Advanced Training Program Purpose and information:
The Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency program is designed to provide advanced training and resources to Master Gardeners and certify them to be part of a state corps of Irrigation Efficiency volunteers and educators.
To become a certified Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency, Master Gardeners are required to attend the Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency to fulfill training requirements and subsequently meet service requirements described below. This certification does not empower the individual with supervisory or administrative authority within her/his local county programs.
Automatic irrigation systems are a convenient method to irrigate and maintain landscape beauty and investment. However, most homeowners tend to overwater their landscapes causing plant diseases and creating runoff. Runoff waste valuable potable water, strains water treatment plants and supplies, and contaminates water resources. Irrigation efficiency and other landscape water conservation practices are the keys to protecting water resources, maintaining a beautiful landscape and extending your community’s water supply. Water conservation is the least expensive method to make water resources sustainable.
Most homeowners increase water usage during the summer by 35 to 70%. Homeowners do not want to waste water, cause pollution or increase their water bill but most homeowners just do not know how to determine how long to run their irrigation system, how to set and reset their irrigation controller for different seasons, detect leaks and fix common irrigation problems.
Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency will cover hands-on practices for determining irrigation efficiency, setting controllers, soak and cycle method, minor irrigation repairs, system trouble shooting, catch-can test, converting spray nozzles to new water conserving multi-stream nozzles, converting spray irrigation to drip irrigation and other water conservation practices.
Participation requirements:
To be eligible for the Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency training, an individual must possess an up-to-date Master Gardener certification, or be an employee of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Master Gardener applicants must be approved by their local County Extension Agent.
Position Description and Service Requirements:
The Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency is charged to increase awareness, provide training in Irrigation Efficiency and facilitate implementation of correct watering practices on a home/neighborhood/community level. A Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency is required to serve a minimum of one year.
Service requirements include, but are not limited to:
• Attending the Irrigation Efficiency advanced training
• Volunteering 20 hours above and beyond the county’s current volunteer obligation.
• Serving as a local Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency resource in the Extension program for a minimum of one year
• Assisting in educating Master Gardeners, interns, and the public in irrigation efficiency
• Increasing client awareness of irrigation efficiency through presentations, training, and mass media efforts (i.e. radio, newspaper, social media, television, and newsletters)
• Submitting a completed Irrigation Efficiency Advanced Training Volunteer Report Form as directed
• Optional: submit TMGA reimbursement paperwork
Advanced Training recognition and certification:
Upon completion of the Master Gardener Advanced Training: Irrigation Efficiency service requirements, the Master Gardener will be awarded a Master Gardener Advanced Training certificate and lapel pin.
Resources Available to the Master Gardener: Irrigation Efficiency:
• Advanced training and networking with presenters
• Educational materials on Irrigation Efficiency
• Direct access to AgriLife Program Specialist and Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent – Horticulture
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