History of the Master Gardeners

History of Tuolumne Master Gardeners

The Master Gardener Program began in Tuolumne County in 1983, four years after the California program began in Sacramento.

We currently have 84 Certified Master Gardeners volunteering their time to educate our community about home horticulture and 19 in training.

A little history on the UC Cooperative Extension and Master Gardener Program...

• 1862 - MORRILL ACT – established Land Grant Colleges: at least one institution of higher learning in every state (California’s are U.C. Berkeley, Riverside, &
  Davis)
• 1887 – HATCH ACT – established cooperation between U.S.D.A./Land Grant
  Colleges: agricultural research stations to provide technical, practical
  knowledge to farmers
• 1914 – SMITH-LEVER ACT – established Cooperative Extension “…development
  of practical applications of research knowledge and giving of instruction and
  practical demonstration…to persons not attending said colleges”: local
  governments & extension offices
• 1979 – California’s First Master Gardener Class
  Riverside County
  Sacramento County
• 1983 – Tuolumne County’s First Master Gardener Program
  • Part of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
  • Part of the Agriculture program administered by the Farm Advisor.