Master Gardener Courses Being Offered in Nixa and Branson West Starting Oct. 1

University of Missouri Extension is offering Master Gardener training courses in Branson West and Nixa this fall.

âÂÂThis is a great opportunity for persons interested in horticulture and gardening to learn new skills, volunteer for community educational projects and become associated with other area gardeners with similar interests,â said Gordon Carriker, agriculture business specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Christian County.

The intensive multi-week Master Gardener courses begin with orientations on Oct. 1. The trainings will consist of 10 three-hour classes on specific Monday and Thursday afternoons in Branson West and evenings in Nixa. The classes will all occur from Oct. 8 to Nov. 9.

Participants have their choice of class times: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Branson West and 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Nixa.

According to Tim Schnakenberg, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Stone County, the classes are taught by educators from University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

âÂÂThere is a course fee which covers the 30 hours of instruction and many resource materials including the âÂÂMissouri Grounds for Gardeningâ manual,â said Carriker.

For more information and to pre-register for the Branson West class, contact Schnakenberg at the Stone County Extension Center, (417) 357-6812.

To pre-register for the Nixa class, contact Dr. Carriker at the Christian County Extension Center, (417) 581-3558.

A downloadable registration form is available at:

http://extension.missouri.edu/christian

The Master Gardener Program is a popular, successful statewide volunteer community-service organization administered through University of Missouri Extension. The organizationâÂÂs goal is to train gardeners who are willing to share their knowledge with others,â said Carriker.

Master Gardeners become volunteers of the University of Missouri and donate volunteer hours for community educational projects in horticulture. Participants who complete the course can become a part of one of the Master Gardener groups throughout Missouri.