Have you ever given advice to other homeowners on landscaping questions? Do you enjoy the camaraderie of others who share your love of gardening? Do you believe that beautification and community gardening projects are valuable assets to a community?

Do you like to explore the mysteries of successful gardening in the light of the sciences of botany, plant pathology, soil chemistry, entomology, and horticulture? Do you want to learn more about sustainable and organic gardening? Do you have some time available for volunteer work?

If so, you should become an Extension Master Gardener, says Taylor Williams, Moore County agricultural extension agent.

Across North Carolina, 3,000 Master Gardeners annually provide 200,000 hours of community service and education projects, serving to about 1.5 million client contacts. Their volunteer effort is equivalent to over 92 full-time employees. Organized in Moore County since 1994, Extension Master Gardeners last year contributed 5,000 hours. This is the equivalent of 2.5 full-time employees that enhance Extension's outreach to schools, 4H, and homeowners seeking lawn, landscape, and general gardening information. The value of their effort to Moore County in direct dollars contributed and in-kind service was $85,000 in calendar year 2007.

Extension Master Gardeners have established youth gardens in Southern Pines, Aberdeen, and Taylortown. This spring and summer, over 400 children are learning science, nutrition, and healthy living through First Garden in Aberdeen and Southern Pines, taught by Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners donate time to Sandhills Horticultural Gardens and the Weymouth Center, maintain drought tolerant demonstration gardens, make presentations to clubs, teach 4-H classes, and serve on civic boards.

Master Gardeners receive a high level of training in all aspects of horticulture, including soil fertility, woody plants, fruit and vegetable gardening, home landscaping, lawn care, perennial and annual flowers, pruning, and other related disciplines. While those who have completed the program include many holding advanced degrees in horticulture-related fields and/or professional horticulturalists, amateurs and professionals alike all profit greatly from this comprehensive overview of the vast field of horticulture.

This is the only program where the full educational and research resources of the land-grant university are made available for training volunteers to better their homes and communities through horticulture.

Applications for the training class for new Master Gardeners, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service office from 9 a.m. to noon from Sept. 23 to Nov. 18.

"We will emphasize sustainable and organic methods of gardening in the Sandhills," says Williams.

The training fee for class materials will be $65 per student. Students completing the program are required to donate 40 hours of volunteer time in horticulture education projects.

"We request that 20 hours of these hours be contributed toward youth community gardening programs such as First Garden in Aberdeen, Taylortown, and Southern Pines," says Williams.

Those who wish to enroll in this class should fill out and return an application. Space is limited, and it is likely that not everyone will be accepted. Call 947-3188 or stop by the office at 707 Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage to request an application, or, visit www.ces.ncsu.edu/ moore/mcmg.html.