Want to Be a Master Gardener?

U.C. Master Gardeners are trained representatives of the University of California Cooperative Extension. We assist farm advisers by providing home gardening advice and information to our home gardening community. If you would like to share your own gardening skills, experience, and enthusiasm, we invite you to join us. Master gardener applicants should have some agricultural or horticultural experience, be available for initial training, and be able to communicate effectively with individuals and groups.

As part of our training program, applicants attend a 14-week (56-hour) series of classes in plant science, pest control, and horticulture. After passing a written examination, first-year master gardeners are expected to devote a minimum of 50 volunteer hours to activities mutually agreed upon with our Master Gardener Program adviser. Each year thereafter, master gardeners volunteer at least 25 hours.

As a volunteer, you have an opportunity to serve and share your talents in a variety of ways. You may assist gardeners at our office, farmers markets or plant clinics, or you may teach groups and organizations. You might contribute to special community projects and events. You can also share your horticultural knowledge by writing articles for our newsletter or by designing publications and presentations.

We accept applications and conduct training sessions every two years. The current master gardener training series for 2013 has been completed. If you have questions about our program or are interested in becoming a master gardener, please call 822-7515, email us at cesutteryuba@ucdavis.edu, or send us a note at 142A Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA 95991. We will be happy to notify you of our next recruitment.

Our 2007 MG Training: the Plant Identification Lab