Volunteer
Survey: Become a UC Master Gardener
To express your interest in becoming a UC Master Gardener volunteer complete this short survey.
Become a UC Master Gardener
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
Master Gardener Training Courses
Once accepted into the UC Master Gardener program by a local UC Cooperative Extension office, 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 16 weeks .
Training topics include:
- Introduction to Horticulture
- Soil and Fertilizer Management
- Water Management
- Plant Propagation
- Plant Pathology
- Insects
- Weeds
- Safe and Sustainable Pest Management
- House Plants
- Lawns
- Woody Landscape Plants
- Home Vegetable Gardening
- Grapes
- Berries
- Temperate Tree Fruit and Nut Crops
- Citrus
- Avocados
- Landscape and Garden Design
- Poisonous Plants
- Diagnosing Plant Problems
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.