What is a Master Gardener?
The Texas Master Gardener program is an educational volunteer program conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of the Texas A&M University System. Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. What sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their county Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
Note: Master Gardeners are representatives of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. In all volunteer work related to the program, Master Gardeners follow the research-based recommendations of Texas AgriLife Extension. The title “Texas Master Gardener” can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities.
Who Are Texas Master Gardeners?
Texas Master Gardeners is a volunteer program designed to grow horticultural information throughout the state, town by town. To become a Texas Master Gardener, a participant attends 50 hours of instruction, conducted by the local Extension county agent, and then shares this knowledge by donating 50 hours of volunteer service back to the community.
The touch of Texas Master Gardeners’ green thumbs can be found across the state in school garden projects, horticultural therapy projects, community gardens, and demonstration gardens; by volunteers who also conduct gardening programs and answer gardening questions. Anything anyone wants to know about gardening, a Master Gardener can help. That includes young aspiring gardeners too. Master Gardeners help set up 4-H gardening clubs and Junior Master Gardener groups.
In fact, when it comes to green and growing things, Master Gardeners dig into their service in all kinds of ways: teaching, giving presentations, writing newsletters and articles, providing clerical help, as well as designing and maintaining web pages.
Become a Master Gardener
- Cameron County Master Gardener Training – Begins in Fall 2024
Helpful Links:
The Texas Master Gardener class series is for individuals who want to volunteer for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Cameron County. Master Gardeners can provide educational programs for community groups and schools about horticulture. Master Gardeners also service educational booths at local festivals and events.
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