Landscapes and Gardens
Idaho Master Gardener Program
UI Extension’s Idaho Master Gardener Program helps gardeners increase their horticultural knowledge and skills, as well as serve their communities.
UI Extension, Adams County has a combined Idaho Master Gardener group with UI Extension, Valley County. UI Extension, Washington County offers Idaho Master Gardener classes as well.
Requirements
To apply, participants should have:
- Interest in and some knowledge of basic gardening, horticulture and plant-related topics
- Ability to communicate effectively with the public
- Commitment to at least 50 hours of class instruction and at least 30 hours of volunteer community service
Training and Commitment
UI Extension educators, specialists and other local horticulture experts teach the classes and labs. This includes field trips, readings from the Idaho Master Gardener Handbook and individual projects.
Topics include:
- Basic botany
- Soils and fertilizers
- Plant management
- Pesticide safety
- Insect identification and management
- Plant disease prevention
- Turf grass management
- Woody and herbaceous ornamentals
- Fruit trees, berries and grapes
- Plant propagation
- Horticultural equipment management
- Backyard composting
- Basic entomology
- Rodents, birds, and other pests
- Weeds
- Landscaping and irrigation
- Vegetable culture
- House plants and greenhouses
Some educational materials are also available in Spanish.
Participants volunteer at least 30 hours of community service, sharing what they have learned through the UI Extension office, local farmers markets and more.
Learn more on the Idaho Master Gardener website.
Certification
Once you’ve finished classroom training, passed your exam and completed your volunteer hours, you’ll be certified as an Idaho Master Gardener. You’ll be enriched by up-to-date basic gardening knowledge, pest identification abilities, leadership training and service skills.
Advanced Idaho Master Gardeners
Many Idaho Master Gardeners extend their certification through advanced training and additional volunteer hours. To remain certified, volunteers must attend at least eight hours of education and give eight hours of service each year.
Junior Master Gardeners
Junior Master Gardener (JMG) is an international youth gardening program.
This program helps to grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a gardening education. JMG curricula are linked with state teaching standards (grades 3-5 and 6-8). JMG is also a 4-H project.
The success of a JMG program relies upon the skills, passion and enthusiasm that the JMG teacher or leader has for working with kids and gardening.
Who can be a JMG Teacher/Leader?
Parents, grandparents, guardians, 4-H leaders, teachers, childcare providers, home school teachers, youth leaders, camp counselors — anyone who wants to share the wonders of science and nature with youth.
We periodically offer JMG New Teacher/Leader Trainings. CEU credits are available.
Visit the national Junior Master Gardener website.