Anyone with a willingness to learn and desire to help others can become a Louisiana Master Gardener. Volunteers should be interested in horticulture, willing to help people, outgoing, flexible, dependable, unbiased and open-minded. Previous volunteer work and good verbal skills are desirable.
The Master Gardener program is divided into two parts: instruction and service. In the first part, participants receive 40-50 hours of intensive, practical horticultural training. A few of the following topics covered in the program are:
• Soils and Plant Nutrition
• Basic Plant Pathology and Entomology
• Vegetable Gardening
• Fruit Culture
• Woody Ornamentals
• Annuals and Perennials
• Lawn Management
• Environmental Horticulture
• Problem Solving
After successfully completing the classroom portion, which involves regular attendance and passing a final exam, participants receive the title of Louisiana Master Gardener and an official name badge. The Louisiana Master Gardener graduates then volunteer a minimum of 40 hours of service to complete the last part of the program.