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What is a Master Gardener? Maybe you’ve heard the title or attended one of their programs, but what does it really mean? And how do you become a Master Gardener?
The Texas Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The volunteers are highly trained and provide proven, research-based educational programs to the citizens of Texas. As of 2022, there are 7,754 Texas Master Gardeners across the state; the largest corps of Master Gardener volunteers in the nation.
While Texas may currently have the largest group of “Master Gardeners,” the term was originally coined in the early 1970s to describe a new Extension program in Washington State. At the time there was an overwhelming demand for horticulture information and Dr. Sam Cotner, Extension Vegetable Specialist with Texas A&M suggested a new volunteer program from Washington. In 1979 the first Master Gardener class was held in Montgomery County and by 1987 five other counties had adopted the program and A&M made an official commitment to the program by hiring a statewide coordinator. The program was very successful and has continued to grow year over year.
Today, there are more than 85 counties in Texas with Master Gardener Associations and the program continues to be as popular as ever, with Master Gardener across the state volunteering 564,669 hours of service in 2022.
Though Texas Master Gardeners are united in name, the program’s strength lies in its ability to meet the diverse needs of the individual communities it serves. Hidalgo County Master Gardeners are committed to educating our local community and in 2023 alone they hosted over 22 educational programs providing 1,359 contact hours on topics that are relevant and important to our area. Additionally, they volunteered 2,975 hours working on projects, doing research, and maintaining our teaching gardens.
In the Lower Rio Grande Valley there are two local Master Gardener Associations that you can join: the Cameron County Master Gardener Association and the Hidalgo County Master Gardener Association.
Participants of the Master Gardener Volunteer Training must complete 50 hours of instruction and 50 hours of volunteer service before they receive the title of Master Gardener. To keep the title members must complete a minimum of 24 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education each year and pay annual dues of $30.
Master Gardeners of course have a passion for gardening and the environment, but above all they have a desire to share their passion and extensive knowledge with their communities. Both of the local Master Gardeners Associations each maintain their own 1 acre Educational Garden that has a variety of demonstration gardens that are used as teaching aides for many of their gardening workshops. Demonstration gardens include a raised bed vegetable garden, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow, native and adapted garden, fruit tree garden and they are always working to add more features. In addition to workshops held at the garden, Master Gardeners provide educational presentations for schools, civic clubs, and community events.
The 2024 Fall Master Gardener Training program will begin Thursday, Sept. 5, for both Cameron and Hidalgo counties. Classes will meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.every Thursday through Nov. 21. The cost for the 50 hours of instruction is $280 and includes classroom instruction, Master Gardener handbook, private tours, and upon graduation your name badge, and Association shirt.
The deadline to apply and pay the registration fee is Thursday, Aug. 29. The training is conducted by a variety of local experts, researchers and Master Gardener Specialists. Topics covered include plant growth and development, growing fruits and vegetables, soils and composting, native plants, tree care and pruning, and many more.
If you are interested in becoming a Texas Master Gardener contact your local Horticulture Agent; for Cameron County, Jennifer Herrera at (956) 361-8236 or [email protected] and in Hidalgo County, Ashley Gregory at (956) 383-1026 or [email protected]
Ashley Gregory is the Horticulturalist for Hidalgo County with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She can be reached at the Hidalgo County Extension Office at (956) 383-1026 or by email at [email protected].