Colorado State University Extension: CSU Green School grows gardeners, volunteers
We in Colorado tend to be well aware of the seasons. Winter, spring(s) summer and fall — our connections to the outdoors are strong. The Colorado Master Gardener year runs from Nov. 1 through Oct. 31 and has an additional season for those behind the scenes: application and interview season.
Training for the Colorado Master Gardener and Colorado Gardener Certificate programs is done simultaneously through the CSU online learning platform. It’s a simple step to access the applications for both through the Colorado Master Gardener website at cmg. extension.colostate.edu.
Under the Green School banner, you’ll find details about training content, schedule and fees for both the volunteer (Master Gardener) and nonvolunteer (certificate earner) programs. Applications for volunteers are open now through Sept. 15, and nonvolunteers are able to register through Oct. 25.
Once submitted, applications from prospective Master Gardener Volunteers are routed to the program coordinators from each county. Just like our weather, the CMG program can vary from county to county. Local program coordinators make the decision whether or not they’re able to accept apprentices each training cycle and conduct interviews with applicants meeting the required criteria. There are often more applicants than positions available, in which case applicants are encouraged to take the Green School training and apply the following season.
Green School is an online course with live reviews for each topic module. Modules are interactive, with recorded presentations and quizzes throughout. Course content is scientific, research-based information presented by experts in the field.
This year’s training runs from November through March before wrapping up with the final exam. Colorado Gardener Certificate earners are free to display their certificate and put their Coloradospecific gardening knowledge to work in their own garden or job. Apprentice Master Gardeners jump right in to whatever programming opportunities are available to them within their home county as they earn their required volunteer hours.
Every active Colorado Master Gardener is required to work 24 volunteer hours per year and accrue 12 hours of continuing education. Each apprentice master gardener is required to log 50 volunteer hours the first year — although the option of a two-year apprenticeship requiring six hours is available in some cases. There is no continuing education requirement during the apprentice period, since they’re fresh out of the training.
Whether you’re a ‘seasoned’ gardener ready to volunteer in your community or just looking to grow your Colorado gardening know-how, Colorado State University Green School is the place to start. For more information on this and other topics, visit extension. colostate.edu or contact your local CSU Extension Office.