2016 Master Gardener Volunteer Training
York County Schedule
The Master Gardener Training is a basic horticulture course comprised of approximately 66 hours of classroom,
field, and hands-on learning, with an on-line manual serving as a resource. In 2016, the training takes place on
Thursday evenings (6:00 PM – 9:30 PM), with 2 Saturday morning and 3 mid Thursday afternoon field trip
sessions. Classes will be held in the Nasson Conference Room, located on the first floor of the Anderson Learning
Center, 21 Bradeen St., Springvale, ME (except where noted). The focus is on small fruits and vegetables and
touches on sustainable landscaping.
Week
1
Thursday, 2/4
Orientation to the Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardener Program, and
Vermicomposting (worm bin) with Frank Wertheim, Extension Professor
2
Thursday, 2/11
Soil Basics for Gardeners with Frank Wertheim
3
Thursday, 2/18
*Field Trip 3:00 PM– Growing Winter Greens – Bend Your Own Small Moveable
Greenhouse with Frank Wertheim and Brent Peters, Farmer/Jack of All Trades
Location: Winter Cherry Farm, 205 River Rd, Biddeford
4
Thursday, 2/25
Growing Small Fruit in Southern Maine (Highbush Blueberries, Strawberries,
Brambles) with David Handley, Small Fruit Specialist, UMaine Extension.
5
Thursday, 3/3
Volunteering in the Master Gardner Program – Project Overviews – Volunteer
Risk Management with Frank Wertheim, Extension Educator, Sue Tkacik,
Horticulturist, and various Master Gardener Volunteers, 4-H Program Staff
6
Thursday, 3/10
Seed Starting – Home Composting with Frank Wertheim
7
Thursday, 3/17
Botany for Gardeners with Frank Wertheim
8
Thursday, 3/24
Growing Small Fruit in Southern Maine PART II (Grapes, Hardy Kiwi, Elderberries,
Other Unusual Small Fruits) - Garden Food Safety with David Handley, Small Fruit
Specialist, UMaine Extension
9
Thursday, 3/31
Growing Tree Fruits in Southern Maine with Renae Moran, Extension Educator
10
*Saturday, 4/2
York County Master Gardener Annual Meeting – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM – at Laudholm
Farm at Wells Reserve
11
*Thursday, 4/7
*FIELD TRIP 3:00 PM – Pruning Fruit Trees and Home Orchard Development with
Frank Wertheim, Extension Educator and Master Gardener Volunteers and
Orchardists, Ann and Howard Stevens – Location: Foxes Ridge Farm (776 Foxes
Ridge Rd), Acton
12
*Thursday, 4/14
Growing Vegetables in Southern Maine with Mark Hutton, Vegetable Specialist,
UMaine Extension
13
Thursday, 4/21
Signs of the Seasons???
14
Thursday, 4/28
Food Security/Hunger in Maine with Kristine Jenkins, Partners for a Hunger Free
York County and MGV Class of 2015
15
Thursday, 5/5
Pest Management – Garden Insects and Diseases with Clay Kirby, Entomologist and
TBD, Plant Pathologist
16
Thursday, 5/12
Wise Use of Pesticides in the Home Garden – YardScaping with Gary Fish, Board of
Pesticides Control, Maine Department of Agriculture
17
Thursday, 5/19
Short Topic Day: Weed Management – Raised Beds – Drip Irrigation and Rain
Barrels with Frank Wertheim and Sue Tkacik
18.
*Saturday, 5/21
York County Master Gardener Plant Sale – with Everyone!! – Location: Extension
Office Outdoor Patio
19
Thursday, 5/26
Growing Herbs in Maine – Principles of Landscape Design with Amy Witt, Extension
Horticulture Professional
20
*Thursday, 6/2
*Field Trip 3:00 PM - Forest Tree and Wildflower ID – Berry Best Farm, 33 Colburn
Way, Lebanon, with Frank Wertheim and John Bozak, Forestry Professor Emeritus,
UNH
21
Thursday, 6/9
Practical Final Exam – This end of program open book collaborative final will be
done in small groups answering questions at stations set up around the room. –
Class Pictures – wear garden attire – and a Master Gardener Class Celebration will
take place after the exam 
22
Thursday, 6/16
Snow Date (if needed)
* denotes that the class time may be other than the usual time and/or place.
Updated: November 17, 2015