The Texas Master Gardener program is a statewide volunteer service organization that falls under the umbrella of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, under the direction of each County Extension Office. Dwight Sexton, Gonzales County Extension Agent, oversees the program in Gonzales County. Classes are led by Texas AgriLife Extension specialists, staff, and local experts. The state recognized title “Texas Master Gardener” requires a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service on approved activities, either during, or within, one year of completing training. Master Gardeners work in their local communities to help improve gardening and horticultural skills of local people and students. All Master Gardener volunteer work follows the research-based recommendations of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
The Gonzales Master Gardener training program covers 60 hours of classroom and field trip training in a wide range of topics. The program covers botany, plant propagation, soils, vegetables, fruit and nut trees, southern garden plants, diseases, insects, fertilizers, rain water harvesting, and much more.
Gonzales Master Gardener’s maintain a Children’s Garden located next to the Eggleston House on St. Louis Street, where first graders from GISD have the opportunity to learn how seeds grow and develop. They visit the garden to plant seeds, and return later in the year to harvest their produce. Our second grade program teaches the children the parts of the plant. Another program teaches children the history of the Black Walnut tree and its significance to Gonzales County. The children plant black walnut seeds at the Master Gardener greenhouse and return several months later to see how the trees have grown.
As a fundraiser, the Gonzales Master Gardeners hold plant sales. The Gonzales program is very active, and provides great educational and social opportunities.
Classes begin in September. Classes meet every other Tuesday from 8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. at the PACE: Plantatarium A Center for Exploration (Master Gardeners Building), located at 623 N. Fair Street, Gonzales, adjacent to Gonzales Elementary. The program runs through May. The cost of the program is $185, which includes a textbook, all instruction, soil sample test, entrance fees for field trips, and a state required background check.
Applications are available here on the Gonzales Master Gardener website or may be picked up at the Gonzales County Extension Office, 623 N. Fair Street, Gonzales County Extension Service website – http://gonzales.agrilife.org. You may also contact the County Extension office direct at 830-672-8531 ([email protected]).
The Gonzales Master Gardener training program covers 60 hours of classroom and field trip training in a wide range of topics. The program covers botany, plant propagation, soils, vegetables, fruit and nut trees, southern garden plants, diseases, insects, fertilizers, rain water harvesting, and much more.
Gonzales Master Gardener’s maintain a Children’s Garden located next to the Eggleston House on St. Louis Street, where first graders from GISD have the opportunity to learn how seeds grow and develop. They visit the garden to plant seeds, and return later in the year to harvest their produce. Our second grade program teaches the children the parts of the plant. Another program teaches children the history of the Black Walnut tree and its significance to Gonzales County. The children plant black walnut seeds at the Master Gardener greenhouse and return several months later to see how the trees have grown.
As a fundraiser, the Gonzales Master Gardeners hold plant sales. The Gonzales program is very active, and provides great educational and social opportunities.
Classes begin in September. Classes meet every other Tuesday from 8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. at the PACE: Plantatarium A Center for Exploration (Master Gardeners Building), located at 623 N. Fair Street, Gonzales, adjacent to Gonzales Elementary. The program runs through May. The cost of the program is $185, which includes a textbook, all instruction, soil sample test, entrance fees for field trips, and a state required background check.
Applications are available here on the Gonzales Master Gardener website or may be picked up at the Gonzales County Extension Office, 623 N. Fair Street, Gonzales County Extension Service website – http://gonzales.agrilife.org. You may also contact the County Extension office direct at 830-672-8531 ([email protected]).