The Master Gardener program has been successful across America and Canada. Cullman has an active group of trained Master Gardeners who make a huge impact in the community as they volunteer their time and use their expertise.

Participants of the program don’t need any gardening skills. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System provides experts who train Master Gardener interns over a three-month period. Classes meet each Wednesday starting January 29, 2020 and from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. A different topic is covered each week.

In addition to the training classes, each participant agrees to provide 50 hours of horticulture related volunteer service to the community. Experts will help participants plug in to ongoing projects or find new projects of their own.

Some projects local Master Gardeners are currently involved with range from community gardens, display and demonstration gardens, school gardens, fair activities and assisting the North Alabama Agriplex with programs. Recently, Master Gardeners re-landscaped the Richter Chapel grounds. Some volunteers help at the Birmingham and Huntsville Botanical Gardens.

Master Gardeners also meet monthly for continuing education, project planning and fellowship. These meetings, which occur the fourth Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., are open to the public. Anyone is welcome to attend. Meetings are held at the County Extension office located at 402 Arnold Street NW across from the Folsom Center in the Cullman Office Building.

Anyone interested in signing up for the next program can contact Tony A. Glover or Beth Glasscock at the extension office by email at cullmancounty@auburn.edu or call 256-737-9386.