NSV Master Gardner Class of 2024

Our conversation for Extension Office Friday included Joanne Royaltey, Program Associate based in the Frederick County Extension Office (though she serves all five counties.) Our topic was the 2024 class for becoming a Master Gardener. Joining Joanne was Chris Jorgenson & Kate Reed. Both are Master Gardeners and will serve as program leads for the upcoming class alongside Joanne. The women gave details for what the class entails, who should apply, and talked about the various projects that can be done for volunteer hours. Each year, the class rotates through the five counties and the City of Winchester. This year the class will kick off on February 20, 2024 with graduation in early May. The classes will be held at Horizon Farm Credit (125 Prosperity Dr #100, Winchester, VA 22602) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm - 4pm with occasional weekend labs and hands-on workshops. There will be an information/interview session on January 23, 2024. Find the application and more information on their website: http://nsvmga.org/join/  The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Program has served our region for more than 30 years. It is one of 62 units across Virginia and serves the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren and the City of Winchester. Over 160 members participate in active projects in the region. Working as volunteer educators to support VCE educational programs in consumer horticulture, EMGs serve the home-gardening public by answering questions, speaking to groups, teaching in demonstration gardens, and participating in many other projects for youth and adults. Virginia Extension Master Gardener volunteers are educators who work within their communities to promote environmentally sound gardening practices. As an educational outreach component of VCE, the Master Gardener Program brings the resources of Virginia's land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the Commonwealth. The VCE Master Gardener program is made up of more than 5,000 active and certified Master Gardener volunteers throughout the commonwealth who contribute more than 350,000 hours of volunteer service each year. Almost 1,000 new volunteers are trained annually. EMGs work toward: preserving the environment through sustainable gardening practices positively impacting youth through gardening education, both in and after school producing food in public and private gardens to improve human health and food security improving the overall quality of life for Virginia's citizens by increasing accessibility to practical, research-based gardening knowledge.