Who Is a Master Gardener?
Why become a Master Gardener?
Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who love gardening and who
have previous gardening experience. The Master Gardener Volunteer program
provides a wonderful opportunity for individuals to share knowledge and
enthusiasm for gardening with people in their neighborhoods, schools,
parks and communities.
As representatives of the University of Missouri Extension and the
Missouri Botanical Garden, volunteers participate in a wide variety of
educational opportunities.
History
of the Master Gardener Program
Originating in 1972 in Seattle, Washington, the Master Gardener
program is now organized in every state and six provinces in Canada. In
St. Louis, the University of Missouri Extension, in partnership with the
Missouri Botanical Garden, established the program in 1983. The program is
coordinated with the help of an advisory committee of Master Gardener
volunteers.
Who is eligible to be a Master Gardener
Volunteer?
Volunteers are very important to the expansion of the services
offered by the University of Missouri Extension and Missouri Botanical
Garden.
A successful candidate for this program is anyone who loves to
garden and is willing to learn and give volunteer hours to share knowledge
with others in the community through educational programs.
What training is involved?
Master Gardener candidates receive about 50 hours of horticultural
training on a wide variety of topics. University of Missouri faculty, Missouri Botanical Garden staff,
Master Gardeners, and horticulture professionals in the community teach classes in the following topics:
What do we ask from you?
Volunteer activities benefit the Master Gardener as well as our
community.
Each person entering the program agrees to give 50 hours each calendar year
to provide horticultural education and service to the community through volunteer
activities.
A minimum of 10 hours of continuing
education annually is recommended to keep certification active. Some
sources for continuing education are available through the Kemper Center
and St. Louis Community College at Meramec.
Examples
of Volunteer Activities
