Clark County
Master Gardeners

What Is A Master Gardener?

The WSU Extension Master Gardener program trains volunteers to be effective community educators in gardening and environmental stewardship. Master Gardeners provide information generated from research at WSU and other university systems.

Master Gardener volunteers teach local community members to:

• manage their gardens and landscapes in a science-based, sustainable manner;
• address environmental and social priorities such as water conservation and water quality protection;
• reduce the impact of invasive species; and,
• increase public awareness of healthy living through gardening.

Whatever the priority need may be, if it can be addressed through gardening, Master Gardener volunteers are there to serve as part of the solution.

The Master Gardener program is open to anyone 18 or older, with an interest in gardening and a willingness to use their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on their local community.

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About the Master Gardener Program

• What is the Master Gardener program
• Our Mission
• Land Acknowledgement
• What Master Gardeners Do
• Impacts
• For MGs Only

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Not what you were looking for? Try these quick links to other topics:

• Events and workshops
• Heritage Trees program
• School garden resources
• Master Gardeners in the news

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Explore more topics:

Our Mission

Vision

Highly recognized, diverse and fully supported, WSU Master Gardener volunteers are the go-to resource for communities seeking research-based, innovative solutions for their ever-changing horticulture and environmental stewardship needs.

Mission

Engaging university-trained volunteers to empower and sustain diverse communities with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.

Values

We value personal and professional research and discovery because it encourages us to stay current about horticulture and environmental stewardship to meet the unique educational needs of our communities.

We foster and benefit from an atmosphere of diversity and inclusivity because our differences inspire creative thinking and innovative solutions.

We act with integrity because trust, truthfulness and respect create a healthy and positive culture.

We are committed to stewardship and sustainability serving as ethical and responsible agents of our natural resources, human resources and University resources.

We collaborate because together we empower healthy and resilient communities.

We are a dynamic and responsive program where knowledge inspires change.

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Land Acknowledgement

As Master Gardeners, we owe our gratitude to the Native peoples of this region and commit to honoring the land and its Native stewards. The WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener program operates on the homelands of the peoples of the lower Columbia River, including the Chinookan peoples and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. For the dispossession of Indigenous lands and violent acts, we extend our apologies.

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What Master Gardeners Do

Community Outreach

Master Gardeners provide educational outreach to the public at community events including the Clark County Fair, local farmers markets, and other events and festivals. Events may have themes, including hands-on activities, or involve providing literature in response to garden and landscaping questions.

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Workshop / Presentation Delivery

Master Gardeners develop and deliver talks to groups—private and public, large and small—on topics of their choosing, including vegetable gardening, beneficial bugs, fruit tree care, composting, and many more. Master Gardeners may already possess public speaking skills, or such skills may be developed through a training program each winter and spring.

Learn more:
Upcoming gardening and landscaping workshops
Information about workshops and presentation delivery

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Answer Clinic

Master Gardeners work in pairs answering in-person, phone and email inquiries from the public on a variety of garden and landscape concerns. Responding to over 900 client inquiries each year, volunteers use computer skills, plant-problem diagnosis, and being comfortable with not already knowing the answer as they investigate, ask questions, and educate the public on sustainable landscape care.

Learn more:
Answer Clinic hours, location, specimen submission, and soil testing information

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Children’s Education

Master Gardeners deliver classroom lessons for area schools on topics such as pollinators, worms, and seeds. Master Gardeners support in-garden activities in area school gardens, facilitating garden experiences for students.

Learn about children’s education programs (Coming Soon)
Resources for school garden coordinators (Coming Soon)

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Newsletter

Master Gardeners write short educational articles, interviews and book reports, take photos, and edit The Garden News, a quarterly publication that goes out to over 1,000 subscribers.

Read The Garden News newsletter

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Publicity

Master Gardeners write more lengthy articles on fascinating and important horticultural topics for publication by the local media.

Read Master Gardener articles in local media

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On the Road Tours

Master Gardeners plan and lead van tours for the public to nurseries, gardens, and growing operations where attendees learn about different horticultural practices and techniques.

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Greenhouse Support/ Plant Sale

Master Gardeners raise plants for our annual plant sale and for installation on the Welcome to Washington sign on I-5 North. These projects support the mission of raising funds to support the Master Gardener program and other horticultural education in Clark County.

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Naturalscaping of Southwest Washington

Master Gardeners provide maintenance and educational outreach at this natural demonstration garden.

More About Nature Scaping & Our Partners

Visit the Nature Scaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens

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Behind the Scenes Projects

Many Master Gardeners like to use their skills behind the scenes assisting with marketing, graphic design, website maintenance. They may also aid the program by developing tools and protocols for use in outreach and education.

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Special Projects

Master Gardeners work on special projects. Inspiration can come from a variety of sources all aimed at educating the public.

Explore Master Gardener special projects:
Learn about the Human Sundial project
Learn about the Bluebird Project
Learn about the Heritage Trees program

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Impacts

Download the 2025 Clark County Master Gardener Impact Report (PDF)

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