Master Gardener College

Upcoming College: The 24th Annual Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener College will take place at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA from
June 20 - 24, 2012. This year features Land Care Steward training!

Thanks to George Graine, Fran Shelton, and Paul Campbell
for earlier drafts of this information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I GET TO VIRGINIA TECH?
All attendees who are staying in the dorms on campus must park in the designated parking lot.  We have made a map so that you can see where this is.  Just go here: Map With Locations and then select the marker for the parking lot entrance and click “Get Directions” in order to get detailed directions and an estimate for travel time from your location. Convenient shuttles will be provided to and from the dorm(s) on check-in and check-out days. Attendees who chose to stay off campus will be given a parking pass to allow them to park in Faculty/Staff spaces nearer to Torgersen Hall for their convenience. There are no parking restrictions over the weekend except for parking spaces/lots which are marked F/S 24/7 or as Service. Do not ever park in one of these spaces, or you will be ticketed.   

WHERE DO I STAY
You have the choice of staying on campus in the residence halls or staying in a hotel off-campus.  The residence halls are conveniently located near a dining hall and the classrooms, and we will also provide shuttles for your convenience.  On-campus boarders will also get meals at the all-you-can-eat dining hall included in the cost.  We will not have a shuttle service for any hotels off-campus.  If you look under “MG College” on the menu and follow the link for “Room and Board,” you will find more detailed information about where to stay.

WHERE DO I EAT?
For anyone staying on campus, food is already included in the cost of the room.  This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at D2, an all-you-can-eat dining hall located near the residence hall.  For those staying off-campus, a meal card which includes all these meals can be purchased on the day you check-in.  You can also buy meals (cash or check only) at the door.  More information about prices per meal and for this meal card can be found on the “Room and Board” website.

We also provide breaks with food and drinks (Don't worry, there is plenty of coffee!) between sessions, as well as a night of wine tasting with hors d'oeuvres during the conference. You won’t go hungry!

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Toiletries
Hair Dryer (If needed)
Any medications you may need
Additional Blankets (The dorms will provide sheets, and blankets are available upon request, but if you tend to be cold you should probably bring a blanket.)
Comfortable shoes
Comfortable clothes (It may be hot or warm, it may be a little chilly – Blacksburg has a tendency to be unpredictable.  The classrooms themselves are often quite cool, so you may want to bring a sweater just in case.  Pretty much everything is casual wear.)
Alarm Clock (If needed)
Rainwear/Umbrella (it may rain, and you will inevitably have to go out in it)

IS THERE A LOT OF WALKING INVOLVED?
Virginia Tech has a primarily pedestrian campus.  There is no road for vehicles next to the dorm.  The walk from the dorm or dining hall to the meeting rooms is about ¾ to 1 mile. There will be a shuttle van provided at specific times for your convenience, including during check-in to make sure you can take your luggage to the dorms. Also, pay attention carefully to which classes or tours you sign up for, since some of them do require a fair amount of walking. If you have a disability and need extra help getting around, please call us before you arrive and we will make sure you get everywhere you need to get.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS WILL I RECEIVE?
Actually quite a lot!  For example, travel to and from, tours, labs, general and concurrent sessions, awards ceremony, and attending the annual meeting all count as hours.  Sorry, no hours for socializing after school or meal times.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF ATTENDING MGC?
First and foremost, you will have an opportunity to learn new applications, latest research information, listen to exceptional speakers, and enjoy the enlarged Virginia Tech display gardens. The hidden benefits are some of the greatest.  Here you will get to meet other Master Gardeners from around the state. You can compare programs and share knowledge.  Spend some time sharing your methods and providing recommendations to other unit Master Gardeners.  When you head back home, share some of your experience with others as this is how you can look beyond your locality and improve your program.

WHERE DO I PARK MY CAR?
On Wednesday (early arrival), Thursday, and Friday park only in the area designated by the “hang tag” which you will receive with your registration packet.  If you do not park in the specific location specified by your hang tag, you WILL get ticketed anywhere from $30-$60.  On Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday you can park almost anywhere on campus unless it has a specific designation such as handicap parking, service vehicle, loading dock,  is a metered spot, or is listed as a 24/7 Faculty/Staff lot.  Do not park in the Owens or D2 parking lots at any time, as these are 24/7 Faculty/Staff lots.

WHAT IS THE COST OF REGISTRATION?
The cost is $165.  Discounts for registration, based on volunteer hours at the end of the previous year are as follows.  These hours have already been reported to us, and will be verified when you register. You cannot receive a discount for milestone awards made 2 years previous (For instance, if you received a 2000 hour award for 2009, you cannot get a discount for the 2011 MGC). Discounts are listed below:

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS?
Some of the choices you make will incur a nominal extra cost.  For example, some tours have an additional charge to cover transportation and some lab classes need to cover cost of materials.

The Virginia Master Gardener Association puts on a silent auction to support the State Master Gardener Coordinator Endowment Fund.  The many quality pieces and plants offered for sale are not in the white elephant or thrift shop category.  Bidding can be quite competitive especially after you have been to the wine tasting.

The plant sale held on Sunday, after breakfast in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens greenhouse, has some of the best bargains. Money collected goes to support the Hahn Horticulture Gardens, which are a must see before you go home.  You are encouraged to bring no-cost swap plants too.  Bring one or two and take the same number home with you.

WHEN CAN I REGISTER AND HOW?
The registration process can be accomplished online, on the phone, or through the post office.  The actual registration process is a two-step process for on-campus housing and the other for MGC.  If you are picky about which classes you take, register as early as possible to ensure your pick. Some classes are offered twice, and some classes occupy an entire afternoon.  Carefully review the class listings before making choices.  Check the information page for a copy of the event program, and note any changes to the program, and possible cancellations due to lack of participation or for some other reason.  The Spring edition of the InSeason newsletter will have an early version of the schedule.  You can reach this on the menu under News>Newsletter.