UGA Cooperative Extension
Burke County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: Master Gardeners
Who We Are
The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program offered through county offices of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas.
These individuals, in turn, volunteer their expertise and services, under the direction of their local county Extension Agent, to help educate others through horticultural projects that benefit the community in which they live. Master Gardeners bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to their communities’ landscapes and gardens.
The concept of Master Gardener volunteer training began more than 30 years ago. Overwhelmed by requests for gardening information, Extension agents from Washington State University recruited home gardeners. In exchange for specialized training in horticulture, these gardeners made a commitment to spend time doing volunteer outreach work.
Burke Co. Master Gardeners
Through the Master Gardener program, thousands of people across the United States and Canada have been trained as volunteers. Similar programs exist in the UK, Australia and other countries.
The Georgia Master Gardener Program was started in Atlanta in 1979. Master Gardeners are active in over 100 counties throughout Georgia.
