The SDSU Extension Master Gardener Program provides university training to volunteers to prepare them to serve their communities through horticulture extension activities. Volunteers answer questions at their local extension offices or other venues, speak to local groups, assist with demonstration gardens, assist with youth projects, write newsletters or newspaper articles, and/or a wide variety of other projects that help to increase the horticulture knowledge of the public. Over the past ten years, MG volunteers have contributed over 80,000 hours of service in South Dakota.
Training:
Volunteers receive over 60 hours of training to prepare them for horticulture outreach through the SDSU Extension Master Gardener (MG) program. Before you can become a “Certified Master Gardener”, and in return for your 60 hours education, you must volunteer at least 50 hours in service as a “Master Gardener Intern” during the two years immediately following your training. In some areas of the state, you may be required to fulfill a certain portion of your volunteer time assisting with answering gardening questions through the local Extension office, or other specific projects. If so, you will be informed of this requirement at the beginning of your training. Once your 50 hours service is fulfilled, you receive a certificate and Master Gardener name badge.
More information can be found at the Master Gardener page under the Garden & Yard section of the SDSU Extension web site.
