County Press Releases

The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) invites adults interested in helping others learn about gardening and landscaping to apply to train as a Master Gardener volunteer. UCCE Master Gardener volunteers learn University-based scientific information and then share that knowledge with the gardening community. Master Gardener volunteers are people of all ages and from all walks of life with a common desire to help others learn about gardening and landscaping.

Who Can Apply?

• Any resident of El Dorado or Amador County. First priority is for El Dorado County residents.
• Residents of Amador County will train in El Dorado County but will be Amador County Master Gardeners.
• Applicants need internet access; most communication will be through email and websites. 

How to Apply

• Sign up on our MG Training interest list at http://ucanr.edu/be_mg.
•  Attend one of our training overview meetings to learn about the Master Gardener Program, our community involvement, your participation requirements, and the training requirements. These meetings are offered twice: Thursday, November 14 from 7-8pm and Friday, November 15, from 10-11am in Placerville. RSVP at 530-621-5528.
• Complete and submit the online application by Monday, December 2.

What We’ll Do

•  Review applicants. Main criteria for acceptance: 1) prior community service, 2) experience teaching others, either by giving presentations, writing, or in one-to-one situations, 3) experience successfully gardening.
• Conduct interviews during the week of December 9. We will contact you within a week after the interview with your acceptance status.
• Require a background check, including fingerprinting. If you are accepted, we will email you a Live Scan form and list of Live Scan locations. We will also offer a Live Scan session at the El Dorado UCCE office in January.
• Teach you to research home gardening solutions. Training topics and activities will cover basic plant science, propagation, fertilization, irrigation, soil, compost, vegetable and fruit gardening, trees, Integrated Pest Management (diseases, weeds, insects, small animals), research tools, and outreach techniques.
• Provide you with a mentor and plenty of volunteer and continuing education opportunities.

What You’ll Do If Accepted into the 2014 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program

• By January 14, 2014 pay course fee of $185 online or mail a check made payable to “UC Regents” to Robin Cleveland, UC Cooperative Extension, 311 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667.
• Complete the fingerprinting process by February 14.
• Attend 18 weekly classes on Fridays, January 31 through June 13, 2014, from 9am-3pm in Placerville.  Only one class may be missed.
• Complete 50 volunteer hours your first year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours annually.
• Post your volunteer and continuing education hours on our online Statewide MG Volunteer Management System. (We provide instructions.)
• Attend your county’s monthly MG Continuing Education/General meetings as often as possible.

For more information, contact Robin Cleveland at 530-621-5528 or rkcleveland@ucanr.edu.

The University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) prohibits discrimination or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities. (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/files/107734.doc.)   Should you need assistance or require special accommodations for any of our educational programs, please contact us at 530-621-5502.