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Hamilton County
The OSU Hamilton County Extension Office participates in the statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
Extension Educator, Horticulture
(513) 505-1202 dyke.15@osu.edu
The OSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a premier statewide network of volunteer education and leadership development; as well as a consumer horticulture education delivery system that maximizes human, material, and natural resources, and values teamwork and excellence in educational programming.
There are many exciting opportunities for continuing education and camaraderie and this has helped OSU Extension to develop a corps of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers are an important component of the OSU Extension system. The Master Gardeners' knowledge, experience and enthusiasm have become essential to Extension education of consumer horticulture in the state of Ohio. Please feel free to contact our facility with any questions about our programs and services to the community. We are available for presentations, programs and information sharing that your group, company, or organization might like to know more about. The formal training program is the responsibility of the Hamilton County Extension professionals. Instructors are Ohio State University faculty, Extension Specialists, Extension Associates, experienced Master Gardeners, and other experts.
The training program provides a balanced, integrated practical course in plant science. Core topics that are to be part of the training in every county are oriented to Extension and the Master Gardener Program:
Basic Botany
Plant Physiology
Soils and Soil Fertility
Basic Entomology
Basic Plant Pathology
Plant Disease Diagnosis
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pesticide Use and Safety
Plant Identification
Home Lawn Care
Annuals
Perennials
Bulbs
Trees and Shrubs
Home Vegetable Production
Home Fruit Production
Backyard Wildlife Management
Organic Gardening
Herbs
Wildlife
Specials topics, based on local needs, may be part of the curriculum.
The fall 2008 training program will be conducted each Thursday for 10 weeks, beginning September 4. Classes will be from 9am to 4pm. Cost: $250.00 (Includes educational materials and snacks)
Volunteer Commitment
The Master Gardener training course consists of a minimum of 50 hours of instruction. An equivalent number (50) of horticulturally significant volunteer hours within 1 year following the initial instruction is required to become a certified Master Gardener. Those hours must be contributed to programs directly sponsored by OSU Extension, Hamilton County (Extension programs). Master Gardeners may recertify by completing 20 additional hours of public service and 6 hours of advanced educational training each year. A minimum of 10 of those hours must be contributed to Extension program. Only unpaid public service in Ohio State University Extension-sponsored activities count toward the requirement.
Applicant interviews for the 2008 class of the OSU 
Extension, Hamilton County, Master Gardener Program were completed in August. You must get fingerprinted and pass a criminal background check in order to become a Master Gardener.
Please call Kim Martini at (513) 946-8989 for further information or write to Kim at Martini.1@cfaes.osu.edu.
