Learn, grow and share through MSU Extension Master Gardener Program

Mary Wilson, Michigan State University Extension -

Learn about gardening from MSU faculty and staff and share your knowledge to help individuals and communities grow.

Extension Master Gardener training in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo: Sarah Rautio, MSU Extension.
Extension Master Gardener training in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo: Sarah Rautio, MSU Extension.

Do you like to learn about plants and how they grow? Does spending time with people who share your passion for plants excite you? Would you like to share your time and talents to assist others in your community? If so, become a part of the Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Program!

MSU faculty and staff will train you in the latest research-based, environmentally-friendly gardening practices to then share with others in your community. Through the Master Gardener Program, trained volunteers help improve and protect the environment, help people learn how to grow their own food, provide food to food banks, improve quality of life, beautify communities and help youth develop through gardening activities.

Get involved!

Join the statewide network of Extension Master Gardener volunteers by enrolling in one of the 14-week training courses offered in January, March and August 2017. January and March locations include Belleville, Clinton Township, Flint, Sault Ste. Marie, Portage and Traverse City. Additional training course locations are currently being identified for August. Cost for the training is $300 and includes a 1,000-page training manual. Partial scholarships are available.

To become a certified Extension Master Gardener, you need to share what you’ve learned in the course through at least 40 hours of volunteer service educating others on environmentally-friendly, science-based gardening practices.

Master Gardener display at Michigan welcome center

Smart Gardening Pollinator Education Garden at the Welcome Center in Clare, Michigan, developed and maintained by Extension Master Gardeners. Photo: Mary Wilson, MSU Extension.

Learn more about the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program and how you can become a Master Gardener volunteer at Master Gardener Program website.

Other articles in series

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • community gardening,
  • home gardening,
  • landscaping,
  • lawn & garden,
  • master gardener,
  • master gardener volunteer program,
  • msu extension
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).