Cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973
The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is open to adults with an interest in gardening and a willingness to use their knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on our local community. You do not need to be an expert gardener to apply, you just need to have a desire to learn and serve your community.
WSU Master Gardeners are Volunteer Community Educators.
The purpose of the Washington State University Master Gardener Program is to train volunteers to be effective community educators in gardening and environmental stewardship by providing information to the public generated from research at WSU and other universities. As a Master Gardener volunteer you will receive training from WSU and give back a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service your first year to become a certified Master Gardener volunteer educator. Our training is a hybrid of a mandatory online Washington Green School core curriculum and in person hands on activities.
The in-person hands learning will begin mid- October 2025 and will go through February 2025. The training covers a variety of topics educating you on basic plant biology, pathology, common gardening issues in our area, and much more. You do not have to be a great gardener to participate, but you will be a better and more knowledgeable gardener when you complete the program.
Once you have successfully completed the Washington Green School course and the 40-hour service requirement to become a certified Master Gardener, you will have the option of continuing to maintain your certification as a Master Gardener. Annually to maintain your Master Gardner certification, you will then be required to do 25 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education per year.
To find out more about how to join our Master Gardener Program please contact us via email at: wsuextension@co.benton.wa.us or download the application on this webpage and email it to us today!
Apply Today!
2025 Application deadline is September 1st, 2025.
Submit completed applications to:
7102 W Okanogan Pl., Suite 102,
Kennewick, WA.
Call us at 509-735-3511 with questions.
