2014 ASHS Annual Conference

Washington State University Extension has been training Master Gardener Volunteer Educators on sustainable gardening and conservation practices since 1973. Each county within the state trains new Master Gardeners annually. However, these counties vary greatly in population density and location to urban areas, as well as, WSU Extension Research Centers, most of which are located on the Western side of the state. For this reason, accessibility to quality teachers who are typically WSU research scientists was always a challenge for the Master Gardener Programs on the east side of the state. To address the need for consistency and for quality assurance, an online training was developed in 2009. The online training is only a component of the annual trainings, but has provided a university resource that affords the same basic level of education for all Master Gardeners throughout Washington. An online training does not come without challenges, however. This session will cover a brief history of the first Master Gardener Program, as well as, the need for consistency in education of Master Gardeners on basic horticultural principles. Examples of the WSU Extension Master Gardener online training, one of the first online trainings in the country developed for Master Gardeners, will also be shared.