Become a Master Gardener

Master Gardeners are highly-educated volunteers who share their sustainable gardening knowledge with their communities through education and outreach programs. Master Gardener training classes are taught by OSU Extension agents and horticultural experts. The program offers basic, practical courses in plant science and home horticulture. Hear about the Master Gardener training course from recent Master Gardener trainees here.

Master the art and the science of caring for plants

Learn about:

Coastal gardening techniques
Basic botany
Methods for growing vegetables, lawns, fruit trees and landscape plants
Garden types (e.g. container, vegetable)
Soil management and plant nutrition
Pest identification and control methods using the least toxic approach
Prevention and diagnosis of plant problems

Who can become a Master Gardener?

Potential Master Gardeners are not required to have a gardening experience but rather the yearning and motivation to learn and to garden. There are no prerequisites to participate course, although a basic understanding of plants is helpful.

How do I become a Master Gardener?

The Master Gardener training course is offered annually. Training classes start annually at the end of January. Registration for training begins in the fall. The training involves 40 hours of learning through classes, workshops, and discussion sections, and 45 hours of volunteer work. Once you have completed the training process and are ‘Certified’, Master Gardeners have an annual requirement of 20 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education to recertify.

The training course for 2024 is full at this time. Please reach out to Stormi Dykes ([email protected]) if you have any questions about Master Gardener Volunteer Training or would like to be notified when the application for the 2024 training course becomes available.

What do I need to do to stay a Master Gardener?

Master Gardeners can maintain their status by participating in continuing education and additional volunteer hours each year. Review the document How to Maintain active Master Gardener Status for details.

A few Master Gardeners have remained active since the first class was held in 1982. Others have remained active since their training. Many become members of the Lincoln County Master Gardener Association. This association holds monthly meetings to become better acquainted with each other, to have fun, to gain additional knowledge, and to plan community and educational gardening activities.

Servicio de Extensión de OSU

Lincoln County Master Gardeners