The Master Gardener program started at Washington State University in 1973. The name came from the German word “Gartenmeister,” which roughly translated means “Master Gardener.” The originators of the program had worked in Germany and learned that Germans bestow titles for hard‐earned proficiency levels in various crafts.
The New Hampshire program started in 1993. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers, who share their enthusiasm for gardening with the general public.
By serving as volunteer educators in their community, Master Gardeners help UNH Cooperative Extension reach more people.
A Master Gardener is a:
- volunteer who is willing to work on horticultural projects that extend the outreach capabilities of UNH Cooperative Extension
- gardener with interest, experience and knowledge of any type of gardening
- teacher who is eager to share gardening knowledge and experience with others
- student curious to learn scientifically-based gardening information
This is a volunteer program and is not to be used for professional advancement or commercial advertising.
Some projects that Master Gardeners are involved with:
- Education Center Infoline - answering garden questions from the public
- School/youth gardens - using school gardens to teach many topics
- Community gardens - helping residents learn to grow their own food
- Historical museum and nature center garden interpretation - providing interpretation about past and current garden benefits
- Speakers Bureau - presenting approved programs to garden clubs, library groups and other civic organizations
- Writing articles for local publications - sharing knowledge via written media
- Ask a Master Gardener Info Booth - providing knowledge at Farmers’ Markets, community fairs, public expos
Next In-person Class
The spring 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer training will run from March 6-May 22, 2025 on 12 Thursdays from 9:00-4:00 p.m. The location will be Lee, NH. Anyone is welcome to apply, however priority will be given to residents of Strafford, Rockingham counties and neighboring regions within New Hampshire.
If the dates and location are not convenient, applications may be submitted for future classes which will take place in other parts of the state. We will also be offering a hybrid class in 2025, open to a wider geographic area.
Applications are welcome at any time. The deadline for the spring class is February 7, or when full.
The fee for the class is $300 plus $25 for a printed manual (electronic versions are available for free). Financial assistance is available. Anyone who is interested in the training must complete an application and qualified applicants will be interviewed prior to acceptance into the class.
Master Gardener Hybrid Training Class
If in-person participation is not convenient for you, our hybrid training offers a combination of self-paced on-line learning, evening Zoom meetings and a few Saturday in-person and hands-on opportunities.
Watch for more information for the 2025 hybrid class schedule.
Questions? Contact Ruth Smith at ruth.smith@unh.edu.
The cost of the training is $300. However, we believe that cost should never be a deterrent, so financial aid and payment plans are available to those who need it. Once accepted into the training, please request aid. In addition, there is a $45.00 charge to access the on-line website containing all the course materials. This will be available to you after the course ends as well.
