"Ask a Master Gardener" Pilot Program

Project Teams Master Gardeners with Retail Centers

UNH Cooperative Extension (UNHCE) has partnered with a group of retail garden centers throughout New Hampshire in a pilot program called "Ask a Master Gardener." The program will tap the knowledge and expertise of highly trained Master Gardeners to help garden center staff answer home gardening and lawn care questions.

The program has two goals:

1. To increase statewide awareness of the UNHCE Master Gardener Program and the Family, Home & Garden Education Center toll-free Info Line (1-877-398-4769).


2. To form working relationships between retail growers/garden centers and the Master Gardener program that will benefit the volunteers, the businesses, and the customers.

The Master Gardeners will set up in highly visible locations and come equipped with reference material, handouts, flyers, fact sheets and Master Gardener promotional materials. In addition to their 10-week Master Gardener training, they have all completed a special two-day workshop designed to prepare them for the questions they'll face in the upcoming weeks. They bring many years of experience and are well-prepared to guide their fellow home gardeners and landscapers.

The pilot program will run in 18 outlets from mid-April through June of 2007. For more information about the program, contact Family, Home & Garden Education Center Coordinator Rachel Maccini at 629-9494, ext. 130.

Posted March 30, 2007