About Master Gardeners and the URI Master Gardener Association

Background

In the 1970s Master Gardener programs began to appear at land grant universities across the country. The purpose was to train volunteers to assist the County Agriculture Agents in educating homeowners about the latest gardening practices. Federal funds, allocated by the US Department of Agriculture, and also state funding through land grant universities, supported this new Cooperative Extension program.

Rhode Island's Master Gardener Program began in 1977. Nineteen volunteers trained and became horticultural information volunteers for the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension (renamed Kathleen M Mallon Outreach Center in 2008). Since that time, more than 2700 people have graduated from the training program. More than 300 volunteers are active in bringing gardening and environmental information to Rhode Islanders, primarily through the Hotline and community outreach programs.

Training

The URI Master Gardener Program is based at the Mallon Outreach Center on the URI Kingston Campus. This central location allows us to function efficiently; no volunteer in Rhode Island is more than an hour's drive from the University. Each year more that 100 people are trained to become Master Gardeners in a 16-week course. Applicants are selected for training based upon their responses to criteria on the application form. A fee of $300 is paid after acceptance into the class. A Training Manual is included in the fee.

The curriculum includes horticultural basics and relevant topics. Classes are one night a week for 12 weeks from February through April; there are two Saturday hands-on classes. Each class runs two and one half hours in the evening at a location on campus. Through a series of lectures by URI faculty and staff, as well as experienced Master Gardeners and a few local experts, trainees learn the basics of home gardening and landscaping with minimal environmental impact, including the maintenance of trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers and vegetables, and their pests. Master Gardener trainees are expected to become involved in volunteer activities...many volunteer opportunities are available. Experienced Master Gardeners Mentors from URI Master Gardener Association are always present at training classes to guide trainees for volunteering at exhibits, fairs, and other projects.

Once a trainee successfully completes the course, he or she becomes a Master Gardener intern and must complete 50 hours of service before earning the title Certified URI Master Gardener. Volunteer time may include work at one of the many Master Gardener Projects located across the state. New projects are always being developed! Master Gardeners must complete at least 20 hours volunteering each year. They also have many opportunities to take extra training sessions to fulfill their anual education requirement of 16 hours.

Master Gardener Association

By joining the URI Master Gardener Association (MGA) you will continue your horticultural education and be involved with the exciting public outreach program. The URI MGA, volunteer arm of the Master Gardener Program, has a mission of:

1.	Education: Master Gardeners share their knowledge and expertise with the public by offering a wide variety of educational opportunities.
2.	Outreach: Master Gardeners extend their knowledge of, and interest in, gardening and related topics through a variety of community projects and activities.
3.	Sustainability: Master Gardeners follow sustainable gardening and environmental practices.

In existence since 1983, the URI MGA has grown steadily in membership – to more than 600 – and in community involvement. Master Gardeners contribute thousands of volunteer hours to numerous projects (more than 30,000 in 2008), including historic gardens, demonstration vegetable gardens, the RI Flower Show, children's programs, plant propagation, seminars, Hotline, and information kiosks at fairs and other events throughout the state.

The Mallon Outreach Center and the URI MGA work together to provide graduates of the Master Gardener Training Program with outreach and educational opportunities to extend to Rhode Island citizens.

As a member of URI MGA you can attend bimonthly member meetings. You will have access to the MGA Website were postings keep members up to date on MGA and other gardening activities around the state as well as keeping them abreast of volunteer and educational opportunities. Periodically there may be trips and events designed especially for MGA members. But the best benefit is the friendship and great learning experience you will have with this group of individuals who share your interests, a passion for gardening, and stewardship of the environment.