Jackson County Master Gardener Association

The Oregon State University Master Gardener™ program in Jackson County provides urban horticulture education to local residents. The first class in 1979 had approximately 12 students; 75 students are enrolled in the 13-week course in 2008.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association was formed in 1982 to promote, assist and perpetuate the OSU Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners volunteer thousands of hours of their time each year to the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center and to the community. Members staff plant clinics, present evening programs, teach classes on garden related topics, organize the Winter Dreams-Summer Gardens Symposium in November, have a children's summer gardening program, and plant and care for the demonstration gardens on the Extension grounds.

The Master Gardener Spring Fair held the last weekend of April at the Jackson County Expo is the premier gardening event in Jackson County and signals the beginning of the summer gardening season in the Rogue Valley.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association awards grants to local schools with horticulture programs and scholarships to Jackson County graduates attending OSU.

The Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley, a month-by-month guide tailored to the growing conditions of the local area was was first published in 1984. A completely revised 13th edition was released in December 2006 and may be purchased at the Extension office or at local nurseries.

Through their support of the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center and with a focus on gardening education, the Master Gardeners are a valuable asset to Jackson County.

How do I sign up?

Only a limited number of spaces are available. For more information, call the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center at 541-776-7371, or send us an email with your name, address and phone.

OSU Endowment/Scholarship

The Jackson County Master Gardener^TM Association provides a scholarship annually for a Jackson County High School graduate who is or will be a junior, senior or graduate student at Oregon State University to further his or her education in a plant-related field.