Become a Master Gardener

The REVISED 2013 application to Become a Master Gardener is here!  Please note the change in the date.  There is no Fall 2012 class.  Instead, an expanded course of 14 weeks with more hands-on training and at a great location, will start in January of 2013.  (Word version)

(If you have trouble with the Word version, please use this PDF version, print it, fill it out and mail it in.)

What is a Master Gardener?
Master Gardeners are trained outreach volunteers for the UC Cooperative Extension of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties dedicated to teaching and helping home gardeners.  After completion of training, Master Gardeners volunteer a certain number of hours each year in activities designed to educate home gardeners about sustainable horticultural practices.  Master Gardener volunteers share research-based information through our educational programs, community activities, and individual contacts.

We staff a Helpline in the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office located in Half Moon Bay.   The Helpline duties include:  answering questions, diagnosing plant problems and giving horticultural assistance to home gardeners.  We provide information through newspaper articles, plant clinics, talks and demonstrations and we work on a broad range of community horticultural and gardening projects.

How Do I Apply?
The 2013 application is now available. PDF.  Fill out the application electronically, print it, sign it, and mail it to the address at the bottom of the application.  Completed applications are due by 5:00 PM on September 14, 2012.  No applications will be accepted after this date.  Individual phone screenings and in-person interviews will be conducted in the Half Moon Bay office. There are always more applicants than can be accommodated.  UCCE requires that all successful applicants be fingerprinted before beginning training.

What is the cost?
The course fee is still being calculated for next year’s class.  The 2011 Training Class fee was $325.  The fees cover the cost of delivering training plus materials.   We offer limited scholarship opportunities.

What does the training include?
All Master Gardeners complete an intensive 14 week training course providing a practical overview of horticulture and sustainable landscape practices.  With some class schedule variation the following subjects are covered:  Botany, Soils, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), Plant Pathology, Weather/Microclimates, Vegetable Culture, Composting, Entomology, Weeds, Turf, Abiotic Disorders, Woody Plants and Irrigation Practices.  In addition to the 14 classroom sessions, Helpline training is mandatory beginning in May 2013.

Who are the Instructors?
Instructors include UCCE advisors and specialists as well as experts in specific fields.

Where are the training classes held?
We vary the location between San Mateo and San Francisco Counties to make training available to all county residents.  We are in the process of determining a location for the 2013 training class.

When are the classes held and how much time should I expect to spend on the training program?
Training will be held on Wednesdays from 10 am to 4 pm. with Orientation starting on January 9, 2013 and training ending on April 17, 2013.  The time commitment for the training is estimated to be 10 - 15 hours per week, including class time.

What is required to complete training?
Attendance is required at all classes.  Written quizzes and a successfully completed final exam are required to graduate and become a certified Master Gardener.

How many volunteer hours must I complete in the first year to remain certified?  After successful completion of the training course, you must agree to complete by June 30, 2014, 50 volunteer service hours, this includes 7 shifts working on the Master Gardener Helpline located in Half Moon Bay on Mondays or Thursdays during the hours of 9:00 am – 12:30 pm and/or 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

What is a Master Gardener’s future Commitment to the Program?
Master Gardeners are required to annually volunteer 25 hours and maintain their expertise with 12 additional hours of continuing education.  The desire and ability to fulfill this volunteer commitment is a major criterion in the selection of a potential Master Gardener.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at smsfmgapplicant@gmail.com.  A designated volunteer will respond as soon as possible.