San Miguel and West Montrose Counties Colorado State University Extension will be offering its Colorado Master Gardener Course for Mountain Communities next year, meeting on Tuesdays, Feb. 3-April 7, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Topics covered include: How Plants Grow; Soils, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments; Entomology; Plant Health Care and Diagnostics; How to Correctly Plant Trees; Lawn Care; Weed Management; Water Efficient Gardening; High Altitude Perennial Gardening and Vegetable Gardening.

Participants will receive training from Colorado State University professors, specialists and horticulture agents, learning on the job as they perform 50 hours of volunteer work during the growing season, and from community volunteers who answer questions on garden care and performing diagnostics services. They also help develop and maintain demonstration gardens, work with local Farmers Markets and Community Gardens by providing educational publications and through teaching classes. Just the volunteer option costs $180; scholarships are available. If you would like to receive the training, but don’t have the time to volunteer, consider enrolling as a Colorado Garden Certificate participant for $500. Recognized by the green industry as a great vocational education course, the Colorado Master Gardener program can be a stepping-stone toward a career in horticulture; it is open to persons within and outside of the professional horticulture community.

This San Miguel /West Montrose county course will use a combination of specialists’ live presentations as well as technology using live and interactive video, audio and graphic links. This technology allows Colorado State University Extension to deliver classes locally without the need for extensive student or instructor travel.

For an application or more information contact the CSU Extension Office at 327-4393, visit the come by our office across from the San Miguel County Fairgrounds in Norwood or visit our website at www.coopext.colostate.edu/sanmiguel/. Two-thousand-eight graduates of the course are available to talk about their experiences.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.