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Ag. Extension
If you've read any of the gardening bulletin boards or newsgroups available over the Internet no doubt you've seen a common answer to many questions for people looking for gardening information: Check with your local Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent.

Who are these guys and what do they know?

They know a whole lot considering their resources which include scientists and educators from across the country. The local Pima County Cooperative Extension is affiliated with the University of Arizona and the goal is to take the university to the people.

The information isn't limited to gardening. There are programs, including the 4-H youth program, to help ranchers, farmers, urban gardeners and so many more.

Tucson's Extension's Garden Center is located at 4210 N. Campbell Avenue just south of the Rillito River. There you will find a wall of useful gardening information (printed handouts) that pertain to gardening in Tucson's desert climate and soils.

On the garden center's grounds you'll find a couple of greenhouses and an area where master gardeners and others try out different desert gardening techniques. At 9 a.m. on most Wednesday mornings free one hour programs are presented to the public covering a variety of garden related topics.

For May and June, 1998 the weekly topics included:

Herb gardening
Growing palms
Pest control
Starting plants from cuttings
Growing cacti
Weed control
Coping with the heat
Composting and garden soil

If you're interested in one of the above gardening demonstrations call the garden center at 626-5161 for the specific date. You can also read the Home Section of the Sunday edition on the Arizona Daily Star where the weekly program is listed. There are no gardening demonstrations presented during the months of July and August. (Vacation or is it too darn hot to garden?)

If you're interested in getting one or two gardening questions answered call a Master Gardener between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays at the number above.

	Horticultural Ag. Extension agent John Begeman talks to interested gardeners in front of shaded bleachers during one of the Wednesday morning garden topic presentations.
	Several different kinds of materials are used for raised beds in a demonstration at the Ag. Extension Garden Center on north Campbell.

Want to be called a Master Gardener?
If you're not satisfied being called a gardener you can become an Ag. Extension certified Master Gardener. You earn the title by enrolling for a fee and then completing the initial training class which will cover topics related to gardening in the Tucson area. Once you've obtained your training, which was one day a week for 10 weeks in 1997, you provide 50 hours of service which generally relates to educating the public.

Since the program was started in Tucson about 200 Master Gardeners have graduated from the program and the class of 97 was one of the largest. In 1998 there were 95 active Master Gardeners volunteering in Pima County.

To remain in the program after the first year you'll need to donate more hours of service and continue your master gardener education.

The Master Gardener program is offered once a year in Tucson (beginning in September). Enrollment is limited so you might want to plan ahead by getting your registration information and forms from Ag. Extension.

An interesting note is that the Master Gardener programs can vary by county. There are no statewide policies regarding the program. Maricopa county's master gardener program may differ from the Pima county program. (1998)