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Master Gardeners of Nevada

 
 

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener?

Take the first step: Complete the Home Horticulture Certificate Program!

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About the Master Gardener Program

About gardening in Nevada

Entering volunteer and continuing education hours

Part 1 - Home Horticulture Certificate Program

Registration is now closed for 2023!

Overview

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer educator program designed to teach research-based Nevada gardening practices to volunteers who in turn share this knowledge with their local communities through educational presentations and workshops, community events, answering home gardening questions at their local county Extension office, and much more.

Master Gardener Intern (first-year) Commitments

The minimum hour commitments during the first year as a Master Gardener Intern are:

  • 15 hours of continuing education (CE)
  • 35 hours of approved volunteer projects or activities

Master Gardener Annual Commitments

The minimum yearly hour commitments as a Master Gardener are:

  • 10 hours of continuing education (CE)
  • 20 hours on approved volunteer projects or activities

*Counties may require additional volunteer hours. Each county may also have hour requirements for specific types of volunteer activities, such as the help desk.

Training

Master Gardener volunteer taking a break after pruning roses.

In Clark County, Extension's Master Gardener volunteers maintain extensive Botanic Gardens that are open to the public.

People interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer must take the Home Horticulture Certificate course before being accepted into the Master Gardener Training Program. The training program is an integrated, practical training course in plant science and is statewide.

Both the Home Horticulture and Master Gardener courses are held online, annually in fall. The trainings feature videos, readings, discussion boards, quizzes, live question-and-answer sessions, and lab homework. Some counties require additional in-person activities during the training, as well as additional educational requirements. Additional reading materials will be suggested for participants to purchase on their own but are not required.

The total cost of the Master Gardener Training Program is $300 ($275 for the Home Horticulture Certificate Program, and $25 for the Master Gardener Training Program). The cost includes course materials and supports Extension's horticulture programs and staff.

Impacts

Master Gardeners standing in front of demonstration garden.

Extension's Master Gardeners in Southern Nye County give back to the program by volunteering in their local Extension demonstration garden.

In 2022, the Extension Master Gardener program grew! The program training went entirely online and was offered statewide. This allowed three new county programs to start: Carson City / Storey, Elko, and White Pine.

  • 297 Certified Master Gardeners
  • 62 new Master Gardener Interns
  • 27,002.93 hours volunteered by Master Gardeners
  • $808,737.75 worth of volunteer time back to our local communities
  • 4,263 pounds of produce donated
  • 103 volunteer projects around the state
 

Upcoming events

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Get involved

Do you like to grow plants, help people and support your community?

Ask a Master Gardener
Become a Master Gardener
Donate to the program

Featured publications and newsletters

lettuce seedlings

Northern Area (Reno) Planting Schedule

Find out when to plant vegetables with the Extension Master Gardener's planting guide for the Reno area!

horses in yard

Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife

This fact sheet discusses ways to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife, and focuses on vertebrate animals, or animals that have a backbone.

Roses blooming in spring.

Desert Gardening in Southern Nevada (2022-03)

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Southern Nevada provides horticultural information on gardens, landscapes, plants and other related topics. This newsletter of March 2022 is one of many resources of information available to the public to help accomplish this mission.

Explore our publications and newsletters

Meet the leadership team

Katelyn Brinkerhoff
State Wide
Katelyn Brinkerhoff