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.

For information on the ONLINE Master Gardener Program, visit http://www.clemson.edu/extension/mg/mgonline.html

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 10:00 am until 1:00 pm January through May of each year.  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.  At the end of MGTC, there is a final examination that the student must score 70% or better in order to proceed within the Master Gardener program.  A Memorandum of Agreement that states the student will contribute 40 hours of volunteer service to Clemson is signed by the student at the beginning of the class cementing the understanding that the Clemson Extension Master Gardener program is an educational outreach program with a volunteer commitment.  Upon completion of the classroom portion of the MGTC, the student will begin volunteering at Clemson Extension sanctioned events to fulfill the 40 hour volunteer commitment.  After these requirements are met (classroom instruction, 70% on the final examination, and at least 40 educational service hours), the student will be presented with the title “Clemson Extension Master Gardener.” 

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), and 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 they 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.  

For additional information, 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

To become a volunteer, please contact the County Extension agent listed above.

Visit the Clemson Extension Master Gardener website >>