Midlands Master Gardener Program

The mission of the Clemson Extension Master Gardener Program is to select, train, and utilize knowledgeable volunteers to facilitate the educational work of the local Consumer Horticulture Agent, by delivering research-based information to citizens of the state.

Click here for information about the ONLINE Master Gardener Program

The deadline for accepting applications for the live, in-classroom 2013 Spring Midlands Master Gardener Training Course has passed.  To be notified of the next live, in-classroom training that starts July 2013, e-mail your contact information (full name, mailing address, and phone number) HERE.

• Summer 2013 Program Information (Coming soon)
• Application Packet
• Flyer

In the Midlands (Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, and Richland Counties), the Master Gardener Training Course (MGTC) is about 15 weeks of instruction led by Clemson Extension personnel, Master Gardeners, and other experts.  The Midlands MGTC is held at the Lexington County Extension Office on Fridays from 9:30 am until 1:00 pm January through May.  There are no prerequisites to participate in the Master Gardener Training Course. 

Classes include basic botany and plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, soils and plant nutrition, residential irrigation, vegetables, turfgrass, weeds, and more.  Certification requirments include attending classes, scoring 70% or better on the final examination, and giving back at least 40 educational service hours.   

There are five Master Gardener Associations in the Midlands:

• Fairfield County Master Gardener Association
• Kershaw County Master Gardener Association (KCMGA)
• Lexington County Master Gardener Volunteers (LCMGV)
• Richland County Master Gardener Association (RCMGA)
• an umbrella association, the South Carolina Midlands Master Gardener Association (SCMMGA). 
  

All associations are organized to provide service opportunities and continuing education to Master Gardeners who have completed the Clemson Extension Master Gardener training.

Some of the projects with which the Master Gardeners are involved include

• Ask-a-Master Gardener (See schedule HERE.) 
  • Each Tuesday from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Sandhill Farmers Market (RCMGA) and
  • First and third Saturday of each month from 8:00 am until 12:30 pm at the Kershaw County Farmers Market (KCMGA).
• SCMMGA's Garden Like a Master (GLaM) Series, FREE lectures held in partnership with the Richland and Lexington County library systems.  See HERE for scheduled dates, times, venues, and subject matter.
• Development of educational gardens and demonstration sites located across the Midlands including
  
  • Carolina Children's Garden at Clemson's Sandhill REC
  • Master Gardener Memorial Education Gardens at the Kershaw County Extension Office and the Lexington County Extension Office
  • Turfgrass Demonstration at Clemson's Sandhill REC.
• SCMMGA's annual gardening symposium.  

To be notified of the next live, in-classroom training, please e-mail your contact information (full name, mailing address, and phone number) HERE or contact:
Vicky Bertagnolli
Consumer Horticulture Agent/Master Gardener Coordinator
Phone:  (803) 359-8515 ext. 127
Email: VBERTAG@clemson.edu
605 W. Main St., Suite 109, Lexington, SC 29072