How To Become A Master Gardener

Master Gardeners receive training from University of Illinois staff in horticulture classes, including fruits, vegetables, landscape plants, insects, herbs and more. Weekly training lasts 11 weeks. Following training, Master Gardener interns agree to volunteer a total of 60 hours, by helping with community horticulture education. To become a Master Gardener, fill out an application and return it to the Extension office.

Cost

Cost of the program is $150. This includes the Master Gardener manual and any additional training materials used.

Volunteer Opportunities

Master Gardeners learn to be effective volunteers. There are many ways you can fulfill your commitment:

• answer home gardening questions for DeWitt County residents.
• serve as a resource person in community gardens at schools, parks, nursing homes and other sites.
• assist in preparing and staffing exhibits, displays and demonstration sites.
• give demonstrations and talks to local civic groups.
• many other opportunities.

Master Gardeners will work with the Extension county director to develop a volunteer plan.

Certified (Active) Master Gardener

To maintain certified University of Illinois Master Gardener status requires a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer service and ten hours of education annually and is valid for one year.

Applying

Applications are taken October through December. Because there are not enough resources to accommodate everyone who applies for the program, class size is limited. Each applicant is required to go through an informal interview. Applications may be made at any time.

To obtain an application contact the University of Illinois Extension Office, 8425 Katie Rd., Clinton; call 217/935-5764 or check out web.extension.uiuc.edu/dewitt and click on the Horticulture page.