Applications are now open for Master Gardener Volunteer Program Training

Do you have a passion for gardening and a desire to give back to your community? Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

This comprehensive training and volunteer program equips local residents with the science-based knowledge, skills, and support to become community educators in gardening, horticulture, and sustainable landscaping practices.

The application deadline is September 15, 2025.

Master Gardener Volunteers are trained through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, covering topics such as:

• Soil health and composting
• Plant diagnostics and pest management
• Vegetable and flower gardening
• Native plants and pollinators
• Environmental stewardship

Following training, participants volunteer their time to support community gardening initiatives. To fulfill their commitment, Master Gardeners have in the past worked in the office to test soil samples, maintained files of gardening information, answered gardening questions, taught gardening classes, organized and participate in programs and events, spoken or demonstrated to groups. New program initiatives also are welcomed!

Interested?

Anyone interested in horticulture and community service is encouraged to apply. No advanced gardening experience is required.

Classes will be held virtually on Wednesday evenings between 6 and 8pm from October 1, 2025 to March 2026, with some local meetings and a few field trips within our region.

The cost of the program training is $250.

Applications can be filled out online or downloaded at: https://bit.ly/CCEHCMG
or in-person at the CCE Herkimer County office:
5657 State Route 5, Herkimer, NY 13350

For more information contact Executive Director, Garet Livermore gdl56@cornell.edu or CCE Herkimer at (315) 866-7920, or by email at herkimer@cornell.edu.