photo of 2026 graduates Master Gardeners
WSU Extension in Chelan/Douglas County

Become a WSU Extension Master Gardener

WSU Extension > Chelan & Douglas Counties > MG Home > Become a Master Gardener

How to Become a Master Gardener

Certified WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who contribute talents and time to provide the community with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.

Earning certified WSU Master Gardener status involves acceptance into the program, successful completion of the on-line Washington Green School coursework, regular attendance at in-person 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.

  1. Before applying, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the expectations of the program: Washington State Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement.
  2. I understand that my acceptance into the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program commits me to:
    • completing WSU Extension Master Gardener training
    • completing all the activities on the internship checklist before Nov. 15, 2027
  3. Our program’s application period is open from July 15 to August 30, 2026, with acceptance notifications sent by September 15, 2026. To apply, complete the application survey at https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6wXgW6BLIygesTk

Training consists of on-line computer coursework topics you complete at your own schedule and local, scheduled in-person training sessions. They are largely asynchronous. The topics for a few of the local classes match up with the online coursework, but those are the exceptions.

The online coursework will take 3-5 hours to complete each week.

The local training consists of classroom sessions that typically last 3 hours, while field classes and field trips last between 1 and 2 hours.

All local training sessions (classroom sessions, field classes, field trips) will take place on Friday mornings.

2026

  • Botany and Plant ID: October 16 (classroom)
  • Soil Science: October 23 (combination classroom/field class)
  • Soil Improvement: November 6 (field class at Community Education Garden)
  • Entomology: November 13 (classroom)
  • IPM/Pesticides: – Date TBD (classroom)

2027

  • Plant Pathology/Plant Problem Diagnosis: February 19 (classroom)
  • Trees and Shrubs (pruning) – March 5 field class at the Community Education Garden
  • Growing Vegetables – March 19 field class in a greenhouse
  • Growing Fruit – April field trip to Chelan-area fruit ranch (tree fruit and blueberries)
  • Weeds and Weed Management – Combination field class/field trip – Date TBD
  • Waterwise Landscaping/Drip Irrigation and CEG orientation – April 30 field class
  • Lawns – May 7 field class
  • Flowers and Pollinators – May 21 field trip to the Pollinator Garden in Leavenworth
  • Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Combination field class/field trip – Date TBD

Please see the fee schedule

Upon completing their training, trainees transition into interns. As interns, they volunteer alongside certified WSU Extension Master Gardeners, enhancing their knowledge and skills while gaining comfort in community education and program participation.

To earn certified Master Gardener status, interns in the Chelan/Douglas Program must complete all items on the internship checklist by Nov. 15, 2027:

  • Volunteer in at least 4 of the 5 gardens our program maintains: Community Education Garden in Wenatchee, Pollinator Garden at the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery, Boswell Garden at the Chelan County Expo Center/Fairgrounds in Cashmere, Xeric Garden in Riverfront Park in Wenatchee and the Bridge of Friendship Japanese Garden in East Wenatchee.
  • Assist in at least 3 different program activities or public events. Examples include Master Gardener Foundation Plant Sale, Third Saturday in the Garden classes, NCW Fair in Waterville and the Chelan County Fair in Cashmere.
  • Participate in two 45-minute webinars on topics related to being a volunteer (effective communication, coming to consensus, dealing with conflict and making presentations)
  • Complete tutorial study on Plant Clinic practices through a series of videos/PowerPoint presentations.
  • Participate in at least 3 online clinic sessions via Zoom. These sessions take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday mornings between March and September. Accommodation is available for those whose work schedule does not allow them to log into the Zoom clinic sessions.
  • Attend at least 3 in-person Plant Clinic sessions. The in-person Plant Clinic sessions this year are every Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wenatchee Public Library. The in-person clinic season typically runs from mid-February through mid-October. Accommodation is available for those whose work schedule does not allow them to attend the in-person clinic sessions.
  • Participate in a Plant Diagnosis field trip to Rocky Reach Dam Park

After achieving certification as a WSU Extension Master Gardener, you commit to volunteering a minimum of 35 Volunteer Hours annually and completing at least 10 hours of Continuing Education. All Master Gardeners are required to apply for re-certification in November each year to continue with the program the following year. There is no cost to apply for re-certification.

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 .