Be An Extension Volunteer!
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Master Gardener!
Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. For more information about the Comal Master Gardeners, please visit https://comalmg.org/
What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
Training: If accepted into the Master Gardener program in your county, you will attend a Master Gardener training course. Classes are taught by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists & agents, and local experts.
The program offers a minimum of 50 hours of instruction that covers topics including lawn care, ornamental trees and shrubs, insect, disease, and weed management; soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; garden flowers; and water conservation. (The training is offered at various times during the year at various locations across the state.)
Volunteer Commitment: In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer time to their County Extension program. At least 50 hours of volunteer service within one year following the training is required to earn the title of “Texas Master Gardener.”
Certification: Participants become certified Master Gardeners after they have completed the training course and fulfilled their volunteer commitment.
Master Naturalists!
Our chapter trains a class of new members each year, beginning with an orientation meeting in October. The course consists of 12 monthly classes, several field trips, a class project, and opportunities to volunteer in many locations and areas of interest: birding, geology, wildflowers, aquatic life, butterflies, invasive species management, bats, education, and paleontology, to name a few. Classes are curriculum based, with interesting speakers. Graduation will be held the following October.
In the meantime, you are welcome to come to any chapter meeting to get to know a few of our members, ask questions, and hear an interesting presentation. We look forward to meeting you!
If you have questions, please ask! Email LindheimerMN.Education@gmail.com.
Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteer Opportunities
Master Wellness Volunteer program provides volunteers with 40 hours of training in health and nutrition education. In return, the volunteers agree to give back 40 hours of service. The volunteer opportunities are diverse – giving presentations for local community groups, assisting with periodic cooking schools, distributing information at health fairs, and much more. Previous health or wellness training is not required, but an interest in living healthfully and helping others do the same is. For more information, contact Jymann Davis by phone, 830-620-3440, or by email, Jymann.Davis@ag.tamu.edu.