What are Master Gardeners? 

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County is an all-volunteer organization that helps the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) provide county residents with research-based information and technical assistance in the areas of home gardening, non-commercial horticulture, and pest management. Master Gardeners are individuals trained and certified by UCCE to work with the public.

What do Master Gardeners do?

MGs perform a variety of educational activities:

• Answer questions from home gardeners on our Master Gardener Hotline and by email
• Staff educational exhibits at the County Fair and other community events
• Give talks on gardening and pest management to community groups
• Plan and conduct gardening classes, seminars, and tours for the public
• Consult with teachers about school gardens
• Provide information to community gardeners

MGs also participate in fundraising activities, provide administrative support for the program, and attend membership and committee meetings.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be 18 years old or older, reside in San Diego County and have enough free time to participate in the training course and volunteer activities. All applicants must possess basic computer skills, have regular access to a computer and printer, and have email/internet access. Trainees need to provide their own transportation to the classroom facilities and other locations to participate in training classes, MG meetings, and volunteer activities. In San Diego, the Master Gardener training course is popular and it is usually only given once every two years. Each class has limited space and fewer than half the number of applicants are generally accepted to the program. 

Keep in mind that although not every qualified applicant is accepted to a training class, persistence does pay off. Several of the current members applied more than once before being accepted.

How do I get an application?

It is important that you make a thoughtful and complete application that will fully represent you. Before you submit an application, please do the following:

• Carefully read the information provided here about Master Gardeners, the application and selection process, and training.
• Review the application form thoroughly.
• Carefully consider if you have the time and desire to fully participate in the training course and in volunteer activities after training.

Download the application here.

Your application can be printed and mailed or emailed as noted below.

Please be sure your answers to the questions are in the highlighted areas to facilitate our review of your application. Should you need additional room to answer a question, please attach your response on a separate page with your name and the number of the question. Your complete application should also include 2 letters of recommendation and any other addendum.

Your application must be sent no later than October 1, 2019. 

You may submit your complete application by email to Scott Parker, MG Coordinator, (858-822-6932):
saparker@ucanr.edu. If you are having your letters of recommendation submitted by the writer, please have them write "MG Applicant - " followed by your last name as the email subject.

Alternatively, you can mail your application and letters of recommendation to:

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What is the application process like?

We usually receive many more applications than we can accept. A committee of MGs will review all applications and will invite the most qualified individuals to a personal interview between October 24 and November 5, 2019. The committee will recommend individuals for the 2020 training course based on information provided in the applications and interviews.

What does the training cost?

The cost of the training is minimal and is designed to cover the expenses necessary to conduct a quality training program.  The fee of approximately $250-275 covers the discounted cost of the course text and associated publications, duplication of handouts, supplies, lab materials, cost of field trips, and speaker expenses.  If the fee poses an extreme hardship, please call 858-822-6932 to inquire about a partial scholarship.

What else is involved with the training?

What kind of training will I get?

Master Gardener training provides a basic overview of horticulture and pest management, including basic terminology and principles. Course topics will include basic botany and plant physiology, soils, integrated pest management, entomology, plant pathology, weed management, vertebrate pests, household pests, vegetable gardening, fruit and ornamental tree culture, turf grass management, and diagnosing plant problems. Instruction includes both lecture and experiential components that are taught by experienced specialists to ensure that MGs receive current, research-based instruction. 

Training will also include 4 experiential, extended day fieldtrips, which are held on the scheduled training day.

The training is in English and designed for amateur gardeners. Individuals employed or seeking a career in the horticulture industry are encouraged to enroll in horticultural classes at local colleges. 

Students will be certified as University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners when they successfully complete the training course and pass the final exam. The final is an open-book, take-home exam.

When and where is the training? 

Most classes will be held at the San Diego County Operations Center, located in Kearny Mesa. Classes will meet on Tuesdays from January 7 to June 16, 2016, except on the fourth Tuesday of each month when we encourage trainees to attend the Association's General Meeting. Classes begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m., with extended hours on fieldtrip days, and a break for lunch. Students are expected to attend ALL training classes.