The Polk County Cooperative Extension office is currently taking applications for a new master gardener class, which is slated to take place in August.

Master gardeners are volunteers with the local office of the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Certified master gardeners must first attend an intensive 11-week training to equipment them with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a horticultural resource in their community.

The Extension Director/Horticulture Agent Scott Welborn leads this group of volunteers, who allow the program to reach many more people than one person could. In addition to working with the public, they are also deeply involved in conducting research and demonstrations at the local extension office.

Welborn said that, without the master gardener program, he would not be able to conduct local research such as the research vegetable garden, which is trialing 44 different vegetable varieties this year.

“We are always looking to train new master gardeners to be a part of our program” Welborn said.

He teaches a new class every year, starting the first Tuesday in August.

Those who wish to apply should contact the Polk County Cooperative Extension at 828-894-8218.

– Submitted by Sarah Gottfried