Hancock-Brooke Master Gardeners
(TAMGA) Tri-state Area Master Gardener Association

Master Gardeners in this program are from the following counties:
Hancock and Brooke
Jefferson and Columbiana
Beaver and Washington

Because of such diversity, they voted to call themselves the Tri-state Area Master Gardener Association or TAMGA.

Current officers:
Roger Van Horn,Weirton President
Wilma Boring, New Cumberland-VP
Carol Lynn, Wellsburg-Secretary
Leon Cox, Burgettstown- Treasurer
Cathy Pechar, Burgettstown, Historian

All Master Gardeners trained in the Hancock MG Program are welcome to join TAMGA. There are no dues and meetings are usually held the second Monday of each month at 6pm. Meetings are held at the First Christian Church on the corner of Lee and Main Street in Weirton.

2007 MG classes are held at the Mary H. Weir Library on Main Street in Weirton.

MG Listserv is one way to contact many of the local MGs.

The local program is coordinated by Leanne Moorman, Hancock County Extension Agent.

WVU Hancock County Extension Service
New Cumberland Municipal Building
104 N. Court St. #203
P. O. Box 457
New Cumberland, WV 26047-0457
(304) 564-3805
toll free 1-877-564-3805
Fax (304) 564-5047
Office hours 8:30am-4:30pm

Advanced Educational Opportunities:

Penn State, Beaver County Smart Gardening Workshop

WVMG State Conference

Philadelphia Flower Show

Cleveland Home and Garden Show

International MG Conference

Northeast Regional MG Conference

The Master Gardener Program
Master Gardeners are adults in the tri-state area who have a strong interest in gardening, want to learn new gardening techniques, and a desire to help otheres. The program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others.

To achieve certification as a Master Gardener, the student receives 30 hours of education hours. In exchange for the training they receive, participants agree to provide 30 hours of horticultural volunteer service to their community. The fee for the class is $65.00 - which goes to cover the reference materials that the Master Gardener will receive. The classes begin the first Monday in March and last for 10 weeks. Some of the topics included are:

• Plant and soil science
• Plant propagation
• Insects and diseases
• Lawns
• Vegetables, Small Fruits and Tree Fruits
• Pruning
• Composting, Fertilizers
• House plants, Annuals, Perennials
• Pesticide Safety and Alternatives to Pesticides
• Ornamentals and Landscaping

Volunteer Hours
Pre-certified Master Gardeners must give back to their community at least 30 hours of volunteer time in the year following the classes. Once these 30 hours are completed, they will become a Certified Master Gardener. This happens at the Harvest Banquet each August. To remain a Master Gardener, 12 volunteer hours and 6 educational hours must be given back each year after certification.

Master Gardeners plant donated plants in Weirton's Cove Commons each spring. This year, they researched small ornamental trees and planted these trees in the parking lot of the new WV State Office Building. They also finished planting trees at the Veterans' Memorial at the south end of Weirton.

They taught "Meet the Plants" gardening classes to elementary students in 14 classrooms in Hancock County. Master Gardeners coordinate the exhibits entered into the Hancock County Oldtime Fair and answer gardening questions at the Weirton Medical Center Foundation Home and Garden Expo.

Master Gardeners designed and landscaped the entrance to Swaney Memorial Library in New Cumberland. They hold a Plant Share each May, by potting plants that they grow or divide from their own yards.

Master Gardeners also work with their own churches, civic groups, friends and neighbors to improve the area that we call home.