It’s been six years since Master Gardener training was last offered in Portland, but now, the drought is over. An 11-week course will be taught from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every Thursday, starting Jan. 8 and ending March 19, at Central Lutheran Church, 8120 N.E. 21st Ave (directions), Portland. Registration is underway online. The deadline to register is Nov. 30.

Participants get 66 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction from OSU Extension agents, including urban horticulturalist Weston Miller – pictured above (left) with Bob Woods (photo by Lynn Ketchum) – as well as master gardeners and industry pros. Topics will include soils, compost, home vegetable and container gardening, small fruits, home orchards, pruning, ornamental plant and lawn care, insects, diseases, landscape design, water-wise gardening, safe pesticide use and weed management.

This training is a rare opportunity, because Multnomah County eliminated extension funding in 2003 and the office there closed. The training is being brought back to Portland because of a partnership betweeen OSU and Portland State University.

The cost is $345. Participants are required to spend 66 volunteer hours educating the public. Industry employees may have this requirement waived if they pay $690 for the class. For details, contact Jordis Yost at 503-650-3118 or e-mail her.

If one can’t make it to Portland, there are other options for master gardener training:

• An online version of Master Gardener training will be available through the OSU ecampus program. It starts Jan. 12 and ends April 12.
• Master Gardening will be taught 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every Tuesday, from Jan. 6-March 17 in Beaverton, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every Friday, Jan. 9-March 20, in Oregon City. Details are available online.