UVM Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter volunteers are University of Vermont Extension representatives. When you accept a certified volunteer position you commit to the following:
• Volunteering Requirement: To remain active, certified Extension Master Gardeners must volunteer a minimum of 25 hours per year with the option of completing up to 5 of those hours on continuing education on gardening topics taught by credible researched-based sources. Certified Vermont Master Composters must volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per year with the option of completing up to 1 of those hours on continuing education. This requirement is based on an honor system. Our small staff does not want to or have the capacity to police your volunteer activities. We simply ask that you take this program goal seriously.
• Local Chapter Meetings: We ask that volunteers set a goal to attend 2 or more local chapter meetings or events per year. This helps you to stay connected with other Extension Master Gardeners & Composters, learn about volunteer projects in your area, and provides important local continuing education opportunities to help you stay up to date on the latest research and information available.
• Ask A Master Gardener /Composter Outreach Tables: We ask that volunteers set a goal to volunteer at 2 "Ask a Master Gardener/Composter" informational booths per year. Outreach is the most important thing volunteers do and answering the public’s questions about sustainable gardening and backyard composting practices is the main activity we promote as a program. Volunteers can staff event tables that are organized as projects or they can set up a table at a demonstration garden or another type of project (community garden, school etc.) and invite the public to have their questions answered. This requirement is based on an honor system.
• Reporting Volunteer Hours: Volunteers are required to report your volunteer hours online annually and Certified Extension Master Gardeners are required to pay the certification renewal fee of $25 to remain an active member (no annual fee for Vermont Master Composters) and receive the related benefits of membership in our program network. The hours form is open for submission from December thru January 31.
• Active vs. Alumni Policy: If you are unable to volunteer the full 25 hours for a two-year period, you will transition from active to alumni status. As an alumni status, you will be removed from our volunteer listservs. You can choose to re-join later by reactivating your status by completing the steps outlined in our reactivation webpage at: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener/transfer-or-reactivation-instructions.
• Canceling your Commitment: We understand that emergencies or other life priorities may conflict with a volunteer commitment you have made. When these occur, please notify the project leader as soon as possible and offer to find a replacement when needed/appropriate. Please avoid not showing up and not contacting anyone as this reflects poorly on the reputation of the UVM Extension Master Gardener program as well as the project leader, and other volunteers.
• No volunteering on private property: The goal of Extension is to provide information to the public in a way that is accessible to everyone across the state. Therefore, as representatives of Extension, and when serving in a volunteer capacity, Extension Master Gardener and Composter volunteers should not provide private consultation services. This includes garden consulting, designing, planning etc. If the activity is something that could be provided otherwise by a private landscaping or gardening company for a fee, then we ask that volunteers do not take part. The goal of this program is to educate, and not to replace the services and jobs associated with the green industry. You can refer people looking for landscaping or gardening businesses or services to the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association.
• No volunteering for other organization’s fundraising efforts: While serving in a volunteer capacity for Extension, Extension Master Gardener and Composter volunteers should not provide fundraising or engage in fundraising activities for other organizations. This includes office support, phone calls, committee work, staffing sales tables (even if they are selling plants). These activities do not qualify for volunteer hours.
• No personal solicitation: Extension Master Gardener and Composter volunteers are not allowed to solicit for an individual business or organization during any volunteer meetings, trainings, or public program-sponsored events (chapter or state). If you are speaking at an event as a hired professional, you may mention that you are an Extension Master Gardener or Composter volunteer. However, if you are speaking at a volunteer event that you are counting as volunteer hours, you may not solicit your business.
• Avoid Conflicts of Commitment and Interest: Following the University’s Conflicts of Commitment and Interest Policies, program volunteers must avoid ethical, legal, and financial conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment that may compromise their abilities in carrying out our program’s mission and goals. Therefore, Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter volunteers and interns shall not derive personal profit or gain by reason of their participation as a volunteer with the UVM Extension Community Horticulture programs. This applies to individuals and their business or nonprofit affiliations, family and/or significant others, employers, and close associates who may stand to receive a benefit or gain. Volunteers shall disclose to the State Program Coordinator any conflicts-of-interests or conflicts-of-commitments which volunteers/interns may have in any matter concerning the program and shall refrain from participating in program activities which involve any discussion or decision on such matters.
• No product endorsement: As representatives of non-biased university developed, research-based information, Extension Master Gardener and Composter volunteers are not allowed to name or endorse any specific business or product. For example, volunteers can say, “solar digester” but avoid commercial names of the product (eg., "Green Cone"). If totally unavoidable, volunteers should provide at least three commercial sources and emphasize that no endorsement is intended and is for informational purposes only. You can refer people looking for landscaping or gardening businesses or services to the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association.
• No lobbying or advocacy: EMG and VMC volunteers are representing the University when volunteering for our program, and so when you have your EMG or VMC “hat” on, you do not advocate or lobby. Our role is to educate and UVM Extension employees and volunteers do not support or criticize particular policy positions, pieces of legislation, etc. This includes election year politics and hot button topics like neonicotinoids. See UVM’s policy at: Political Engagement, Advocacy, and Campaign Related Activities.
• Generative AI Policy: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging field that presents some exciting uses. Common generative AI models like ChatGPT and DALL·E have been gaining in popularity across all disciplines. However, this technology is not without risks in terms of privacy, legal, and ethical concerns. Because of the way Generative AI models work, they are not always accurate and staff investigation of their use for our program in 2023 revealed significant gaps in accurate, unbiased and relevant information for gardeners. Therefore, until further notice, we have a Generative AI ban on developing written and visual content for public use. This includes responses to Helpline questions, Garden Columns, videos, and other gardening and backyard composting content developed for the purpose of distributing to the general public.