Learn the basics of Southwest soils

Rudy Benavidez, Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Director and Agriculture Agent, will provide advice on “Improving Your Soil for Planting.” This free clinic will be on Monday, December 3, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Meadowlark Senior Center, 4330 Meadowlark Lane, S.E., in Rio Rancho. It is offered by New Mexico State University, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator—NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Sandoval County Cooperative Extension offers Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program

The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service of Sandoval County is offering a Volunteer Master Gardeners Training Program.

This is for residents who have been gardening for a few years. It is a volunteer program designed to educate and assist the residents of Sandoval County in all aspects of gardening.

The 11-week course will begin on January 8, 2008. Classes will be on Tuesdays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Rio West Community Church, 6751 Pasilla Road, NE, Rio Rancho, NM.

To become certified as a Master Gardener, you must complete 40 hours of classes, including tests, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours at the Sandoval County telephone hotline.

The Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program is limited to 35 students. Deadline to apply is December 28, 2007. For more information and to obtain a Master Gardener application, please contact the Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Service at 867-2582 or 1-800-678-1802.

The program is sponsored by the New Mexico State University Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Service and Sandoval County Master Gardeners.

New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, call 867-2582.