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UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog
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Learn, Grow, and Connect through Your Local UC Master Gardener Program

Whether you want to plant your first tomato or fine-tune a long-established garden, the UC Master Gardener Program is for you.  Across California, you will find that the UC Master Gardener Program offers opportunities for gardeners of all experience levels to learn, ask questions, and grow their skills alongside trained volunteer educators.

Learn from Trained, Local Volunteers

UC Master Gardener volunteers are members of your local community who have completed extensive, research-based horticulture training through the University of California. They then volunteer to share practical, science-backed gardening information that helps gardeners make informed decisions about plants, soils, water use, pests, and sustainable practices. From patios and raised beds to houseplants, balconies, community garden plots, and shared spaces, their guidance supports gardening in all the places people grow.

A UC Master Gardener volunteer leads an outdoor teaching demonstration, holding a small specimen container while speaking to a group in a garden setting.
Teresa L., a UC Master Gardener volunteer from Solano County, shares composting tips during a community presentation. Photo credit: Jennifer Baumbach

Approachable, Inclusive, and Designed for Real Life

One of the most special things about learning with UC Master Gardeners is that it’s approachable and inclusive. You don’t need a horticulture background or a desire to be an expert. Programs are designed for beginners, lifelong learners, and everyone in between. Workshops, talks, demonstrations, community events, and online resources meet gardeners where they are and support their curiosity and desire to learn.

UC Master Gardener volunteers host a community tomato tasting, with labeled plates of different tomato varieties displayed on a table as they talk with attendees at an outdoor garden event.
UC Master Gardener volunteers from Fresno County engage the public through a tomato tasting that highlights a variety of tomato types.

More Than a Class—A Learning Community

When you attend a UC Master Gardener class or event, you’re not just receiving information; you’re joining a learning community. Volunteers teach from education and experience, answer your questions, and help you understand the local climate and growing conditions you face in your community. You’ll gain tools you can use right away, whether that’s improving soil health, choosing climate-appropriate plants, managing pests responsibly, or gardening more efficiently with water.

Seven UC Master Gardener volunteers stand behind an outreach table at an indoor event. The table displays educational materials on pollinators, mulching, invasive pests, and tree health, with UC Master Gardener Program banners behind them.
Los Angeles County UC Master Gardeners host a Bug Booth at the fair, helping visitors learn about insects and garden ecosystems.

 

Your Invitation to Grow

If you’ve ever thought, I’d love to learn more about gardening, but I don’t know where to start, this is your invitation. Reach out to your local UC Master Gardener Program, attend an event, or explore what’s happening in your area. You’ll find knowledgeable volunteers, welcoming spaces, and learning opportunities designed for real people and real gardens.

No matter your skill level, there’s always something new to grow.  Connect with your local program today.