Master Gardener™ Volunteer Hours

What: The Oregon State Master Gardener™ Program, offered by Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, is both an educational and volunteer initiative. It trains and certifies community members as Master Gardeners, equipping them with research-backed knowledge in sustainable gardening practices. Once certified, Master Gardeners provide gardening guidance, education, and community support throughout Oregon, with a focus on plant diagnostics, pest management, soil health, and supporting local agriculture. To be certified, you have to attend the 13 week of classes, complete an open book exam, and serve a minimum of 40 volunteer hours by October 31st, 2026.

When: January 8- April 2, 2026, weekly on Thursdays from 9 am- 3 pm with occasional sessions on Saturdays from 10 am- 1 pm

Where: Mostly at OSU Extension office- Tillamook County and a few sessions in different locations near Tillamook

In your first year, you must complete 40 hours of classroom education, complete an open book exam and at least 40 hours of volunteer service. To recertify each year, you’ll need 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education.

To break down the major components involved in Master Gardener training, here is how it works:

First Year Requirements:

40 hours of classroom education:

• Classes meet weekly on Thursdays at OSU Extension Service-Tillamook from 9am- 3pm with a few classes at Nehalem from 10 am- 1 pm on Saturdays for 13 weeks. All apprentices are required to attend the 13 week of classes unless there is an exception to fulfill the 40 hours of classroom education
• The 13 weeks will explore different topics around sustainable gardening with different speakers

Complete an open book exam:

• At the end of 13 weeks of classes, you will take an open book exam to test your knowledge on all the cool things you have learned throughout the class

Complete 40 hours of volunteer service by October 31st, 2026:

10 hours - Plant clinic at OSU Extension Service Tillamook and/or Farmers market booths and/or tables at public events

• Researching and answering the garden questions from community under the guidance of certified OSU Master Gardener™ volunteer
• Shifts for plant clinics are To be Decided (TBD) and will be updated

10 hours - OSU Learning Garden located in fairgrounds Tillamook

• Thursday mornings in the past from 9 am- 12 pm. (Will be updated if the schedule changes)

5 hours- Educational events

• This includes helping with any hands-on classes at the Learning Garden, Seed to Supper, or any research time involved for the events

5 hours- Helping Tillamook County Master Gardener Association (TCMGA) plant sale

• Includes several tasks involved with plant sale: setting up, loading, helping answer questions, etc

10 hours- Your choice of approved projects

• You can choose to do any of the above

If you're unable to complete those hours and need to make special arrangements, please contact your Tillamook Master Gardener Coordinator Samikshya (Sami) Budhathoki in advance at 503-842-3433 or email [email protected]. We’re happy to assist upon request!

For Recertifying Volunteers:

• 20 hours of Volunteer Service Hours out of all the approved projects above
• 10 hours of Continuing Education (CE). The total of 30 hours is required for recertifying volunteers. The CE hours can be obtained by attending the 2026 Master Gardener classes and/or do citizen science projects and/or watching level-up series
• Sign and submit the necessary OSU volunteer paperwork each year

Growing and belonging:

All participants must complete/attend at least 1 hour focused on a Orientation/Growing & Belonging topic in the first week of class.

OSU's growing and belonging are essential to the success of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener™ Program. We subscribe to a philosophy of personal and communal growth—in our gardens and ourselves. We offer programs and services that welcome and serve Oregonians interested in gardening, regardless of their income or education level, physical or cognitive ability, age, race/ethnicity, or any other protected aspect of their identities. Our approach to growing and belonging is detailed on our program news blog.

If you need any assistance with the registration process or have any other questions related to the program, please stop by at OSU Extension office in Tillamook County at 4506 3rd Street, Tillamook, OR 97141, give us a call at 503-842-3433 or email Samikshya Budhathoki ([email protected]).