2024 UCCE Master Gardener Training

Tuolumne County Training 2025

UCCE Master Gardeners are accepting applications for

Master Gardener Volunteer Training

The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) invites adults interested in helping others learn about gardening and to apply to train as a Master Gardener volunteer. UCCE Master Gardener volunteers learn University-based scientific information and then share that knowledge with the gardening community. Master Gardener volunteers are people of all ages and from all walks of  life with a common desire to help others learn about gardening.

Master Gardener membership is open to anyone in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. A background check including fingerprinting is required to become a Master Gardener.

The Master Gardener Training will be a hybrid model, including recorded lectures, reading material and in-person labs (which will be held in Tuolumne). The training classes for new volunteer candidates begin Thursday, January 16, 2025, and continue weekly through April 24th. These classes will include over 50 hours of intensive training by University of California personnel and horticulture specialists in various fields.  Topics include water management, soils, composting, native plants, fruit production, plant diseases, entomology, Integrated Pest Management, understanding pesticides and more.

A fee of $195 will be charged to cover the cost of all class materials, which includes several reference texts.  After successfully completing the training program, certified Master Gardener volunteers agree to fulfill annual volunteer service and continuing education requirements. If there is room, training will also be offered at the professional rate of $350. At the professional rate, there are no volunteer requirements. We will be accepting applications until November 17, 2024.

Anyone interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please fill out an online Master Gardener Application:

https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=25510

For more information, contact the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Coordinator by email.  The email address is dlpowell@ucanr.edu.

For more information, contact the UC Cooperative Extension in Tuolumne County office by phone or email.  Phone number is (209) 533-5695 and the email address is dlpowell@ucanr.edu.

What We'll Do

• Review applicants.  Main criteria for acceptance: 1) prior community service, 2) experience teaching, either by giving presentations, writing, or in one-to-one situations, 3) passion for helping home gardeners, 4) experience successfully gardening.
• Conduct interviews during December. We will contact you whether or not you have been accepted into the program.
• If you are accepted, you will be given a Live Scan form to get your fingerprints done. A background check, including fingerprinting, is required to become a Master Gardener.
• Teach you how to garden successfully. These classes will include over 50 hours of intensive training by University of California personnel and horticulture specialists in various fields.
  Topics include irrigation, soils, composting, fertilizer management, propagation , plant diseases, managing home orchards, entomology, Integrated Pest Management and understanding pesticides.
• Provide you with plenty of Volunteer and Continuing Education opportunities.

What You’ll Do If Accepted into the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program

• Pay course fee of $195. $350 course fee for commercial rate (no volunteer time).
• Complete Live Scan fingerprinting form by first training day, TBD.
• Attend 15 classes.  Training begins January 2024
• Answer gardening questions at local events, at the Master Gardener office, or at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden. Help with program activities offered through a variety of internal committees.
• Complete 50 volunteer hours your first year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours annually.
• Post your volunteer and continuing education hours on our online Statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Management System (we provide instructions).
• Attend monthly Master Gardener Continuing Education meetings as often as possible.

What You'll Get

• University of California publications including the California Master Gardener Handbook; discounts on other UC publications.
• Certificate of Completion of Class Instruction after completing the 15-week training program and passing the take-home, open-book examination.
• Monthly Continuing Education meetings with speakers and activities on in-depth gardening topics.
• Frequent emails of Volunteer and Continuing Education opportunities and other program information.
• Annual recertification as an active Master Gardener after you post online at least 50 Volunteer hours by June 30 2025 (Future years' annual requirements are 25 Volunteer and 12 Continuing Education hours.)
• Joy and satisfaction that you're helping other gardeners grow more nutritious vegetables and fruits, you’re making new friends, and working with others to help create a more sustainable environment.