Who We Are

PCMG Mission Statement: To serve our community by promoting research based, sustainable gardening practices.

The purpose of the Polk County Master Gardener™ Program is to support the OSU Master Gardener™ Program and to provide research based gardening information and educational opportunities to the residents of Polk County. They do this through classes and plant problem clinics in various locations throughout the year. The demonstration garden at Independence Mountain Fir Park gives practical examples of home horticulture principles that are the  foundation of the Master Gardener™ Program.

Each Master Gardener volunteer has attended the 60 hour Oregon State University Master Gardener™ Training in various horticulture disciplines and performed 60 hours of volunteer work on specific Polk County Master Gardener projects.

Master Gardeners Help People

Your commitment after training is to be a volunteer staff person for the OSU Extension Service. The program coordinator will help you to schedule your volunteer time. Some Master Gardeners answer telephone requests for gardening information; others staff plant clinics at garden shows or local events. Master Gardeners might also work on projects with local schools, give talks to area garden clubs or complete an approved project of their own design.

The Training of Master Gardeners

Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener™? Master Gardeners are people like you, interested in learning more about the art and science of growing and caring for plants in the garden, the landscape, and the home. In exchange for classroom instruction, Master Gardeners agree to help local Extension faculty and staff extend horticultural information to people in their communities. 

Master Gardener™ training classes are taught by OSU extension agents and horticultural experts. The program offers basic, practical courses in plant science and home horticulture. Classes include basic botany, methods for growing vegetables, lawns, fruit trees and landscape plants, pest identification and control methods, soil management and plant nutrition, and diagnosis of plant problems. The actual courses offered vary depending on local needs and interests. Classes are held during the winter months from February through April.