Become a WSU Master Gardener or earn a Washington Gardener Certificate
About the WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Program
Certified WSU Master Gardeners serve as volunteers, with opportunities to contribute talents and time to the work of the WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Program. WSU Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who provide the community with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.
Earning certified WSU Master Gardener status involves successful completion of the Washington Green School coursework, regular attendance at local skills classes and completion of an internship.
Maintaining certified WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener status requires volunteering 35 hours in the program and completing 10 hours of continuing education annually.
About Washington Green School
Have you always wanted to learn more about gardening? Washington Green School (WGS) is a proven path to expand your gardening knowledge. Completing the coursework is a rewarding and educational endeavor.
WGS offers two tracks — one to earn a Washington Gardener Certificate without any volunteer commitment and a second track to become a WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener volunteer.
- The 2025 classes start in October. The application period begins July 1 and runs through September 7.
- Classes are offered over 19 weeks beginning in October, following a three-week-on, one-week off format.
- The coursework is offered online. Those who enroll will have digital access to modules that include chapters from the Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Handbook: Growing for the Future (revised and edited 2025), and related videos and exercises. You will also be able to log into two live review sessions led by content experts, with both a morning option and an evening option for those sessions.
- The online coursework is estimated to 4-6 hours to complete each week.
- You will have access to the online course site for one year from the time you enroll.
- The course fee is $275 for those who choose the WSU Master Gardener track and $550 for those who choose the Washington Gardener Certificate track.
The Washington Gardener Certificate track
Registration for those who choose the Washington Gardener Certificate is straightforward. All who complete the registration form and pay the $550 course fee will be accepted.
Next step: Registration begins on August 15 and will remain open until Sept. 30. Online classes begin Oct. 5. Visit https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu to register.
The WSU Master Gardener Track
Joining the WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener program as a trainee requires completing an application, interview, reference checks and a background check. Trainees work toward earning certified WSU Master Gardener status.
Those who choose the WSU Master Gardener track will also have access to local classes that will focus on field trips and activities aimed at building specific gardening skills.
Successful completion of the online coursework and related training will be followed by an internship designed to get trainees familiar with our program and all it offers.
Trainees who complete the internship will become Certified Master Gardeners.
Next Step: Complete this fillable form: 2025 Application with Cover Letter a Word .docx.
You can save it to your computer, complete it electronically and return it via email to marco.martinez@wsu.edu.
Or you can print it out, complete it by hand and either email it to marco.martinez@wsu.edu or mail it to WSU Chelan County Extension, 412 Washington St., Wenatchee, WA, 98801.
You also can drop it off in person during our regular business hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener volunteer options
- diagnose plant problems in our online and in-person diagnosis clinics
- educational outreach at events such as the Home & Garden Show and county fairs
- teach classes
- develop and maintain the Community Education Garden in Wenatchee
- maintain our demonstration gardens, such as the xeriscape demonstration garden at Riverfront Park in Wenatchee and the Pollinator Garden in Leavenworth
- teach children about gardening
- write gardening columns for the local newspaper
- projects of special interest to you
- help with fundraising to help support the Master Gardener program
Questions?
If you have questions or seek additional details, phone WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener Coordinator Marco Martinez at (509) 667-6540 or email him at marco.martinez@wsu.edu.