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Umatilla County Master Gardeners

Photo by Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original)
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Become a Master Gardener

Master Gardeners are highly educated volunteers who share their sustainable gardening knowledge with their communities through education and outreach programs. 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.

Master the art and the science of caring for plants

Learn about:

  • Local-climate gardening techniques
  • Basic botany
  • Methods for growing vegetables, lawns, fruit trees, and landscape plants
  • Garden types (e.g., container or vegetable)
  • Soil management and plant nutrition
  • Pest identification and control methods using the least-toxic approach
  • Prevention and diagnosis of plant problems
Photo by Stephen Ward (Cropped from original)

Who can become a Master Gardener?

The Master Gardener program is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the effective and sustainable management of their home horticultural landscape, including professional and hobbyist gardeners. There are no prerequisites to participate in the course, although a basic understanding of plants is helpful.

How do I become a Master Gardener?

Step 1: Complete the Master Gardener training

Training consists of a mixture of online learning modules, in-person workshops, and virtual Q&A sessions.

  • The 18 online learning modules are set up so you can learn at your own pace, on your own schedule. They cover the cornerstones of horticulture, from soil science to pest management, and consist of recorded lectures, selected readings, an assignment/activity, further resources, and a quiz.
  • The in-person workshops are designed to reinforce and supplement the course material and will be conducted by OSU faculty, experienced Master Gardener volunteers, and other experts. They are hands-on, generally last a couple of hours, can be indoors or outdoors, and may involve physical activity or prolonged periods of sitting, standing, or walking.
  • The virtual Q&A sessions will be one hour a week, hosted on Zoom by me, the Master Gardener coordinator. These are opportunities to check in, dive deeper, and ask questions concerning the modules, the Master Gardener program, or gardening in general. Guests will include OSU experts and current Master Gardener volunteers.

Registration for the 2023 Master Gardener Volunteer Training course is now closed. If you would like to be notified when registration opens for 2024, please fill out this form and someone will contact you in late fall/early winter of 2023.

Step 2: Complete volunteer hours

Once trainees have completed the volunteer training course and passed the final exam, the final step to Master Gardener certification is fulfilling 40 volunteer hours on behalf of the program. There are many ways to do so, including:

  • Answering telephone/email requests for gardening information
  • Helping at one of the community gardens they oversee or support
  • Staffing plant clinics at local garden shows or events
  • Working on projects with local schools
  • Speaking at local garden clubs
  • Completing an approved project of your own design

The local Master Gardener coordinator will help you schedule volunteer time. For more information see the Master Gardener Volunteer Position Description. This describes the responsibilities, as well as position requirements and supervision.

Step 3: Recertify each year

Current Master Gardeners can maintain their status by participating in 10 continuing-education hours and 20 volunteer hours each year. Contact the local Master Gardener coordinator for more information.

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