About Master Gardeners

Virginia Extension Master Gardeners

Virginia Extension Master Gardeners are trained volunteer educators who share research-based horticultural knowledge with communities across the Commonwealth. Their work promotes environmentally sound gardening and sustainable landscape management practices.

As part of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Master Gardener program connects residents with expertise from Virginia’s land-grant universities—Virginia Tech and Virginia State University—bringing university-backed research directly to the public.

Training and Service Commitment

To become certified, all Master Gardeners complete at least 50 hours of horticultural training. In return, they give a minimum of 50 volunteer service hours through their local Extension office, supporting community education and outreach.

Since 1979, Virginia Extension Master Gardeners have served communities statewide by providing unbiased, research-based information to home gardeners.

Community Education and Outreach

Master Gardeners support Extension programs and partner with agencies to deliver education tailored to local needs. Their work includes:

• Answering gardening questions through help desks, hotlines, and plant clinics

• Offering educational programs, workshops, and demonstrations

• Sharing information through newspapers, radio, and online platforms

• Supporting urban tree planting and historic landscape preservation

• Promoting accessible outdoor spaces for residents of all abilities, incomes, and locations

What Master Gardeners Do—and Do Not Do

Extension Master Gardeners are educators.

• They do not provide free gardening labor

• They do provide science-based guidance to help Virginians make informed horticultural decisions

Mission and Vision

Mission:
Sharing knowledge. Empowering communities.

Vision:
To extend horticulture and environmental education across the Commonwealth as Virginia Cooperative Extension’s volunteer outreach organization.

Core Values

• Respect — For the environment, one another, and the communities we serve

• Accountability — Responsible stewardship of resources and commitments

• Collaboration — Working with diverse partners to achieve shared goals

Master Gardener Project Highlights

Across Virginia, Master Gardeners make a meaningful impact through innovative local projects:

• Northern Virginia:
  Recipient of the 2024 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award for a public school horticulture education program.

• Hanover County:
  Volunteers address food insecurity by gleaning thousands of pounds of fresh produce for local food pantries.

• Rapidan River Region:
  Hands-on invasive species education delivered through a Giving Day–funded initiative.

• Bedford County:
  A partnership with the Bedford YMCA provides gardening and environmental education for children in after-school programs.