People who have aspired to learn more about high elevation gardening and landscaping and want to encourage other gardeners by sharing science-based, sustainable gardening and landscaping information may want to become a master gardener.

Training to become a Lake Tahoe master gardener will begin Sept. 6 in South Lake Tahoe. The training continues for 12 weeks each Friday from 1-5:30pm.

Tahoe basin residents from California and Nevada may participate.

The University of California Cooperative Extension-Central Sierra, in partnership with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, is offering this year’s Lake Tahoe Master Gardener volunteer training. Upon completion of the 50-hour training course, certified Lake Tahoe master gardeners will provide the community with research-based information about home horticulture and gardening.

The training will consist of core programs in horticulture and botany, native plants, soils, irrigation, pest management, plant nutrition, diseases, soil health, forest health, wildfire defensible space considerations plus additional topics specific to the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Once certified, master gardeners volunteer 50 hours during their first year of service and 25 hours in subsequent years. Volunteer activities include answering questions via email, phone and at events such as the farmers’ market; developing and teaching workshops and classes; one-on-one consultations; writing articles for the media; as well as other outreach and educational opportunities.

The application is available online and is due by Aug. 14 at 5pm. For questions, call (530) 621.5528.