Greenville County Extension Consumer Horticulture – Extension Agent Master Jordan Franklin

January 28, 2021

Greenville County Extension Consumer Horticulture has helped residents with their gardening and landscaping questions during modified operations precautions implemented since March 2020. Clemson University Cooperative Extension established modified operations protocols based on scientific evidence and data provided by federal, state, and local health care professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Greenville County Extension follows these measures to keep Extension employees and clients healthy and safe while reducing the virus’ spread in Greenville County. Clemson University Cooperative Extension is committed to serving South Carolina residents by providing unbiased, researched-based information. We recognize that our adherence to the recommendations provided by governmental health professionals strengthens our clients’ trust in our mission.

Greenville County Master Gardeners welcomed twenty-seven South Carolina Master Gardener Training Course (SCMGTC) students to our 2020-2021 class in September. The SCMGTC trains citizens interested in horticulture to serve as volunteers willing to share their gardening knowledge with South Carolina residents. Students in the SCMGTC receive at least 40 hours of practical horticulture classroom training. Students donate a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service to Greenville County Consumer Horticulture upon completing the training course to become a certified SC Master Gardener. While the program usually takes place at the Greenville County Extension office, this year’s class is virtual. The class meets once per week for 3.5 hours for at least 16 weeks. The course will finish in February 2021.

One positive development from our modified operations has been exploring online programming that has improved accessibility to our programs. As an example, a new statewide virtual, online SCMGTC will start in January 2021. Our Greenville SCMGTC is usually given only once per year. Two benefits of this new format include the ability to offer a personalized SCMGTC experience in addition to our typical one in-person class per year. Additionally, we can provide instruction from our excellent horticulture agents across the state, typically unavailable due to travel-time limitations. For more information about this course offering, visit https://www.clemson.edu/extension/mg/virtual-class.html.