Looking for something interesting and exciting to do Tuesday evenings, this fall? Enjoy working in the garden, volunteering, want to help teach others about horticulture and, growing beautiful gardens and plants? If so, then the master gardener program is for you.

During this program, participants can learn all about horticulture; plant science, plant nutrition, soils, pesticides, insect pests, vegetables, flowers, fruits, lawns, and much more.

The first class meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The first class will serve as an introduction. During this time class materials will be distributed and an opportunity exists to meet current members of the program. The regular classes are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, and continue until Dec. 9, in Warsaw at the Purdue Extension Office located in the County Annex at 202 W. Main St.

County and state horticulture specialists, along with current master gardeners, will provide the instruction. The early bird fee for this training is $140 if paid by Sept. 12.

From Sept. 13 to 23, the fee is $165. This includes the cost for program maintenance, supplies, one soil test, and reference materials. Materials can be kept after the program has ended.

Participants are expected to attend all the class sessions, take a final examination, and then complete 36 hours of volunteer service to receive a master gardener certificate.

The volunteer commitment can be fulfilled by helping the Extension Service teach other gardeners, by giving talks to community organizations, plant clinics, staffing fair booths and similar services. Participants are free to decide what area of service they want to work in, to obtain volunteer hours.

The master gardener program is one way that the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service puts knowledge to work and helps people grow throughout Indiana. This volunteer program helps gardeners grow by providing them with intensive training in horticultural principles. Participants, in turn, share their knowledge by providing volunteer leadership and service to their communities.

This is not a credit gardening course for the general public. Candidates should be interested in educating others in the community about gardening, willing to work to achieve educational goals of Purdue Extension. Above all, they should have a willingness and ability to communicate and cooperate with others in a group settings to achieve those goals.

Potential applicants may be interviewed to determine their level of interest in the program.

Those interested in becoming a master gardener or have any questions should contact the Kosciusko County Extension office at 574-372-2340. To get an application packet stop by the county annex building at 202 W. Main St., or visit ag.purdue.edu and click on the master gardener page. Applications are due Sept. 12.