Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1048619
7 Q u e s t i o n s w i t h a M a ste r G a rd e n e r WHAT EXACTLY IS A MASTER GARDENER AND HOW DOES A PERSON GRADUATE FROM BEING A REGULAR GARDENER TO BECOMING A MASTER GARDENER? It's considered quite an accomplishment and an honor to become part of our Association. Aspiring Master Gardeners start by completing an application form. Our classes, which run from January-April, are extremely comprehensive and they're led by specialists in their field. Interns must pass a final exam and volunteer 40 hours between January and July to be able to attend graduation and an elegant reception in their honor. WHAT DOES A MASTER GARDENER ACTUALLY DO? DO YOU HANG OUT AND PRUNE GARDENS ALL DAY? I am truly laughing about this question. We do not desire or have time to do that sort of thing. We are busy with hundreds of education-based volunteer events throughout the year. For the Memphis Area Master Gardeners Association, these events include: partnering with UT Extension agents to present 4-H Club events, UT Forestry Camps, UT Junior Master Gardener Plant Camps, and Harvest Festivals; opening members gardens for "Through Our Garden Gates" for tours during the first week in June; preparing and selling our annual fantastic calendar, which is full of educational horticulture information, and whose proceeds help us provide three $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors who intend to major in related horticulture fields; working almost year-round on our Spring Fling weekend; working in our Collierville Victory Gardens to provide literal tons of food for local food banks and cutting flowers for local nursing homes. We have the luxury of choosing the types of volunteer projects we wish to participate in, which allows us to use our talents and education to the best advantage in order to serve our community. As long as we accumulate 40 volunteer hours or more during the year, we are free to pursue sanctioned projects and events. DOES WORK SLOW DOWN IN COOLER MONTHS? No, we do not slow down, but instead participate in volunteer projects such as working in greenhouses potting up plants, shrubs and trees for local plant sales in the spring. Our Association begins meeting and planning in January for all aspects of our big two-day Spring Fling event - procuring educational and entertaining speakers, vendors, and arranging for demonstrations by our own members. We also spend a great deal of time planning for our very popular Kid's Corner, our magazine, book and home-baked goods area. Our big plant sale at Spring Fling is highly anticipated by the public, since all of the plants have been grown by our members. Planning for "Through Our Garden Gates" tours also begins in winter. ABOUT JANE: Jane W. Carter is a retired first and fourth grade teacher and former school librarian. She currently serves as the President of the Memphis Area Master Gardener Association where she chairs the Kid's Corner, Jr. Master Gardener Wildlife Camps, graduation receptions, and more. She is a lifelong Memphis and Shelby County resident and is active in many programs throughout the Mid-South including Leadership Germantown and Germantown City Beautiful Commission. The green thumb runs in the family too. Her daughter and son-in-law live on a farm in Virginia where they provide animal and gardening therapy to families who've lost children. 18 Meet Jane Carter — a Master Gardener from Memphis, TN who recently sat down with us to shed light on the very surprising world of master gardening.