Six Kaufman County residents—Louise Bridges, Debbie Gamble, Janie Hill, Mary Nell Renteria, Linda Sanders and Rita Ware—recently completed classes to become certified Texas Master Gardeners. Their training included 80 hours of classroom study, made up of plant biology and propagation, soil composition and amendment, water conservation and irrigation, pest identification and management and landscaping principles.

The interns have a year to complete 50 hours of volunteer work on Kaufman County Master Gardener Association projects. Volunteer time includes working in the KCMGA demonstration gardens, providing garden-related information to residents at various booth events, supporting KCMGA’s numerous educational programs and providing support to Ralph Davis, Kaufman County’s County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Interns who complete the 50 hours of volunteer service will become certified Master Gardeners next December.