Become A Master Gardener Volunteer

Who are the Master Gardeners:

We are neighbors teaching neighbors about landscapes, vegetables, fruits, herbs, houseplants, beneficial and harmful insects, plant diseases, integrated pest management (IPM), wildlife management, soils, birds, composting, water conservation, and much, much more!

The Master Gardeners are a dedicated group of volunteers in New York State who are trained by Cornell Cooperative Extension in the science and art of gardening. Every Master Gardener has received 120 hours of research-based instruction from Cornell Cooperative Extension. We continue to be educated on the latest developments in horticulture through on-going training and workshops.

And yet, the Master Gardener Program is more than a horticulture class or a garden club. It is a volunteer program that enables participants to serve their communities through horticultural education. If you would like to help improve your community and enjoy gardening, landscaping, and related activities, consider becoming a Master Gardener volunteer! 

What do the Master Gardeners do?

Programs and activities of the Master Gardeners are based on educational priorities of individual counties, differing from county to county. Some of these include:

• Answering horticulture inquires on the telephone
• Researching and answering letters and e-mails.
• Writing articles about gardening
• Setting up demonstration projects in public places
• School gardens
• Plant and insect identification
• Community improvement projects
• Historic garden restoration
• Horticulture therapy
• Organizing plant sales and public events
• County fair informational booths
• Providing advice to customers at garden centers
• Increasing awareness of integrated pest management and water quality conservation and other environmental issues

Qualifications for Master Gardener Volunteers:

• A basic interest and knowledge about landscape and food gardening
• Enthusiasm for acquiring and sharing horticulture knowledge and skills
• Interest in teaching others
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing
• Understanding of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s educational mission
• Flexible time schedule to allow participation in the program
• Ability to volunteer time on horticulture projects and functions to help meet the goals of the county’s Cornell Cooperative Extension Program

Become a Master Gardener Volunteer!

The fee for this program is $250 and requires 100 hours of volunteer commitment which should be completed within the first 2 years. All course materials are included with the above fee. $50 will be refunded upon completion of your volunteer work.

Our next training will be held in the fall of 2023. We will be hosting an open house to review the volunteer requirements and class style. This fall we will be offering a hybrid class of online learning and in person classes geared towards those who work full time.

Please sign up for our emails to be notified of when we are hosting the open house and accepting applications.

Last updated April 5, 2023