Published 2019-04-19
Abstract
The Manatee County Master Gardener Program started a Master Gardener Mentoring Program in 1997. As agents retired, so did the mentoring program. By 2009, attrition had a strong impact on the number of volunteers. The Manatee County Extension Office has a Plant Diagnostic Clinic, in which the Master Gardener volunteers help address homeowner questions about their landscapes. Prior to 2010, the clinic was open weekdays. Due to the low volume of volunteers, in 2010 the clinic had to close one weekday. Going from over 150 Master Gardener volunteers in 2005 to 56 by 2009, it was time to revitalize the mentoring program. Motivational Master Gardener mentors start with the right individuals who are passionate about volunteerism and gardening, who know proper horticultural practices, and who love to share their passion and knowledge with others. Motivational mentors listen with both ears and continually communicate with their assigned trainee and the horticulture extension agent. In 2014, the mentoring program was reactivated and revised in an attempt to increase the number of trainees completing the training program and one-year internship.