Cecil County Office
200 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite 1500
Elkton, MD 21921
Telephone: 410-996-5280
Fax: 410-996-5285
extension.umd.edu/cecil-county
October, 2014
To:
Potential Master Gardener Trainees
From: Doris Behnke, Faculty Extension Assistant – Ag/Horticulture &
Master Gardener Coordinator
What is the Master Gardener Program?
The Maryland Master Gardener Program is an exclusive program of the University of Maryland
Extension (UME). The principal goal is to train qualified residents to become certified Master
Gardeners and serve as volunteer horticulture educators. The program’s mission is to educate
Maryland residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy
gardens, landscapes, and communities.
What are some of the Master Gardener Training Topics?
Weeds, Botany, Composting, Houseplants, IPM/plant diagnostics, Pruning, Plant Nutrition, and
much more!
How Does a Master Gardener Volunteer Their Time?
Master Gardeners volunteer by:
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Working informational booths at community events and fairs
Maintaining local gardens
Answering garden questions at plant clinics
Teaching horticulture to beginning gardeners and youth, and
Using special talents, such as writing and photography, to benefit the program
What Does Master Gardener Training Cost?
The cost of the Cecil County Master Gardener Program is $200 for each participant. The
program will be held on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Cecil County
Administration Building and will run from January 12, 2015 until April 27, 2015 with the
exceptions of Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day.
If you are interested in applying for this program, you need to do the following:
 Be able to pass a background check.
 Complete a volunteer application with two references. The application is included in this
packet and can also be found at extension.umd.edu/mg.
 Be able to complete the training. Completion of the training program, completing all
forms required by the University of Maryland, achieve over 75% on the final exam and
provide 40 hours of volunteer service within 12 months of training. After the first year,
each Master Gardener must volunteer 20 hours and complete ten hours of continuing
education annually, submit documentation of the hours served, and have a current
Appointment Agreement on file at the Extension office.
 Be able to conduct yourself in a professional manner while representing the University of
Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program when serving as a volunteer for the
program.
After receiving the University sponsored training to complete your requirements of the overall
Master Gardener training program, the training and volunteer hours are documented and
complete, each participant will then receive their Master Gardener certificate and be an official
University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. At that point you will be expected to meet
on a monthly basis to discuss the program, participate on a regular basis in county and state
Master Gardener opportunities and report your hours of participation to the state office annually.
Where Do I Go From Here?
If you are interested in applying for the Cecil County Master Gardener Program, complete the
enclosed volunteer application and reference forms completely and mail them to: Doris Behnke,
UME Extension, Cecil County Admin Bldg., 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite 1500, Elkton MD
21921 by December 1, 2014.
A committee of veteran Master Gardeners will review your application, follow up on your
references and send you a letter letting you know if you have been accepted in the program. You
can expect to receive a letter prior to December 21, 2014.
If you have any direct questions you can contact me, Doris Behnke, the Cecil County Master
Gardener Coordinator at 410-996-5280 or email me at dbehnke@umd.edu.
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of
race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital
status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.
“The University of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs.”