What Is the Master Gardener Program?
 Master Gardeners are
trained volunteers who aid University of Wisconsin - Cooperative
Extension staff by helping people in
the community better understand horticulture and their environment.
This national program was introduced to Wisconsin in 1977.
Today the Master Gardener Program is in all 50 states and several
countries.
In the Master Gardener Program, you receive 36-50 hours of free
horticultural training with Cooperative Extension university
specialists and faculty. You pay only for your instructional
materials, which you keep.
To become a certified member, you must attend the designated
training sessions, volunteer time to your community and pass
a final exam. To remain certified, each year you will need to
take 10 hours of additional training and volunteer 10 hours of
your time.
 Who Can Participate?
Any adult (18 years or older) can participate in the Master
Gardener Program - no previous experience or training is necessary,
although many people do have some horticultural experience.
What Programs Are Offered?
There are two types of Master Gardener Programs Wisconsin -
a general program and a specialized program.
The general program consists of a minimum of 36 hours of training
covering all aspects of horticulture. This program is offered
in a different region of the state each spring and fall.
The specialized program is offered in only five counties: Dane,
Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine. Each year the training
program focuses on one of four major subject areas: vegetables,
flowers and houseplants; fruits and berries; and landscape plants
and lawns.
Beyond the initial training, the Master Gardener Program offered
update sessions for members who have completed either the general
or the specialized program. Also, statewide and regional conferences
co-sponsored with Minnesota and Iowa provide additional learning
opportunities.
What You Can Do As A Master Gardener
In exchange for free training, you are asked to donate volunteer
hours equivalent to the number of training hours received for
that year. The following programs offer a sample of the opportunities
open to Master Gardener volunteers:
- Extension demonstration and community gardens
- county and
community fairs
- botanical gardens
- horticultural workshops and talks
- horticultural therapy projects
- farmers' markets
- answering telephone inquiries for horticultural
information
- write newspaper gardening columns
- Adopt-A-Classroom
- volunteer at your county Extension office
- local parks or
beautification communities
- youth groups such as 4-H, Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts
Many Master Gardeners volunteer their
time beyond the required minimum number of hours. Last year,
Master Gardeners volunteered
thousands of hours of horticulture-related community service.
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