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Master Gardener Program Overview

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who provide educational information to Cooperative Extension clientele. In Yavapai County, a fourteen week Master Gardener training course is taught once each spring (January to May) in either Prescott or Cottonwood. During the course, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty and specialists teach participants current science-based horticultural information. Topics covered in the course include: basic botany, soils, fruit tree care, planting, staking, pruning, ornamental trees and shrubs, water/irrigation, wildlife in the garden, insects, integrated pest management, vegetables, turf care, natural resources, plant diseases, pesticide safety, forest health, and fire wise landscaping.

Upon completion of the course and passing the final exam, participants provide 50 hours of volunteer service to become certified Master Gardeners.

The primary focus of the volunteer work is to provide science-based horticultural information to the community. Some examples of volunteer work are:

• staffing the help lines in both the Cottonwood and Prescott Cooperative Extension offices, where Associate and certified Master Gardeners respond to horticultural queries from the community
• giving talks, demonstrations, etc. to groups
• staffing event booths at fairs, festivals, farmers' markets, etc. where horticultural information is shared with the community
• assisting students in school wildlife habitats
• providing horticultural advice to individuals, groups, and establishments such as museums, schools, churches, etc.

The Program Policy (pdf file) contains the guidelines followed by the Yavapai County Master Gardener Program.

Program History (to be added).

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