If you enjoy gardening, volunteering, and helping your community, the Master Gardener program may be for you!
What is a Master Gardener Volunteer?
A Master Gardener is a trained volunteer certified by a university extension program to provide research-based horticultural education to the public. A volunteer completes extensive training in topics such as soil health, plant diseases, and pest management. After completing the training, a volunteer begins to serve. Volunteers educate youth and adults, manage demonstration gardens, and answer gardening questions.
Perhaps you aren’t ready to volunteer yet but want to learn more about gardening? Like the SDSU Extension Master Gardeners Facebook page to stay up-to-date on webinars and workshops open to the public.
"I love working as a volunteer with SDSU Extension as a South Dakota Master Gardener. My mind is stimulated with the up-to-date horticulture information provided which fuels my teaching portfolio, which in turn connects me to my community."
Program Details and Requirements
Cost: $250.00
Eligibility:
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Must be a South Dakota resident
- Must pass a background check
Program Components
- Apply to the program. Please note that the application period is open only once per-year.
- Complete online and in-person coursework.
- Successfully pass the Master Gardener course test at 80% or better.
- Successfully contribute 40 hours of volunteer service as an intern within one year.
Training Topics
- Basic botany, plant nomenclature and taxonomy, plant propagation.
- Home vegetable gardens, small fruits, tree fruits and indoor plants.
- Introduction to herbaceous landscape plants, introduction to woody landscape plants, introduction to lawn care, general guidelines for landscape design.
- Soil health and nutrient management.
- Invertebrate and vertebrate pests, plant disease, diagnosing plant problems, weeds, understanding pesticides and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Volunteer Expectations
- Once an individual has successfully completed the course components, the Master Gardener is considered an intern until 40 hours of “give back” volunteer hours are completed.
- Once the "give back" volunteer hours are complete, the individual becomes a certified Master Gardener volunteer.
- To maintain Master Gardener certification, volunteers must log 20 hours of service and 10 hours of training every year. Training opportunities will be shared throughout the year.
Program Interest Form
If you are a South Dakota resident and interested in participating in the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, please submit your information using the form below, and we will contact you with more information.
