UC Master Gardener volunteers must undergo a minimum of 50 hours of intensive home horticulture education and a qualifying exam in order to certify. The following topics are considered core training, however counties may choose to add additional relevant topics.
1. Orientation
2. Introduction to Horticulture (General Botany and Plant Physiology)
3. Soil and Fertilizer Management
4. Water Management in the Home Garden and Landscape
5. Controlling Garden Pests Safely (IPM)
6. Entomology
7. Plant Pathology
8. Weed Management
9. Vertebrate Pests
10. Vegetable Culture
11. Fruit Tree Culture
12. Turfgrass Management
13. Ornamental Plant Culture
14. Plant Problem Diagnosis (Including Abiotic Disorders)
15. Extension Teaching and Information Delivery
16. UCCE MGP Policies and Procedures
New User Presentation Templates
New user presentations titled "Volunteer Management System for New Users" and "Collaborative Tools for New Users." These branded generic presentation are available for counties to use and customize to their training needs.
"Collaborative Tool New Users" PowerPoint presentation includes:
- What is Collaborative Tools
- How to access Collaborative Tools
- Editing your profile
- Posting discussions
- Posting documents
- Collaborative Tools etiquette
"Volunteer Management System New Users" PowerPoint presentation includes:
- What is the Volunteer Management System
- How to access the Volunteer Management System
- Navigation
- Editing your profile
- Volunteering
- Recording hours
- Other features
The "We are the UC Master Gardener Program" PowerPoint features:
- Program history
- Updated statewide stats (2021)
- UC ANR structure
- Program initiatives
- Volunteer hours & continuing education
- Resources
- Policies and procedures
Initial Training Resources
- Making Teachers out of UC Master Gardeners (Webinar)
- UC Master Gardener Coordinator Collaborative Tools Group - Visit the UC Master Gardener Coordinator Collaborative Tools Group for sample homework, quizzes, exams, and more!
Questions? Contact:
John A. Mathews
Training Specialist
jamathews@ucanr.edu
530-750-1231