CCE of Chautauqua & Cattaraugus Counties Welcome New Master Gardener Apprentices

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 30, 2023) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardener Program is excited to announce their recent Master Gardener class cohort.

Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener Coordinator for both Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties shares “We had total of 18 Master Gardener apprentices graduate from the class, all of which share a passion for sustainable gardening practices and land stewardship. We are so excited to welcome them to our communities!”

The Master Gardener Program is a national program of trained volunteers who work in partnership with their county Cooperative Extension office to expand educational outreach throughout the community by providing home gardeners with research-based information. In Chautauqua & Cattaraugus Counties, the Master Gardener program is part of our community horticulture outreach activity, with volunteers educating home gardeners, youth in schools and after school programs, community gardeners, and consumers of horticulture products. Neighbors teach neighbors about landscape, fruit, vegetables, herbs, beneficial and harmful insects, plant diseases, integrated pest management, wildlife, soils, composting and much more.

The Training Program:

Includes a core course in gardening, as well as refresher classes, field trips and workshops to enhance expertise and ability to communicate information related to ecological gardening and related topics to the public. There is a fee for the course.

Each Master Gardener Volunteer is expected to maintain 35 hours of volunteer time per year, which can be completed through community gardening efforts, educational presentations, fundraising for the Master Gardener Program, professional development meetings, and other gardening projects.

Benefits of Being a Master Gardener Volunteer:

Satisfaction of serving your community

Interaction with others in your community with similar interests in gardening and community service

A deeper understanding of the science behind gardening

Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer in Cattaraugus or Chautauqua County?

Please contact Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener Program Coordinator: smr336@cornell.edu

The Master Gardener Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated May 30, 2023