Idaho Master Gardener Program

UI Extension’s Idaho Master Gardener program provides gardeners with the opportunity to increase their horticultural knowledge and skills, and serve their communities.

“Helping people grow” is the program’s motto and shows how UI Extension is dedicated to meet the gardening information needs of communities.

To apply for the Idaho Master Gardener Program, you should meet a few minimal requirements:

• Interest, and some knowledge, in basic gardening, horticulture and plant-related topics
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public
• Be willing and able to commit to a minimum of 50 hours of class and a minimum of 30 hours of service

UI Extension educators and specialists, and other local horticulture experts teach the Idaho Master Gardener classes and labs. Field trips, readings from the Idaho Master Gardener Handbook and individual projects are included in your instructional program. Some of our educational materials are also available in Spanish.

Once you’ve finished your classroom training, passed your exam and completed your volunteer hours you’ll be certified as an Idaho Master Gardener. You’ll be enriched by up-to-date basic gardening knowledge, pest identification abilities, leadership training and service skills.

Many Idaho Master Gardeners choose to extend their certification through advanced training and a commitment of additional volunteer hours. To remain current on certification, volunteers must attend at least eight hours of education and contribute eight hours of service each year.

Responsibilities

Volunteers agree to serve at least 30 hours sharing what they have learned in a variety of ways, some of their own choosing, others through the UI Extension office or farmers’ markets.

Idaho Master Gardeners receive 50+ hours of training in:

• Backyard composting
• Basic botany
• Basic entomology
• Fruit trees, berries and grapes
• Horticultural equipment management
• House plants and greenhouses
• Insect identification and management
• Landscaping and irrigation
• Pesticide safety
• Plant disease prevention
• Plant management
• Plant propagation
• Rodents, birds and other pests
• Soils and fertilizers
• Turf grass management
• Vegetable culture
• Weeds
• Woody and herbaceous ornamentals

Learn more on the Idaho Master Gardener website.

Junior Master Gardeners

Junior Master Gardener (JMG) is an international youth gardening program. JMG curricula aims to grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a unique gardening education. JMG curricula is even linked with state teaching standards (grades 3-5 and 6-8). The success of a JMG program relies upon the skills, passion and enthusiasm that the JMG teacher or leader has for working with kids and gardening.

Parents, grandparents, guardians, 4-H leaders, teachers, childcare providers, home school teachers, youth leaders, camp counselors — anyone who wants to share the wonders of science and nature with youth can be a JMG teacher. CEU credits are available. Our JMG new teacher/leader trainings are offered on occasion. Visit the national Junior Master Gardener website for more details on this program.