The Louisiana Master Gardener™ program was started in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1994, as a means of extending the educational outreach of the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
It was adopted statewide in 1997, and now offered in 20 parishes with volunteer participation in 40 parishes. Louisiana Master Gardeners™ serve many roles in helping county agents deliver educational horticultural programs and information.
Objectives of the Louisiana Master Gardener™ Program
- To expand the capacity of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service to distribute horticultural information to individuals and groups in the community.
- To develop and enhance community programs related to horticulture. Depending on community needs, these may include environmental improvement activities, community and school garden programs and public horticultural events.
- To enhance 4-H Youth Development programs by complementing co-curricular and extracurricular horticultural programs.
- To develop a Louisiana Master Gardener™ volunteer network under the direction of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.