Become a Master Gardener

WHY BECOME A MASTER GARDENER? 
Do you love to garden?  Are you interested in lifelong learning?  Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others?  And do you like the idea of community service?  Master Gardeners do all of these things and more!  Working with a wonderful group of gardening enthusiasts you will gain knowledge about the life of the garden, and put what you know into practice for the benefit of others and our environment.  Marin Master Gardeners focus their training and volunteer projects on the following principles: sustainable landscape practices, feeding your neighborhood and creating local food sources, and training people to promote youth gardening.  Last year Marin Master Gardeners donated more than 24,200 hours to community service projects.

WHAT IS THE MASTER GARDENER TRAINING LIKE? 
The Marin Master Gardener Training program is an extensive 18-week training course, providing a practical overview of horticulture and sustainable landscape practices.

Training sessions meet weekly on Thursdays from early January to early May. Trainee will be paired with mentors to help guide them through the training class and to introduce them to the Marin Master Gardener organization.

Classes are taught by experts ranging from University of California faculty and staff, landscape and nursery professionals, local horticulture educators and Certified Master Gardeners.

Topics that are covered in the Training Program include:

Climate, Microclimate and Site Analysis	Growing Vegetables and Fruits
Botany and Plant Taxonomy	Plant Pathology
Soils, Composting and Mulching	Insects – Pests and Beneficials
Plant Propagation	Integrated Pest Management
Pruning	Water Wise Irrigation Practices
Ornamental Plants, Trees, and Shrubs	Garden Design
Drought Tolerant and Native Plants	Weeds and Invasive Plants, Fire-safe Planting

WHO BECOMES A MASTER GARDENER? 
Any Marin resident with an interest in horticulture and a desire to volunteer for community service may apply to the Master Gardener Training Program.  Marin Master Gardeners are people of all ages and come from all walks of life.  They share an enthusiasm for gardening, some knowledge of plants, a willingness to learn and help others, and the ability to communicate with diverse groups of people.

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT TO THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM? 
In the first year Master Gardeners are required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of Marin Master Gardener sponsored volunteer service and 12 hours of continuing education.  In subsequent years, to remain a Certified Master Gardener, a minimum of 25 hours of Marin Master Gardener sponsored volunteer service and 12 hours of continuing education are required.

WHAT TYPE OF VOLUNTEER WORK DOES A MASTER GARDENER DO?

Master Gardeners are the go-to people for University of California research-based horticulture information and for teaching sustainable gardening practices for healthy homes and gardens. They staff an information help desk in the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office, answering questions, diagnosing plant problems, and giving horticultural assistance to home gardeners. They provide information through newspaper articles, plant clinics, talks and demonstrations and they work on a broad range of community horticultural and gardening projects.  To learn more about Marin Master Gardener volunteer opportunities, go to Garden Projects on this website.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE MARIN MASTER GARDENERS PROGRAM?
The Class of 2013 has been selected. In July of 2013 application materials for the Class of 2014 will be posted on this website.  At that time you will be able to view Master Gardener training information, review the application procedures and important dates for Class of 2014 and complete the 2014 Marin Master Gardener Application. Information sessions will take place in August and early September. Applications are due in mid-September. Interviews take place in early October. There is an Orientation Luncheon for successful applicants in November and the training course begins in early January 2014.

In accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, medical condition, ancestry, citizenship or disability. Inquiries regarding this policy may be addressed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607-5200, (510) 987-0096.