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Metro Area Master Gardener

Credit: Weston Miller (Cropped from original)
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How to maintain active OSU Master Gardener status

2024 CRITERIA FOR OSU MASTER GARDENER PERENNIALS:

To maintain your certification as an active Perennial, OSU metro-area Master Gardener, the following are the minimum criteria to be completed each year. Master Gardeners are considered current when these criteria are met.

  1. 20 hours of volunteer service in Metro MG-approved activities (with at least 10 hours volunteered toward Program* activities). Other hours can be served with approved Partner** activities. You can serve all your volunteer hours in Program* activities if you prefer.
  2. 10 hours of designated Continuing Garden Education hours, including at least one-hour designated 'Growing and Belonging' continuing education* (see details below).
  3. Submission of signed Conditions of Volunteer Service agreement and the Standards of Youth Safety form.

Record Volunteer Service and Continuing Education Hours: Record your volunteer and continuing education hours using your own spreadsheet or use this document: 2024 Volunteer Log Sheet in Word. LIst the dates, and designated volunteer activities. Also list and describe your continuing education opportunities and dates completed.

Hours are due by October 1, 2024. In late September, you will be sent an email with instructions on how to submit your volunteer and continuing education hours, along with information about signing the annual required documents.

Designated Program and Partner Volunteer Activities.
Volunteers are asked to volunteer at least 10 hours toward Program* activities annually. See description below defining Program* and Partner** volunteer activities.

*OSU MG 'PROGRAM' ACTIVITIES: Describes MGs volunteering on behalf of OSU Extension at these pre-approved metro area MG Program activities: MG helplines (remote and in office), MG clinics at farmers’ markets, community events, garden shows, fairs, etc. Also includes serving in the role as gardener educators such as Garden Speaker’s Guild, 10-Minute University. Find these opportunities in CERVIS or notification via emails sent out by Marcia McIntyre, metro area MG Program Representative.

**'PARTNER' ACTIVITIES: Describes all other educational or support activities by our supporting Master Gardener associations in the metro area or other partner organizations that are established and pre-approved by the metro area MG program staff and that support or enhance the metro area OSU Master Gardener program. This would include volunteering for supporting Master Gardener associations (including their gardens and activities), the Oregon Food Bank Learning Garden, conducting tours at the Rose Garden (rose pruning and garden maintenance do not count), serving as a mentor with Growing Gardens Home Gardens program, to name just a few. Notification about these opportunities are usually sent via email. Information for association events/garden activities can be found on their websites or by opting in to receive the association email communications.

DESIGNATED CONTINUING GARDEN EDUCATION opportunities:
(Be sure to record the date and description of each completed, designated, Continuing Garden Education opportunity for your annual volunteer report)

  • OSU Master Gardener Growing Oregon Gardens: Level Up Series – education for the experienced gardener led by OSU horticulture experts from across the state. Perennial MGs earn 1 hour of continuing education credit.

  • Designated Master Gardener Association Speaker/Lecture Series – Perennial MGs earn one hour recertification credit for each designated ‘continuing education’ Speaker/Lecture Series, whether in-person, webinar or recording of a past webinar. Look for designation with listings of association Speaker/Lecture Series.

  • 10-Minute University: "Let's Grow Together" webinar series. Series focusing on a variety of garden topics to strengthen your knowledge as you serve in your role as a garden educator. Each webinar counts as 1-hour continuing education credit.

  • MG Study Group – Time spent participating in the Study Group sessions earn continuing education credit for Perennial MGs, and serve as educational enrichment for 2020/2022 cohort trainees who have yet to complete their MG training requirements. Develop your skills identifying and understanding plant diseases, insects, spiders and more. The group meets twice a month via Zoom. All metro area Master Gardeners welcome. If interested in attending email: [email protected]

  • Read! OSU Extension Service publications. – Perennial MGs earn continuing education credit reading an OSU Extension publication on home gardening topics and submitting a brief report about what you learned to Marcia McIntyre.

  • Keep your eye out for additional designated MG continuing garden education credit opportunities as they surface throughout the year. Be sure to read the monthly MG program newsletter or email announcements.

** 'Growing and Belonging' Continuing Education. As part of your continuing education for 2024 (and beyond), all OSU Master Gardeners (including the 2020 and 2022 cohort) are required to complete at least 1 designated course from the following 'Growing and Belonging' options for 2024:

Conditions of Volunteer Service agreement:

This form is to be submitted annually. Volunteers will receive the form via DocuSign from the metro area Master Gardener office.

Standards of Youth Safety form:

This form is now an annual requirement. Volunteer will receive the form via DocuSign from the metro area Master Gardener office.

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