Master Gardener Program

We’re growing

The WVU Extension Master Gardener Program provides people interested in gardening with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills by taking part in Basic/Level 1 and Advanced/Level 2 training programs that provide in-depth training in various aspects of horticulture.

The program helps residents better understand horticultural and environmental issues through community engagement in gardening and beautification projects at schools, parks, public institutions, community organizations, and locations throughout the state.

Benefits of becoming a WVU Extension Master Gardener

Among the many benefits for getting involved with the WVU Extension Master Gardener program, here are the highest-ranking ones:

• Getting to know more about gardening and horticulture to expand personal horizons and be able to help others
• Significant improvements in quality of life, including physical activity, social activity, self-esteem and nutrition
• Offers opportunities for professional development through continuing training opportunities
• Meeting like-minded people and engaging in the garden activities you are passionate about
• Opportunities to assume responsibility
• Encourages individual independence
• Gaining respect in the community for your newly developed horticultural skills
• Flexibility to conduct volunteer work

How do you join?

The first step is to contact your county office and ask about the training program. The WVU Extension Master Gardener Program is offered through our local WVU Extension offices. The training program is currently an online-hybrid platform. You will still need to contact your local WVU Extension office to go over the registration, fees, paperwork and how to get the manuals.

The Winter/Spring 2025 training series will run from January 9 until May 15. Classes will be held every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Over the course of the 18-session online training program, you will receive 54 hours of instruction in a variety of topics, including botany, plant propagation, entomology, pesticides and pest management, plant disease, soil science and nutritional management, turfgrass management, vegetable gardening, tree fruits, small fruit, pruning, landscape design, woody ornamentals, indoor plants, herbaceous plants, garden wildlife management and West Virginia native plants. Learn more here.

From there, pass a test and complete 40 hours of initial volunteer work and you’ll have earned the right to call yourself a WVU Extension Master Gardener.

What then?

Get out and help others grow while you grow your knowledge! Each year, a WVU Extension Master Gardener must complete 20 volunteer hours and 10 additional hours of horticulture training. Opportunities to volunteer are numerous, everything from helping your local WVU Extension agent answer questions to community beautification projects, coordinating school gardening programs to helping maintain the demonstration garden at the state fairgrounds in Fairlea — just to name a few.

There are numerous opportunities to connect with fellow Master Gardeners, not only in your community, but also across the state. The West Virginia Master Gardener Association hosts an annual conference that allows Master Gardeners from all over West Virginia to share ideas and projects and learn from expert speakers and interactive tours. 

If you have questions about the program, contact your local WVU Extension office to get started today.

How to order a WVU Extension Master Gardener Manual

County Master Gardener Program coordinators are responsible for signing up new trainees and will take care of ordering the manuals for those participants. Each coordinator will submit their county’s manual order to the WVU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources office by contacting Carra Higgins ( Carra.Higgins@mail.wvu.edu) or Mira Danilovich, WVU Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator ( Mira.Danilovich@mail.wvu.edu). The office will prepare the invoice and send it with the shipment of the manuals.

Manuals are available in two formats: a printed version and an electronic version. Printed manuals are $75, and the electronic version is $30. You will find all the related information covered in 22 chapters across more than 1,000 pages. The fee for the training course is $100 if you choose to have a printed manual or $50 if you prefer the electronic version of the manual.  

Master Gardener Member Resources

• Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Activity Log - Word
  
• Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Activity Log - Excel
  
• Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Activity Log - PDF
• Extension Master Gardener Mini-Grants Application

Master Gardener Annual Awards

Extensional Master Gardener Association

• Golden Trowel Award
• Honorary Extension Master Gardener Award

WVU Extension

• Outstanding Extension Master Gardener of the Year
• Outstanding Extension Master Gardener Project of the Year

Recent Master Gardener News

Join the Winter/Spring 2025 Master Gardener Training

WVU Extension Master Gardener training, which used to be offered through in-person courses organized by WVU Extension offices around the state, will once again be available online via Zoom sessions. 

WVU Extension will continue offering online Master Gardener training classes for late winter/spring 2025 term, beginning on January 9 through May 15. Classes will be held every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. 

Join the Winter/Spring 2025 Master Gardener Training

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
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