Become a Master Gardener

by Lydia Holley July 29, 2024

Henderson County Master Gardener Association (HCMGA) will accept applications from August 1 to August 19 for the next Master Gardener class. The class will begin August 29 and will meet weekly for 13 weeks. Held on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the class will be a mixture of both in-person teaching and sessions hosted through Zoom. Training is only offered once a year. The class costs $150 and covers the official book, background check, name badge, and orientation lunch.

HCMGA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all Master Gardeners are volunteers. What sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training. The class offers a minimum of 52 hours of instruction over a large variety of horticultural topics including composting; disease, insect, and weed management; lawn care; plant selection; soil and plant nutrition; trees; vegetable, fruit, and herb gardening; and water conservation.

After training and a mandatory background check, interns serve 50 hours within the year following the training. Afterward, 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education units are required yearly for recertification.

The mission of HCMGA is to help educate the public on gardening and horticulture. This is accomplished in several ways. HCMGA has a demonstration garden known as the Harvest Garden located within the Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex and operates a greenhouse on the campus of Trinity Valley Community College. Programs hosted by HCMGA such as the “Let’s Grow” series offers presentations on various topics in venues around the county. Master Gardeners speak at community and service organizations, and volunteers answer questions at booths during certain community events.

If you are enthusiastic about gardening and want to be a member of a group of volunteers interested in learning and sharing their horticultural knowledge to others in the community, this may be the right organization for you. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener or have other questions regarding certification, please contact the County Extension Office at 903-675-6130.

For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].