The Mariposa County Cooperative Extension proudly announces the graduation and certification of nine new volunteer Master Gardeners, plus three from Merced County. Course work began in January 2015 and continued through May 13—graduation day. All trainees completed 75 hours of intense classroom instruction from a variety of horticultural experts and successfully passed a comprehensive final examination. The following volunteers from Mariposa County were certified and are pictured from left to right in the photo. The Merced MGs are named by county:Corinne Dedini, Barbara Baptista, Lynette Jackson, Linda Taylor, Ginnie Westfall, Michael Beaudoin, Jane Lawrence (Merced), Belinda Gilbert, Diane Timmins, Vivian White, Mary Arellanez (Merced) and Rebecca Behar-Johnson (Merced).
Fadzayi Mashiri, Cooperative Extension Director for Mariposa County said “Congratulations for completing your MG training and welcome to our program. I want to thank you for joining our group of dynamic MGs and excited about your future contributions to the program and county. I greatly appreciate your dedication to serving the community, especially at a time when the need for sharing new and innovative ideas with home gardeners and landscapers has become so crucial as we go through this prolonged drought.”
The University of California Master Gardener Program provides research-based information about home horticulture, sustainable landscapes, and pest management practices.
UC Master Gardeners are trained to help residents of California become better gardeners. Using a variety of activities such as free public workshops, lectures, and garden hotlines, volunteers answer questions using research-based information.
Mariposa County UCCE Master Gardeners offer assistance via a twice weekly hotline (Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. – noon and Thursdays 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., by calling (209) 966-7078 and email at: mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu) at our Farmers’ Market information booth and at a variety of other venues including the Mariposa County Fair. You can visit them at the Mariposa County Cooperative Extension Office, 5009 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa, Ca, or check their website at: cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener.
Merced County UCCE Master Gardeners provide a twice weekly helpline (Mondays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., by calling (209) 385-7403, or send an email to: anrmgmerced@ucanr.edu.) Information also available at: the Farmers Market information booth, at garden center presentations, and other events including the upcoming Merced County Fair. You can visit them at the Merced County Cooperative Extension Office at 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced, CA, or check the website at: www.ucanr.org/mgmerced.
