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 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 about 1.5 million client contacts. Their volunteer effort is equivalent to more than 92 full-time employees.

Organized in Moore County since 1994, Extension Master Gardeners last year contributed 5,500 hours. This is the equivalent of 2.5 full-time employees who enhance the Extension’s outreach to schools, 4-H and homeowners seeking lawn, landscape and general gardening information. Their outreach served more than 8,000 Moore County residents, in addition to ongoing projects in xeriscaping, hotline duty and school gardens. The value of their effort to Moore County in direct dollars contributed and in-kind service was more than $90,000.

Extension Master Gardeners helped establish the CIS First School Garden programs at nine schools in Moore County. They are actively involved in the burgeoning local food movement, serving as board members and volunteers in the Farm to Table cooperative. 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. This program is an introduction to the full educational and research resources of the land‑grant university so that volunteers may better their homes and communities through horticulture.

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

“We will emphasize sustainable and organic methods of gardening in the Sandhills,” says Williams

The training fee for class materials will be $100 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,” says Williams. “Alternatively, 20 hours may be donated to assist clients calling for answers to gardening questions on our weekday ‘hotline.’”

Those who wish to enroll in this class should fill out and return their application. Space is limited, and it is likely that not everyone will be accepted. There will be an interview process to evaluate volunteer commitment of trainees.

Call (910) 947-3188 or stop by the office at 707 Pinehurst Ave., in Carthage, to request an application.

“Please consider this opportunity to expand your own knowledge, share with others and fellowship with like-minded people with a commitment to horticulture,” Williams says.