Whether through plant sales, a lecture series or gardening advice, the Harris County Master Gardeners organization has assisted county residents with various gardening and horticulture needs for the last 28 years.
"In Harris County there are two horticulture agents and more than 4 million people that we consider our clientele to reach about gardening, landscaping and lawn care," said Skip Richter, county extension horticulturist with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office. "By training volunteers, we can be in more places at once and reach more people."
Interested volunteers who want to become a master gardener take a series of classes during a 12-week period to learn about topics, such as basic botany, vegetables, soils, trees, insects and diseases, or anything related to plants and landscaping. After the class, each participant is required to complete 60 volunteer hours, after which they can continue to do volunteer work throughout the year.
"On the fourth Tuesday of the month, we'll have volunteers in the gardens to answer questions and host other educational events for children and adults," Richter said. "We have a spring and fall field day as well."
