The Master Gardener Controversy devil On !
I lie with when I send myWhy Becoming a Master Gardener is n’t deserving Itpost that it was bound to put up a little controversy .
Well , it ’s happened , though a small later than I cogitate .
A few sidereal day ago my billet received this in - astuteness commentary from Sharon J. Collman of theWashington State University Master Gardening Program :
“ Sorry you had a bad experience or that the program was n’t what you wanted . I ’m a founder of the first cowcatcher WSU Master Gardener Program in WA state . Just look at the stats and it has propagate across the US and Canada . In my county we have 370 dedicated MG military volunteer educators . They are not work for government , they are volunteer educators tackling payoff in their county , from proper pruning of trees , to reducing pesticide use and horticulture practices that degrade water quality , composting and yes , answering the questions from the populace about all expression of horticulture . We have a mixture of gardeners and a few commercial landscapers who volunteered 30,000 hours IN THEIR communities . Many of our gardeners are great gardeners and study in monstrance garden where the public can come up learn , some instruct small fry in school day or after school groups , others speak at garden club . While they are not able to elevate their business enterprise when dish out as a Master Gardener , they are allowed to mention that they are master gardeners among their other reservation . Three hours per matter ( lawns , soil , water timber , little Tree , bush , vegetable , entomology , plant pathology , weeds , diagnosing , etc . does n’t an expert make . It is a launching point . It is in apply the noesis and answering head that they really begin to learn . I would take a committed novice over an experient nurseryman who already “ knows it all ” in a heartbeat because one is open to fresh information and knows what it ’s like to want information , the other is often closed in mind and willingness to update their noesis ground on new inquiry and are too uncoerced to apportion there out-of-date information . Our volunteers suffice 50 hours each of two year to earn their lasting name badge . Many get their 100 - minute pin in the first year and many have served 5 , 10 , 20 . and 30 years ( taking a lower limit of 10 hour of keep on education each year ) . They become salutary and more valuable as they grow over time . ( Do n’t we all . ) They are n’t doing this for me or for the government ( though I do n’t call back of university as “ government ” ) , it ’s simply a means for them to give and strengthen their residential district . It is inspiring to seen unexampled a new sense of residential area mature as people issue forth together to create food savings bank and biotic community garden . Something sorely missing in our society . Not all states are equal in what they ask of volunteers so I ’m not saying your experience could n’t have happened . perhaps that ’s all the more reason to join , get to know people and establish the quality of your community program . To paraphrase Henry Ford , whether you reckon you could or think you ca n’t , you are right . Check out our State MG Website for more information . ”
Sharon is who she claim to be – her name feature prominently inthe launch of the WSU Master Gardener Program .
The Master Gardener Controversy Rages On!
I ’m sure that the two of us could be great friends , just as I ’m friends with many of the local Master Gardeners here in Florida . Yet I must respond .
The Master Gardener Controversy
In her comment , Sharon provides a cluster of nice features of being a Master Gardener ( volunteering in the residential area , broadcast information , etc . ) , yet mostly dodges the grown stuff . To her credit , she does address the volunteering / not making money thing , though that may variegate in her state as fight down to Florida ( according to what I hear at our reference , I could n’t heel “ Master Gardener ” as one of my accreditations when running my works nursery ) . However , she does n’t really address my pursue points .
She takes a little jab at my experient nurseryman condition too , noting :
“ I would take a committed initiate over an experienced nurseryman who already “ cognise it all ” in a heartbeat because one is open to unexampled information and knows what it ’s like to want information , the other is often closed in mind and willingness to update their noesis based on new research and are too willing to divvy up there outdated information . ”
Photo creditPeter Organisciak
in person , I ’m happy with experient gardeners or attached initiate . My lector are all over the spectrum ; however , they can take or leave what I have to say here and are n’t required to divvy up a minute rule book such as that provided by the Agricultural Extensions .
This narrow dominion book often skips over possible hazards to your garden from administration and enceinte patronage , while encouraging the use of pesticide . Our local Master Gardener industrial plant clinic handed out pesticide recommendations like formal doctors prescribe pharmaceutical .
Yeah , they always said to “ apply according to directions ” but I never heard anyone warn that using any pesticides will kill bees , useful insects , soil sprightliness and generally disrupt the self - managing nature of a healthy ecosystem .
Photo creditPeter Organisciak
I do need to say this : I have nothing against Sharon and I care her the very best and congratulate her on years of service .
That said , I still argue that for gardener that wish to grow food without toxin , speak their mind , experiment and not be part of promoting the government / big agriculture alignment , hop-skip the local Master Gardener Program andstart readingandexperimentinginstead .
The community the Master Gardeners pass is , in my experience , more of a retired person social club that does some hooey with ornamental than a serious food - grow group or even a chemical group of plant geeks apportion neat thaumaturgy .
My advice : just say no to ChemLawn reformist and purveyors of deadening ornamentals .
That is the path to the non-white side .
