New Master Gardener Volunteers in Town

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland graduated its 19th class of Master Gardener volunteers today at its offices in Stony Point. Master Gardener volunteers provide education about horticulture and gardening in libraries and schools throughout Rockland.
For one day a week from September through January these adult students attended a packed day of presentations and demonstrations. Topics covered included botany and morphology, entomology, climate change in the garden, soil types, storm water management, native and invasive plants, and integrated pest management, among others. Students were also introduced to the basics of the CCE diagnostic horticulture lab including using the new digital microscope. The class culminated with a review of material – not a test - to reinforce the learnings of the past five months.
These new Master Gardener volunteers will each volunteer 100 hours in the next year in a variety of venues throughout Rockland: presenting programs at libraries, answering questions at farmers’ markets, tabling at the upcoming Suburban Home Show. Their Cornell red tee shirts and their enthusiasm for all things horticulture make them easy to recognize!
For more information about this event or to learn how to become a Master Gardener volunteer, contact Jennifer Strianese, at the Extension Education Center at 845-429-7085 x117 or at jas946@cornell.edu.