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Coronavirus COVID-19

COVID-19 Advisory: WSU Extension is working to keep our communities safe. All Extension programming is being provided virtually, postponed, or canceled. Effective March 16, 2020, WSU Extension county offices and WSU Research & Extension Centers will be closed to the public. We are available via email, phone, and webconference.

Master Gardener Training

(425) 338-2400

Covid-19 Impact

We are continuing to plan for 2021 Master Gardener Volunteer Training as scheduled but that may change as the Covid-19 situation evolves. To be notified when applications become available, please send an e-mail to Master Gardener Coordinator Howard Voland (email). Applications are currently planned to be available by Sept. 1.

Become a Volunteer Master Gardener

Join over 350 WSU-Snohomish County Extension Master Gardener (MG) volunteers in teaching good gardening and related horticulture and environmental stewardship practices to Snohomish County residents while at the same time learning and and having fun working with other like-minded volunteers.

Cost and Application

Tuition for this extensive training program (pdf) is $295 plus a minimum volunteer commitment of 40 hours each year for two years working on designated MG projects within Snohomish County. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and should generally be a resident of Snohomish County. Applications for the 2021 MG Training Class should be available by Sept. 1, 2020.

Cost of the training without the volunteer commitment is $795 for a limited number of full-tuition students, which are usually, but not limited to, horticultural professionals who don’t have the time for volunteering. Full-tuition application information is available on the Horticulture Professionals webpage.

Training

Training focuses on familiarization and learning how to use resources to research, educate, mentor, and answer horticulture questions for the general public in a collaborative environment. With that in mind, all quizzes and exams are open book and can be re-taken. No memorization is required.

Training includes approximately 80 hours of college-level classroom and workshop instruction held once a week on Thursdays, starting the second week of January through March. Classes are held at the Extension Education Center at 600 – 128th Street in South Everett from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Homework averages 4-6 hours a week during training, which includes all quizzes and the final exam. It is done using the WSU Master Gardener Online Training Program, which requires personal computer, internet, and e-mail access.

Additional information

Washington State University