TRAINING MASTER GARDENERS TO ANSWER CONSUMER HORTICULTURE QUESTIONS
Proposed by: Edwin M.Lentz
Presenter: Lentz, E. M., Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Findlay, OH 45840
It is important that Master Gardeners be able to address consumer horticulture questions in Extension offices with limited staffing. Master Gardeners need to have the proper training in addition to the subject education modules to be comfortable with this role and especially if they manage a telephone hot line or resource line. Training programs need to begin when they first start in the program as an intern. This presentation discusses teaching methods and programs that this Extension Educator has utilized to successfully trained Master Gardeners to be confident in answering consumer horticulture questions in Extension offices with limited budgets and personnel.