Master Gardener Basic Training Program

CONTINUING STUDIES Master Gardener Basic Training Program

Master Gardener Basic Training Program Master Gardeners are individuals with a passion for horticulture and learning who share their knowledge of environmentally sound gardening practices with individuals and groups in the community, through clinics, seminars, public displays and special projects.

Offered in collaboration with the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society, this intensive 78-hour course is designed for the enthusiastic home gardener, providing up-to-date information on all gardening basics. The course combines home study, classroom instruction and assignments. Learn from gardening experts about a series of topics all relevant to Northern B.C. To be certified as a “Master Gardener� 70 hours of volunteering within the community over two years is required after completion of the classroom sessions. Master Gardeners assist in horticultural education within the community by doing gardening clinics, lectures and demonstrations, working on research projects or working on school and community gardening projects and in many others areas.

David Douglas Botanical Garden Society

The Master Gardener Basic Training Program is offered as a partnership between UNBC Continuing Studies, the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society and the Master Gardeners Association of BC. Note: Membership in the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society (DDBGS) is a requirement for participation.

Please contact DDBGS directly for cost information and to become a member. www.ddbotgarden.bc.ca

www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies

COURSES

COST

The Master Gardener Certification program includes a series of 12 courses. Each course may be taken independently for those not interested in pursuing full certification.

Master Gardener Basic Training Program: $625.00 + GST Individual Workshops: $75.00 + GST

XHRT 101: Introduction to Northern Gardening XHRT 102: Annuals and Vegetables XHRT 103: Perennials XHRT 104: Woody Plants XHRT 105: Greenhouses and Coldframes XHRT 106: Landscape Design 1 XHRT 107: Landscape Design 2 XHRT 108: Water Gardening/Container Growing XHRT 109: Integrated Pest Management XHRT 110: Soils & Water XHRT 111: Composting, Vermi-Composting & Houseplants XHRT 112: Pruning

Full payment is due with each registration.

REGISTRATION Registration for the Master Gardener Basic Training Program and the individual workshops is on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Continuing Studies to register online, by phone, by fax, by mail or in person.

INSTRUCTORS Note: It is expected that in order to pursue the Master Gardener certification, students will complete all 12 workshops within a one-year period. Exceptions may be made only in exceptional situations.

Individuals interested in registering for any or all of the Master Gardener workshops may do so pending seat availability.

Preferential seating will be granted to those pursuing full Master Gardener Certification.

All courses in the Master Gardener Basic Training Program are well established practicing gardeners with a sound understanding of Northern conditions. All instructors are approved or recommended by the DDBGS.

250-960-5980 or 1-866-843-8061

Master Gardener Basic Training Program COURSES XHRT 101: Introduction to Northern Gardening • Botany basics - plant life cycles, internal plant parts, external plant parts, growth and development, environmental factors, plant communities (guilds), plant hormones and growth regulators; • Plant identification; • Zones and microclimates; • Soils (preview); • Season extenders (preview); • Most common causes of plant death; • Northern issues - wildlife, wildfire, sewage lagoons, etc.; • Choosing the right plant for the right place.

XHRT 102: Annuals and Vegetables • Types of annuals; • Gardening tools & equipment; • Preparing the soil; • Basic botany, variety selection and seed sources; • Starting seeds; • Harvesting and storage; • Propagation; • Seed-saving and genetics; • Overwintering tender bulbs.

XHRT 103: Perennials • Plant classification; • Sun/shade, moisture & mulch; • Invasive vs weedy; • Propagation; • Genetics and plant breeding; • Designing with perennials; • Maintenance and winterizing.

www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies

XHRT 104: Woody Plants • Nomenclature & basic types; • Planting and transplanting; • Plants in the landscape; • Winter injury; • Compaction/construction damage; • Fruit trees and berry crops; • Broad-leaf evergreens; • Seasons of bloom and fall colour.

XHRT 105: Greenhouses and Coldframes • Types, pros and cons; • Basic construction and materials; • Managing temperature; • Water and humidity; • Pest and disease issues; • Starting & growing plants; • Temporary cold-frames; • Four season harvest.

XHRT 106: Landscape Design 1 • The history of landscape design; • Styles and designers; • Site and needs analysis; • Wind, water, sun; • Landscape planning.

XHRT 107: Landscape Design 2 • Elements, scale and perspective; • Water and other special features; • Plants in the landscape; • Case studies.

XHRT 108: Water Gardening/ Container Growing • Selecting a container; • Environmental issues; • Design and plant choice; • Different types and uses; • Pond/water feature design and location; • Liner materials, pumps, filters; • Filtration; • Hardscape material; • Water plants - choice and care; • Fish - choice and care; • Winterizing the pond & safety.

XHRT 109: Integrated Pest Management • Basic entomology; • Management of bugs; • Plant disease, diagnosis and control; • Weed management; • Vertebrate pest management; • Understanding pesticides; • Integrated landscape design.

XHRT 110: Soils & Water • Northern soils; • Soils and fertilizer; • Plant reactions to deficiencies; • Fertility management; • Amending soils.

XHRT 111: Composting, VermiComposting & Houseplants • The science of composting; • Managing the decay process; • How to make compost; • Using compost; • Composting food waste; • Health, safety and the environment; • Composting with worms; • Lawns: grass type, care and feeding, problems, lawn alternatives; • House plants and light, temperature, humidity, water; • Nutrients, potting and repotting, common problems.

XHRT 112: Pruning • Reasons to prune; • Tools and techniques; • Specialty pruning; • Shade trees; • Fruit trees; • Shrubs; • Vines and groundcovers.

250-960-5980 or 1-866-843-8061

Master Gardener Basic Training Program VOLUNTEER WORK To be certified as a “Master Gardener� participants are required to complete a minimum of 30 volunteer hours and 5 self-education hours each year for two years.

Master Gardeners assist in horticultural education within the community by doing gardening clinics, lectures and demonstrations, working on research projects or working on school and community gardening projects and in many others areas.

After receiving certification as a Master Gardener, a minimum of 20 volunteer hours and 5 self-education hours are required each year to maintain certification.

Volunteer opportunities are coordinated and tracked by the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society.

More information regarding the volunteer requirements for Master Gardener Certification is available from the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society.

Please contact them at mastergardener08@yahoo.ca.

www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies

David Douglas Botanical Garden Society

Note: Membership in the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society (DDBGS) is a requirement for participation. Please contact DDBGS directly for cost information and to become a member. www.ddbotgarden.bc.ca

SCHEDULE Dates:

COURSE MATERIALS Every second Saturday

The program has six (6) sessions in the Fall (starting midSeptember) and six (6) sessions in the Winter (starting mid-January).

All required course materials are included in the price of the Master Gardener Basic Training program.

Those registering in individual sessions will receive any required handouts for the topic at hand.

The current schedule can be viewed online at: www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies A practical and theoretical exam will be scheduled for those pursuing the full Basic Training Program soon after the last of the 12 workshops.

Times: *Full Program: Individual Sessions:

8:30am - 4:00pm 9:00am - 4:00pm

* The extra half and hour at the beginning of the day is for those pursuing the full Basic Training program to review homework, address questions and deal with any other issues particular to the full Basic Training Program.

Location:

University of Northern British Columbia Prince George Campus

Some field trips to other locations, or field exercises on campus may be scheduled.

250-960-5980 or 1-866-843-8061

FOR MORE INFORMATION: UNBC Continuing Studies Tel: Fax: Toll free: Email: Web:

250-960-5980 250-960-5984 1-866-843-8061 cstudies@unbc.ca www.unbc.ca/continuingstudies

University of Northern British Columbia 3333 University Way Prince George, British Columbia Canada V2N 4Z9

David Douglas Botanical Garden Society Email: Web:

info@ddbotgarden.com www.ddbotgarden.bc.ca