Lowcountry Master Gardener Association funds horticulture scholarship

Published: September 24, 2012

CLEMSON — The Lowcountry Master Gardener Association, which includes Beaufort, Jasper and Colleton counties, has funded a $4,000 scholarship for a local student to study horticulture at Clemson University.

“We are pleased and proud to be able to financially aid a local student," said Janet Rivers, president of the association. "We hope to be able to offer financial aid every year."

She added, “We also hope these students will realize the importance of sharing their knowledge with the local communities and will eventually become a Master Gardener themselves.”

Clemson University’s Cooperative Extension Service provides training and certification for the Master Gardener program. Certification requires 16 weeks of training by a horticulture agent and a minimum of 40 hours of public service to promote sound horticulture practices.

Established in 1981, the statewide program has trained thousands of residents. In the last two years Master Gardeners donated more than 191,000 hours of horticultural service, which has a market value of approximately $4 million.

The Lowcountry association includes approximately 200 Master Gardeners who promote and teach environmentally sound, research-based gardening practices to the citizens of Beaufort, Jasper and Colleton counties.

Its service programs include installation and maintenance of demonstration gardens, educational booths at farmers' markets and outreach to homeowners through the Rent-a-Master Gardener program. It also conducts weekly plant clinics to answer horticulture questions and diagnose garden problems for area residents.

“Laura Lee Rose, the Clemson Extension horticulture agent in Beaufort County, conducts wonderfully instructive classes and thoroughly enjoys initiating new Master Gardeners,” said Rivers.  

Training is offered in person and online. For more information on the S.C. Master Gardener program, visit www.clemson.edu/extension/mg.

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