MADISON – Herbs will be the buzz word at the “Harvesting and Preserving Herbs” workshop, as prepared by the Education Workshop Committee with Master Gardeners of North Alabama Inc.

Master Gardeners will present the workshop on June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office at 819 Cook Ave. in Huntsville.

Three Master Gardeners — Pam Price, Doty Henry and Cookie Kruvand, who are also members of the Herb Society — will share information on harvesting as well as preserving herbs and using their refreshing flavors.

Workshop participants will make an herbal vinegar bottle that they can keep and take home.

Workshop fee is $5. Participants should sign up quickly because classroom space is limited. Deadline for registration is May 27.

To sign up for the event, visit https://mg.aces.edu/madison/workshops/ and click the link, or you can visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945A4AC28A6F58-harvesting.

Residents in Madison County can get involved with the Master Gardeners of North Alabama Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit organization supported and funded by membership dues, donations and fundraising efforts. The group is an active member of the Alabama Master Gardener Association and a fully qualified 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

To apply for membership, download and print the Master Gardener application form at mg.aces.edu/Madison. After completing the form, sign it and take it to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office in Huntsville.

The Master Gardener application has three parts:

* Part I: The Application –The Alabama Master Gardener program provides educational outreach to train individuals who will volunteer their expertise and services to support the effort of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Requirements to earn the Master Gardener certificate include a background check, signing an agreement memo, attending 50 hours of training and instruction that the host location specifies, achieve an average passing score on all tests and other items.

* Part II: Memorandum of Agreement and Volunteer Responsibilities — This agreement intends to indicate the seriousness of all Master Gardeners working with the extension system. The agreement lists expectations for volunteers.

Part III: Background Check – This procedure can improve everyone’s safety. Conducting a personal background check is a standard best practice for a quality volunteer program.

An application is not complete until the applicant submits background check forms. Auburn University and the extension system must approve all applicants before they start volunteering. All personal information files are strictly confidential; Auburn University policies restrict access to these files.

For more information, visit mg.aces.edu/madison/ or Facebook/Master Gardeners of North Alabama.