Photo: Sarah West (Cropped from original)

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 learn where and how to look for high quality gardening resources. They are people who enjoy sharing the joy & science of gardening while building community and improving their own gardening knowledge and skills.

How do I become a Master Gardener?

Master Gardeners is a certification program. All aspiring Master Gardeners must complete the Master Gardener Certification Training and volunteer service requirements. In Union County, the certification training is offered every two years (“odd number” years: 2025, 2027, 2029, 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, annually.

The most important thing to know is that you don't need to know everything about gardening to be an excellent Master Gardener!

Photo: Sarah West (Cropped from original)

Was this page helpful?