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Preparing for Spring: Become a Master Gardener
Are you interested in becoming a master gardener? You might want to consider the highly regarded Cooperative Extension System program called the Extension Master Gardener. Started in 1973 in Washington state, the program trains volunteers with a passion for gardening to assist with consumer horticulture education in their communities. Volunteers conduct workshops, help with community gardens, and staff events and information helplines.
In a recent report, the number of volunteers has grown to more than 77,000 experienced and 12,500 new Extension Master Gardeners. These individuals contributed 4.9 million hours in community volunteerism in 2023 and reached 10 million people through their work. Volunteer gardeners also donated over 1 million pounds of produce to communities in need, estimated at $2.3 million in donations.
Source: USDA, Cooperative Extension System.
Cooperative Extension System programs are funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nearly all Extension Master Gardener programs administer training through a state land-grant university and the Cooperative Extension System. These programs are currently found in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, several Canadian provinces, and South Korea.
Funding that Cooperative Extension receives allows the system to distribute annual formula grants to supplement state and county funds that support the training of volunteers and help community-based organizations share food, nutrition, and gardening information with the public. Federal, state, and local relationships are highlighted in the following diagram.
Source: USDA, Cooperative Extension System.
The requirements for becoming a master gardener vary from state to state. Training generally involves 40 to 60 hours of initial education and volunteer commitments, followed by annual volunteer hours and continuing education.
If you are interested in becoming an Extension Master Gardener, click here to find your local Master Gardener program.