Become a Master Gardener Volunteer
What is a Master Gardener?
OSU Master Gardeners are volunteers who provide a valuable public service to Union County by answering home gardening questions, hosting educational classes & workshops, and partnering with local organizations to empower & grow new gardeners.
Master Gardeners are people who enjoy sharing the joy & science of gardening while building community, working on projects they care about, and improving their own gardening knowledge and skills.
How do I become a Master Gardener?
OSU Master Gardeners is a certification program that requires annual renewal. All aspiring Master Gardeners must complete the Master Gardener Certification Training and volunteer service requirements.
In Union County, Master Gardener certification training is offered every two years (“odd number” years: 2027, 2029, 2031 etc).
First year trainees complete the training (January-May) and their initial 40-hour volunteer commitment (by Nov 1 of that year). After that, Union County Master Gardeners retain their certification by logging a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education, each year. Volunteers get to choose the projects they work on and are encouraged to bring their ideas and experience to the table.
The most important thing to know is that you don't need to know everything about gardening to be an excellent Master Gardener!
Master Gardeners are lifelong learners, not experts! The real magic of the Master Gardener program is in the volunteer experience. Volunteering not only offers Master Gardeners a meaningful way to give back to their community, it enriches their understanding of garden concepts. By putting theory into practice, Master Gardeners build their skills and knowledge in a lasting way. They also get to meet, collaborate with, and be inspired by other local gardeners.
Is the Master Gardener Certification Training right for you?
Becoming a Master Gardener takes time and commitment. The payoff is big—a high-quality garden education, horticulture skill-building, access to local gardening knowledge and experts, new gardening friends, gratifying volunteer work—but you need to make sure it fits your life. If now is not the right time, there's always the next training!
For the Certification Training, you’ll need:
- A laptop or other computer with internet access that you are comfortable using. We communicate primarily by email; expect to check your email regularly.
- You will need a Gmail, Microsoft, or Facebook account to both register for and log onto the online platform where some of the training lessons are housed.
- Availability most Tuesday evenings from late January through early May.
- Time each week to explore online content and work on (occasional) assignments.
- Transportation to the Union County Extension building (10507 N McAlister Rd, La Grande).
For the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, you will need:
- In your first year (to earn certification) - 40 hours of volunteer work March-October in the year you complete the training.
- Recertification (all years after your first year) – 20 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education completed before October 31, annually.
- If you do not recertify for more than 2 years in a row, you will need to start the program from scratch: retaking the training and completing the 40 hours of volunteer work to certify. It pays to keep up your recertification!
- Volunteers who keep their certification current are invited to attend any in-person classes or online trainings for free.
Master Gardener Certification Training
The next Union County Master Gardener Training will be in early 2027. Fill out the interest form (click the orange button above to get to it) if you would like to be notified when registration opens!
Master Gardener Volunteering
So you think you might like to become a Master Gardener, but what does that actually mean?
Master Gardener volunteers use the skills they've gained from the training to help guide community members to research-based gardening advice. Although there is a wealth of useful information about gardening on the Internet, it can be difficult for novice gardeners to separate good advice from questionable or unproven recommendations. The Master Gardener training will help you navigate these resources and find reliable information to share with community members seeking advice or instruction. Successful volunteers are those who enjoy learning, collaborating with a team, and sharing the joys of gardening with others.
Examples of Volunteer Opportunities
- Garden Helpdesk - Work with fellow volunteers and Extension staff to answer gardening questions from folks in Union County. This is an amazing way to build your regional gardening knowledge and skills.
- Outreach - Hang out at the farmers market, the Union County Fair, and other local spots to answer gardening questions, share free resources, and be an ambassador for the Master Gardner program.
- Teach - Help plan and host gardening workshops for the community, including our Seed to Supper program that provides vegetable gardening instruction to people who are facing food insecurity.
- Garden - Tend our demonstration plots at the La Grande Community Garden and the OSU Extension Building. Hold Master Gardener "office hours" to mentor fellow gardeners.
- Write for the Newsletter - Share your knowledge by writing seasonally relevant, research-based garden tips, how-to's, recipes, etc for our regional gardening newsletter. Creativity is welcome!
- Design Your Own Project - Master Gardeners can bring their own passions to their work by starting an individual volunteer project. Qualifying projects make garden education available to the community. Projects are driven by the interests and skill sets of an individual or team of Master Gardeners. Examples: plant & maintain a demonstration garden (at the Extension building or another public space), create an educational display that communicates a sustainable gardening concept, plan & implement a gardening workshop or event focused on education, create a publication or podcast on gardening topics, etc.
Master Gardeners Make a Difference
OSU Master Gardener program priorities guide the work we do in Union County. Our focus is on sustainable gardening with the goal of enhancing the health of our community's people, soil, and ecosystems. Master Gardeners have a unique opportunity to influence other gardeners in their community with sustainable garden advice and education.
In this way, Master gardeners provide our county with the resources and skills to encourage greater access to healthy food, less water use and chemical inputs, more food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, increased biodiversity and soil health, greater climate change resilience for our region, and more. If you believe in being a part of this kind of change, the Master Gardener volunteer program is for you!
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Photo: Sarah West -
Photo: Sarah West -
Photo: Sarah West -
Photo: Sarah West -
Photo: Sarah West
