JoAnne Skelly: Become a certified master gardener

Home gardeners can learn more about successful gardening in Nevada as part of the annual University of Nevada, Reno online Home Horticulture Certificate program, with registration open now through July 28.

Program sessions take place completely online through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension on Thursdays, Aug. 3 through Sept. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.

It includes pre-recorded lectures, reading, homework and live question and answers with horticulture professionals. The program concludes with a final exam before certification.

The Home Horticulture Certificate program is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about gardening in Nevada. It is also a prerequisite for those interested in becoming a certified Extension Master Gardener of Nevada (https://extension.unr.edu/master-gardeners/default.aspx).

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer educator program designed to teach research-based Nevada gardening practices to volunteers who in turn share this knowledge with their local communities through educational presentations and workshops, community events, answering home gardening questions at their local county Extension office, and much more.

The minimum hour commitments during the first year as a Master Gardener intern are 15 hours of continuing education and 35 hours of approved volunteer projects or activities.

After the initial intern year, the minimum yearly hour commitments to remain a certified Master Gardener are 10 hours of continuing education and 20 hours on approved volunteer projects or activities. Counties may require additional volunteer hours. Each county may also have hour requirements for specific types of volunteer activities, such as the help desk.

The cost is $275 and includes recorded lectures, readings, homework and online question-and-answer sessions with specialists and local gardening professionals. The certificate program includes instruction on a variety of topics, such as soils, composting, native plants, small fruits, and integrated pest management. It was developed to be accessible to everyone in Nevada.

This program covers home gardening in all parts of the state. The Home Horticulture Certificate program was developed by the University of Nevada, Reno Extension Horticulture team from around the state to provide basic horticulture education to homeowners, educators and anyone interested in learning more about Nevada landscapes, plants and more.

Topics address information on gardening specific to Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, and rural counties. Sign up at www.eventbrite.com/e/home-horticulture-certificate-program-2023-statewide-registration-617207071967.

For information, contact ExtensionMasterGardener@unr.edu.

*A nonrefundable administrative fee of 25 percent of the total registration fee will be assessed for participant-initiated refunds before the start of the class. The class is nonrefundable after materials have been shared. Eventbrite processing fees are nonrefundable.

JoAnne Skelly is Associate Professor & Extension Educator Emerita at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Email skellyj@unr.edu