About the Master Gardener Program

History of the Master Gardener Program

The Master Gardener program was designed to use the services of trained volunteers who have horticultural knowledge and a willingness to share that knowledge with county residents through Cooperative Extension. The program was initiated in 1972 in Seattle. David Gibby, Washington State University King County extension agent, realized that keeping up with the growing number of gardening questions coming into his office was a losing battle.

As a result, Gibby and other extension staff met to discuss ways to serve the needs of home and community gardeners. One option was to recruit and train volunteers who could respond to gardeners’ questions. In 1973, 120 Master Gardeners were trained by extension agents in two counties. The program’s success was remarkable. Today, there are Master Gardener programs in all 50 states, a number of Canadian provinces and South Korea.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program is one of the oldest in the nation. After Washington State started its program in 1973, Nevada and Ohio (1974) followed. The program began in New York State in 1975. The CCE Master Gardener program is administered at the county level, where recruitment, training, and volunteer service occur. The development of a new curriculum, statewide projects, and adult learning best practices are different now than they were over 40 years ago.

CCE receives thousands upon thousands of gardening questions each year, and Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) play a major role in helping local county Extension offices field and answer them. 

 Literally, there is no way that CCE could serve the public’s appetite for gardening information without the assistance of MGVs.

Today’s MGVs have expanded roles beyond the local Extension office. MGVs teach classes in school gardens, provide advice and education in community gardens, maintain demonstration gardens that illustrate a variety of gardening methods, deliver gardening information on local television and radio shows, and host popular gardening fairs and seminars for the public. 

Why Become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

Mission Statement: We prepare volunteers to be peer educators who build relationships with community audiences to integrate local experience and research-based knowledge in planning for and initiating steps to manage gardens, lawns, and landscapes with an emphasis on food security and environmental stewardship.

Vision Statement: Adults, youth, and families who engage in our garden-based educational programs expand their learning networks and ecological gardening skills toward greater resilience and connections. As a result, they experience enhanced health and wellness, food security, ecological literacy, environmental stewardship, and they embrace sustainable community practices.

The Master Gardener program, at its core, is a public service program. Master Gardeners Volunteers enjoy people and plants. They usually have no professional gardening or landscaping experience, only a genuine interest in sharing their knowledge, and sufficient free time to volunteer in Master Gardener activities. If you care about your community, enjoying helping others, and want to learn more about gardening, this may be the program for you. It is also an opportunity to learn about horticulture, receive practical instruction from CCE staff and other experts, and meet and work with like-minded individuals.

Beyond these basics that prepare you for your volunteer role and support you as you carry it through, you should benefit personally from your relationship with Cornell Cooperative Extension. You will have access to educational resources, build friendships with other volunteers, discover new interests, develop new skills and have an impact on your community. 

What are Master Gardeners doing in Schoharie & Otsego Counties?

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties (CCESO) is a two-county association, however, there is one Master Gardener group in Otsego County and one in Schoharie County. Both county programs are involved in a variety of different projects and efforts in the community. Here are just a few things they do:

• Teach classes at libraries, community gardens, and other local spots
• Maintain demonstration gardens at CCE Association Offices in Cooperstown and Cobleskill
• Teach classes and prepare outreach materials for CCE Otsego Demonstration Garden in Cooperstown
• Share gardening tips at farmers markets, county fairs, and other community events
• Grow plants and coordinate fundraisers to support garden-based learning in the community
• Facilitate the Seed to Supper Program, a beginner food gardening series.
• Test soil pH for community members

How to I Become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

Master Gardener Training

To become a Master Gardener Volunteer, you must complete a minimum of 55 hours of coursework in home and community horticulture as part of your training. The Cornell Garden-Based Learning Library (CGBLL) or Core Preparation is the core curriculum and offered every other year. Topics include botany, plant pathology, entomology, integrated pest management, lawn care, vegetable gardening, woody and herbaceous plants, native plants, weeds and invasive species, pruning, and communication skills. This is not a certification program and does not provide professional credentials. Instead, it’s an opportunity to join a statewide network of passionate volunteers who teach and inspire their neighbors as part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s mission.

The next training will be in October 2025! Click here for more information! 

Volunteer Commitment

Upon completing the MGV Core Preparation Curriculum and passing the qualifying exam, you become a Master Gardener Volunteer Apprentice. Apprentices are assigned a mentor and must complete at least 40 hours of volunteer service in the year following the training (See Master Gardener Volunteer Apprentice Position Description).

After completing the training program, passing the final examination, and completing your one-year volunteer service requirement as an apprentice, you will be awarded a Master Gardener badge. At this time, you are considered to be an Active Master Gardener Volunteer (See Master Gardener Volunteer Position Description). To remain an Active Master Gardener Volunteer, you must complete at least 20 hours of volunteer service a year and complete the CCE required enrollment forms and trainings. All CCE enrolled volunteers must complete a background check every three years.

Last updated August 12, 2025