About the Program
Take a few minutes to watch the video above about being a member of Master Gardeners of Ontario.
The Master Gardener program started in Washington State in 1972. By 1991, Master Gardeners were active in 45 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. Today there are more than 30 Master Gardener groups in Ontario!
Continuing Education
Master Gardeners are expected to provide current, up-to-date advice and information to the gardening public. To do this, Halton Region Master Gardeners take part in continuing education through:
- guest and member speakers at our monthly meetings
- our monthly newsletter, Cross Pollination
- one-day Technical Updates organized by local Master Gardener groups
- hands-on gardening workshops
30 Hours of Service a Year
Master Gardeners contribute 30 hours of service a year. This can include:
Working with the public
- offering horticultural advice at community events
- answering questions online through social media and email
- writing articles for the newsletter, blog or local newspapers
- creating content for our Facebook and Instagram accounts
- leading presentations or demonstrations
- helping a community group with a horticultural activity
- providing a garden consultation for a member of the public
Behind the scenes
- attending meetings
- mentoring new Master Gardeners in Training (MGiTs)
- preparing presentations or garden clinics
- helping manage our social media, email or website
- editing, preparing or distributing the monthly newsletter
- taking on a leadership role such as Treasurer, Coordinator, New Member Coordinator or Community Liaison
- organizing special events, such as educational programs for Master Gardeners in Ontario
Interested?
Find out what’s involved, from your first meeting to certification.
