Idaho Master Gardener Program
“Helping people grow” is the motto of the Idaho Master Gardener Program, reflecting UI Extension’s goal to help meet the needs of growers in our local communities.
Individuals interested in becoming an Idaho Master Gardener should:
- Have an interest in, some knowledge of, and experience with basic gardening and related horticultural topics
- Be able to communicate effectively with the public
- Be willing to research and consult with an unbiased approach toward horticulture topics
- Be willing to complete 40 to 50 hours of instruction (February-April) and provide a minimum of 35 to 50 hours of volunteer service each year (April-October)
Application Process
Please fill the Idaho Master Gardeners in Kootenai County interest form to inform us of your intent to apply and initiate our application process. Once we receive your registration info in this form, a fillable or printable pdf will be emailed to you. Completed applications must be received by Nov. 30.
Certification of master gardeners occurs every few years and we thank the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners for the ongoing support of our Idaho Master Gardener Program.
Completed applications must be received by Nov. 30 to be considered for possible acceptance into our certification training which begins in January. If matched with our program needs and availability, class time, in-person labs and an internship are required. Asynchronous class time (work on your own online) is January-April 25. In-person weekly labs (required) Feb. 29-April 4, then an intern phase of training runs May-September where you volunteer at various events, booths and outreach opportunities with certified volunteers.
Certification classes will include:
- Online activities and videos inside an engaging digital book
- Digital reading assignments and review lectures (viewed on any device) asynchronous work
- In-person labs and in-person volunteer onboarding in Kootenai County
Outreach Projects
Our Idaho Master Gardeners spend countless hours on their own projects within our program. They volunteer their time teaching classes and consulting on home horticulture for members of our community.
Thank you to our Idaho Master Gardeners for being a great resource at the following community events:
- Kootenai County Saturday Farmers Market booth
- Master Gardener Sodbuster Plant Sale (usually mid, or late April or the first weekend in May)
- Q’Emlin Park Tree Give Away with the City of Post Falls
- North Idaho Fair booth and “The Pollination Project Demonstration Garden”
- Ask an Idaho Master Gardener mobile Plant Clinic and Q&A Booth
- Xerces Society Bumble Bee Atlas citizen science project
- Bee City USA Certification with the City of Coeur d’Alene, coming in 2023, Xerces Society and Kootenai/Shoshone 4-H program
