The University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Douglas County are a friendly and active group of people who have a passion for gardening, and a desire to share what they know.  They are constantly out and about in our area, teaching classes; answering questions and running the open class fruits and vegetable displays and judging at the Douglas County Fair; teaching children in the District School Garden and presenting amazing events such as: Let’s Get Growing, Tour of Gardens, the Bus Tour and the Plant Sale.  Altogether, the Douglas County Master Gardeners donate over 3000 volunteer hours annually. But don’t let all this hard work fool you, they are a fun and welcoming group with monthly meetings, personal garden visits, a summer picnic and a Christmas party. If you also love to garden, and would like to join this “garden party,” you should consider becoming a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener.

The Master Gardener program is one of the most recognized and visible Extension programs in the state. Volunteers represent the University of Minnesota, and citizens depend on them for reliable, research-based information on best practices for home landscapes. More important than an extensive background in horticulture is an active interest in gardening, learning and sharing knowledge with others. 

Nationally, there are nearly 100,000 volunteer Master Gardeners. They reach about 5 million people each year—the equivalent of more than $100 million in value to communities. In Minnesota, the Master Gardener program is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension and has strong ties to the research and outreach of the Department of Horticultural Science. The activities of more than 2,300 Minnesota Master Gardeners benefit schools, community gardens, youth programs, environmental education programs, farmers’ markets, and much more.

Education to be a Master Gardener: First you’ll complete the Online Master Gardener Core Course. It is taught by Extension educators and faculty. Topics include soils, entomology, gardening resources, diagnostics, trees, herbaceous plants, lawn care, plant pathology and more.

Internship: After completing the core course, your internship will continue with 50 hours of volunteer time to be completed within the first year of participation. You’ll start the next calendar year as an active Master Gardener in your community.

Continuing education: To maintain your active Extension Master Gardener Volunteer status, you will complete at least 25 hours of volunteer time and required continuing education per year. Benefits of being a Master Gardener include being a part of this active and important community of Extension volunteers, connecting to University Extension faculty and giving back to your community by teaching others about horticulture.

As a Master Gardener, you’ll help connect University of Minnesota research to your community through activities like: Answering horticulture phone lines, working with community groups, diagnosing plant and garden problems at plant clinics, teaching community education classes, setting up horticultural displays, writing articles for local newspapers, staffing booths at the State Fair, and county fairs and farmers’ markets.

Join us!

We are now accepting applications for the Class of 2023 Master Gardener volunteer interns. Learn research-based best practices. Grow your horticulture skills. Share your gardening knowledge with others. Applications are accepted online at: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5uyvKZa8Gs87O4u.

Deadline to apply is October 1.

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener in Douglas County and have questions, contact Douglas County Extension at 320-762-3890. Otherwise, contact mgapp@umn.edu.

Until next time, happy gardening!

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At the heart of gardening there is a belief in the miraculous. -Mirabel Osler