Become a Master Gardener

Become a Virginia Extension Master Gardener!

Join a dedicated team of more than 5,000 volunteers who work in communities throughout Virginia to promote research-based horticulture. Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) provide vital public education related to creating and managing home landscapes, vegetable gardening, turf management, and more!

To become an Extension Master Gardener, you will receive 50 hours (minimum) of training and complete 50 hours (minimum) of volunteer service. Exact hour requirements vary by county. To remain an active Extension Master Gardener, you must complete 20 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continuing education each year.

Training classes and volunteer groups are handled locally by each Virginia county Extension office. Contact your local Extension office for information on your next upcoming local training.

"Being a Master Gardener has brought me knowledge, skills and friends. Master Gardening is a large and valuable part of my life." -Mary Ann, Master Gardener

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be an expert gardener to become an Extension Master Gardener (EMG)?

NO! You do not need to be an advanced gardener to take EMG training! The training program is designed to provide all the necessary horticultural and environmental education to prepare you to educate those in your community about scientific and sustainable gardening practices.

Is being an EMG a good way to make friends?

Yes! Extension Master Gardener groups are a wonderful and important network of gardeners, and many EMGs make friends and connections as volunteers. EMGs have regular meetings, see one another on volunteer projects, and hold special events like volunteer recognition ceremonies. EMGs also meet many members of their communities as volunteers!

What kind of projects do EMGs do?

EMGs are trained volunteer educators who serve their communities by providing outreach and education related to horticulture. EMGs work on projects like community gardens, demonstration gardens (for example, a pollinator garden at a local library), farmers market help desks, and much more.

“The Bedford EMG program has enabled VCE to expand our reach far beyond the limits of our paid staff. Bedford EMGs are in the community every day improving the lives of those they serve through diverse and innovative methods. Simply put, without our volunteers, much of what we accomplish in residential horticulture education would not happen.” -Scott, Extension agent

The 50-hour (minimum) training program provides research-based information on a variety of horticultural and environmental topics. Training sessions are offered annually by local Extension offices. Pre-registration is required. Contact your local VCE office for more information.

Extension Master Gardener training covers:

Botany
Soils & fertilizer
Entomology (insects)
Propagation
Vegetables
Fruits
Turf
Woody plants
Herbaceous plants
Water quality
Pruning
Plant pathology (diseases)
Plant damage (diagnosis)
Pesticides
Landscape design
Gardening for wildlife

By completing the classroom instruction, you become a Master Gardener Intern. The title of VCE Master Gardener is granted after you complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service conducting horticultural education projects.

To complete annual recertification, you must:

Contribute at least 20 hours of volunteer service each year.
Participate in at least 8 hours of continuing education.

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) work on a variety of educational projects. Many EMG units offer "Help Desk" services where community members may get answers to their horticulture related questions. Many units also organize educational symposiums designed to help the public learn about horticulture and manage educational demonstration gardens.

As an Extension Master Gardener, you'll have the opportunity to participate in & develop projects that promote research-based horticulture in your community!

Some examples of EMG projects include:

Demonstration gardens in public spaces designed to show the public different gardening concepts
Community gardens where food may be grown for donation or community members have space to cultivate a garden plot
School garden projects where EMGs work with teachers and students to tend a garden and teach students about plants, science, and food
Community education projects where EMGs lead workshops or give talks about gardening concepts, for example by developing local vegetable gardening programs
Environmental education projects where EMGs work to provide education about sustainability and resillience, for example the Northern Neck Shoreline Evaluation program
Help desks, farmers markets, and other outreach where EMGs offer assistance to the public by answering gardening questions and helping connect people to research-based solutions
Invasive species monitoring and education where EMGs help track the spread of invasive species and support the local Extension office by providing community education, for example the Northern Shenandoah Valley spotted lanternfly program

To learn about the projects your local EMGs are involved with, contact your local Extension Office!

Interested in specializing your Master Gardener volunteer work?

Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners currently have three options for advanced study: Land Care Steward, Tree Steward, and Water Quality Steward. Master Gardeners trained in each of these areas are uniquely qualified to offer specialized advice and education to their communities.

Training for each steward program is available annually on a rotating basis at Master Gardener College in Blacksburg, VA. For large groups interested in a steward program, the trainings can be arranged to take place locally.

become a master gardener — An Extension Master Gardener takes notes during a keynote speaker session at Master Gardener College.

Each year, Extension Master Gardeners from around the commonwealth are invited to four days of educational workshops, tours, and speakers. Master Gardener College offers a chance for Master Gardeners from different parts of Virginia to get to know one another and advance their knowledge of horticulture.

As of 2021, Extension Master Gardener college will rotate in different years between being in person in Blacksburg, VA and virtual.

Master Gardener College is an annual event organized by the Extension Master Gardener State Coordinator's Office. In addition to Master Gardener College, the State Coordinator's Office also produces a quarterly newsletter and a "biweekly update" email listing upcoming events and announcement. The State Coordinator's Office also manages a database of resources related to training, volunteer projects, and marketing, which is available to current Master Gardeners.