class will begin in March of 2012. Call the extension office in Kingwood at (304) 329-1391 to sign up. Classes are free, but there is a charge for materials used in the class. After you complete the course, you need to complete 30 hours of volunteer service within a year to become a certified master gardener. Service may include maintenance of public building grounds, answering inquiries at the Extension Office, planning garden areas for public organizations, helping with educational exhibits or presentations, and many other worthwhile activities. When both the course and service hours are completed, you become a “Certified Master Gardener.” The certification remains valid as long as you complete twelve volunteer hours and six continuing education hours per year.

Meetings

The Preston County Master Gardeners meet the first Tuesday of each month, from March through November, at 7:00 PM, usually at the WVU Extension Office in Kingwood, although meetings and field trips are often held in a variety of locations. The Master Gardeners are a group of energetic horticultural enthusiasts that enjoy working with plants, providing services to their communities, and sharing their love for gardening. You do not have to be a certified Master Gardener to attend their monthly meetings.

Preston County Master Gardeners tour Dot Hood’s beautiful wildflower garden for their April 2011 meeting

Hellebore and daffodils add early spring color to Dot Hood’s extensive hillside garden in Fairview, WV

Officers

Officers serving for 2012:

President – Becky Friend
Vice President – Cindi Shockey
Secretary – Peggy Merz
Treasurer – Russ Sanders
Publicity Chairman – Janice Fink
Newsletter – Valerie Smith

Representatives to the State Board of Directors:

Karen Toothman, State President
Jerry Crabtree, State Awards Chairman

Past Presidents

Kris Ward – 1997-1999
Margaret Sypolt – 2000-2001
Sue Corbin – 2002 – 2003
Karen Toothman 2004- 2005
Karen Toothman 2006-2007
Janet Summers – 2008-2009
Janice Cool – 2010-2011

Activities and Programs

Orchard Renovation Project – Members took cuttings from old heirloom apple trees to be propagated. Thirteen apple tree cuttings from members, and the community, were submitted and taken to Adams County Nursery to be grafted.

Awards

Preston County Outstanding Master Gardeners of the Year

1997 Kris Ward  
1998 Mary Somerruk  
1999 Russ and Barbara Sanders  
2000 Eldean Poling and Cindi Shockey  
2001 Jill Utterback  
2002 Sue Corbin 
2004 Dareld and Wilma Carder 
2005 Beverly Stemple
2007 Janet Summers
2009 Karen Toothman
2010 Becky Friend
2011 Janice Fink
2012 Janice Cool and Jerry Crabtree