The application period for the fall 2024 Master Gardener training cohort opened July 12 and will be offered in 44 counties or extension regions by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach.
Counties offering fall training include: Adair, Boone, Butler, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Dallas, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Harrison, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Keokuk, Linn, Lyon, Madison, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Muscatine, O'Brien, Osceola, Polk, Pottawattamie, Powesic, Ringgold, Scott, Sioux, Story, Tama, Union, Webster, Winneshiek, Woodbury and Worth.
Iowans who want to become Master Gardener volunteers choose a county in which to complete their training, participate in online learning modules and attend at least four in-person training sessions hosted by their county office. Once they pass a final exam, trainees put their knowledge to use during a 40-hour internship in their training county.
Applications for the fall semester run from July 12 to Aug. 12. The county seeks participants from all backgrounds and experience levels who are motivated to deepen their horticultural knowledge and give back to their community. More information about the program is available online or by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach county office.
“Many people have a misconception about what the Master Gardener program actually is,” said Alicia Hertzog, Master Gardener state coordinator for ISU Extension and Outreach. “The Master Gardener program is not just about learning how to grow the best garden, although of course you can learn that too. Trainees use the knowledge they gain from their training to grow food for those in need, partner with local organizations to design green spaces and implement programs in their communities.”
The Iowa Master Gardener Program is a year-round volunteer service organization that utilizes university-trained volunteers to coordinate projects that educate people and promote healthy communities using research-based horticulture and gardening knowledge and practices.
Your local Extension staff coordinator can assist you with questions about participating in Master Gardener training this year, as well as details such as when and where in-person meetings will be held in your county or Extension region.
Iowa State University has been offering Master Gardener training for more than 40 years, with more than 15,000 people learning gardening best practices.
For more information, contact Herzog at 515-294-3627 or aherzog@iastate.edu.
