Become a Glenn County Master Gardener

Are you Interested in Becoming a Glenn County Master Gardener?

The UC Master Gardener Program is open to individuals interested in becoming volunteers and sharing gardening knowledge with the public through community outreach. Applicants looking to increase knowledge and horticulture experience will be considered regardless of gardening experience. 

As part of our training program, and once accepted, applicants will receive a minimum of 50 hours of training provided by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources over the course of a 16-week series of classes in plant science, soils, water management, vegetable gardening, entomology, integrated pest management, home orchard, turf grass, pathology, weeds, pest control, and more. Classes are taught by experts in their fields, including UC Cooperative Extension Advisors and Specialists.

In exchange for education and certification, UC Master Gardeners are required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours in the first year and 25 hours each subsequent year. UC Master Gardeners must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education per year, starting their second year. 

The cost of the training program is $200 and will be collected once applicants are accepted into the program. The fee covers the cost of educational materials, such as the Master Gardener Handbook and other UC ANR publications used in the training. In addition to the class fee, applicants must pass a Department of Justice Background Live Scan Test, the cost is approximately $40.

Why become a UC Master Gardener? 

• Knowledge: Understanding plants, pests, weeds, trees, water, soil, compost... it opens a whole new world to you and seeing what goes on in your own backyard!!
• Sharing: Helping the Agricultural Education Community share their research and information with the general public.  Help everyone become better caretakers of our environment, one backyard at a time...
• Access: Master Gardeners have special access to UC Resources and contacts within the UC Organization to help us learn more, and communicate our knowledge to the general public.
• Community: Master Gardeners are people who love gardening, and are interested in learning and sharing with others.

Examples of Community Outreach from UC Master Gardeners

• Demonstration and community gardens
• School gardens
• Classes and workshops
• Websites and blogs
• Free diagnostic office and hotline
• Fairs and plant clinics
• Print and digital media

How UC Master Gardeners Make a Difference

• Promote environmentally responsible and sustainable horticultural practices
• Reduce fertilizer and pesticide pollutants
• Protect water quality and promote water conservation
• Compost green-waste,reducing landfill materials and improving air quality
• Detect and manage invasive species
• Raise wildland fire protection awareness