The Master Gardener Program is a nation-wide volunteer training program conducted by selected county Extension offices in many states. In Texas 54 counties now have Master Gardener programs.

The Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program in Travis County was initiated in 1995. The course includes over 50 hours of training in a wide variety of horticulture related subjects including Botany, Soil Science, Nutrients and Fertilizing, Vegetable Gardening, Fruit and Nut Growing, Annual and Perennial Flowers, Organic Gardening, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Home Lawn Care, Plant Propagation, Woody Ornamental Maintenance, and Pesticide Use and Safety.

In return participants agree to give back a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer time through the horticultural programs of the Travis County AgriLife Extension Office. At least 25 of these hours are in staffing the Master Gardener phone desk at the Extension Office. Other projects are available to select from for the remainder of the volunteer time. Upon completion of the course and volunteer requirements participants receive Master Gardener status. Many continue to volunteer as part of the ongoing Master Gardener program.

Master Gardener volunteers serve in many ways including: answering phone and drop-in requests for information, serving on the speaker's bureau providing educational presentations for local groups, conducting plant clinics at area events to help gardeners solve their plant problems, developing educational materials for the general public, helping with garden development and construction at Zilker Botanical Garden, and assist schools with youth gardens. Master Gardeners assist more than 6,000 county residents per year in one-on-one contacts with horticulture-related information and assistance.

The Travis County Master Gardener Association helps plan, coordinate and conduct the wide variety of programs and services offered by these active volunteers. There are currently over 200 active volunteers in the association.

One Master Gardener course if offered each year in the fall. Interested residents of Travis County are notified in early summer when the application process begins. Prospective class members begin by filling out an application and attending a mandatory orientation session. From this group of applicants 50 - 60 individuals are selected for each fall class. If you are interested in being part of this volunteer training program, contact the Travis County AgriLife Extension office for more information or to request notification when the next class application process begins.