Master Gardener
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 other county residents through the Cooperative Extension Service. The program was initiated in 1972 in Seattle, Washington. Since then it has spread throughout the United States and Canada. West Virginia has had a Master Gardener Program since 1993.
Membership
To become a Certified West Virginia Master Gardener, a person must successfully complete the following:
- 30 hours of classroom education
- 30 hours of approved volunteer work to their community
To retain Certified Master Gardener status, a person must complete the following on an annual basis:
- 6 hours of educational classes
- 12 hours of volunteer service
Becoming a Master Gardener
The Master Gardener Program is available in many West Virginia counties. For more information on becoming a Certified Master Gardener and to join the Randolph-Tucker Master Gardeners, contact WVU Tucker County Extension Agent, Jennifer Poling at 304-478-2949×209.
