Being a Master Gardener
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Idaho Master Gardeners expand their knowledge and skills in home horticulture and serve their communities as trained volunteers.
With their up-to-date understanding of water-smart landscaping, environmentally astute pest control and landfill-saving composting methods, Idaho’s trainees, certified Master Gardeners and Advanced Master Gardeners donate about 16,000 hours of volunteer time annually.
When they are not responding to homeowners’ questions, Idaho Master Gardeners are:
- Operating plant diagnostics clinics in UI Extension county offices or at local farmers markets.
- Installing water-efficient landscapes at public sites.
- Beautifying hospitals and senior centers.
- Organizing community vegetable gardens and Plant-a-Row efforts.
- Instructing garden center clients and garden club members.
- Leading 4-H clubs, after-school programs and Junior Master Gardener classes.
- Bringing horticultural knowledge to their communities in many other gratifying ways.
MEETINGS
Master Gardener Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings are normally held at 1 p.m. unless otherwise promulgated.
REQUIREMENTS
The Idaho Master Gardeners of Benewah County must meet the following requirements to maintain certification. All certification requirements must be met between October 1 and September 30.
MAINTAINING CERTIFICATION
Certified
- Complete 6 hours of training, including a 3-hour minimum of training that includes Insect Identification/Control, Plant Disease and/or Plant Identification.
- 6 hours of Plant clinic.
- 20 Hours of volunteer time.
- 32 Total Hours of service.
Advanced
- Complete 16 hours of training, including a 3-hour minimum of training that includes Insect Identification/Control, Plant Disease and/or Plant Identification.
- 16 hours of Plant Clinic.
- 30 hours of volunteer time.
- 62 Total Hours of service.