• become part of a network of Master Gardeners ... over 50,000 nationwide
• enjoy the satisfaction of sharing your knowledge with others in your community
• receive ongoing gardening updates from UVM Extension faculty

To become certified as a Master Gardener (MG) in Vermont, you must complete two tasks. The first is our thirteen week Basic Course, which covers the fundamentals of home gardening and the plant and soil sciences. The second task is to complete a volunteer internship where you put the knowledge you learn in the classroom to work on community projects. 

Faculty from the University of Vermont and Vermont Horticulture Professionals will teach you the basics of plant science and home horticulture. You will learn about soils and soil fertility, plant pests and diseases and their control, fruit and vegetable production, turf management, annual and perennial flower growing, caring for shrubs and woody ornamentals, landscape design, invasive plant control, and integrated garden management. The training is adapted to local needs and the Vermont environment.

Your Commitment

When you finish your training, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40 volunteer hours to become a certified Master Gardener by helping other home gardeners. We always need volunteers to help field questions on the Master Gardener Helpline in the South Burlington Extension office. Last year Master Gardener Helpline volunteers helped 3,400 Vermonters with home gardening problems and questions. As a Master Gardener, you might also staff educational exhibits at local events and libraries, conduct a workshop in your community, write a column for your local paper, or work with young gardeners. The program coordinator will coach and support your efforts. How you use your time most effectively is a joint decision between you and your coordinator.

Becoming certified is the beginning of many great opportunities for Master Gardener members. As a Master Gardener, you will be eligible to attend member-only events such as; private garden tours, advanced horticulture lectures, hands-on workshops, and MG community projects in your local MG chapter. These activities are a great way to spend time with fellow horticulture enthusiasts while expanding your gardening education!

To help you decide if you should apply for Master Gardener training, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I eager to participate in a practical and intensive training program?
• Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience as a volunteer in my community?
• Do I have enough time to attend the training AND serve as a Master Gardener volunteer?

If you answered yes to these questions, the Master Gardener Program may be for you!   Please check out our Basic Course.

Contact Vermont Master Gardener at master.gardener@uvm.edu.
Contact webmaster sarah.kingsley@uvm.edu with questions or comments about this web site.

Vermont Master Gardener is an integral part of the University of Vermont Extension Home Horticulture Program

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont.University of Vermont Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital or familial status.