Cornell hosts Master Gardener Training classes

Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering a regional 40 hour Master Gardener Training for 2015. The training is 8 weeks long and will meet on Thursdays. The classes run from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and will be held at the Cooperative Extension Center, 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY. The fee is $175.00. For an interview or for additional information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension office by Monday, July 20, 2015 at 585-394-3977 or email with your name, address and phone number to nea8@cornell.eduTopics to be covered include: soils and plant nutrition; basic botany; disease diagnosis and management; basic entomology; home fruit production; lawn care; vegetable gardening; flower gardening; household and vertebrae pests; composting; understanding pesticides; pruning; integrated pest management; and more.Anyone who has some horticultural experience and a sincere desire to share that knowledge with others is a candidate for the Master Gardener Program. Master Gardeners are expected to share their horticultural training with the community in the form of 100 hours of volunteer work over a two-year period. Volunteer activities may include: coordinating the plant sale; organizing the Spring Garden Symposium; teaching horticultural classes; working with 4-H youth/school programs; answering gardening questions; developing horticultural exhibits; maintaining demonstration gardens or assisting in other ways to maintain and expand the horticulture program within Ontario County.