Anyone with a willingness to learn and desire to help others can become a Master Gardener. Master Gardeners 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. As a trainee in the Master Gardener program, you must attend at least 80 percent of scheduled instruction, pass an open-book examination and volunteer for a minimum of 40 hours of service to earn the title of certified Louisiana Master Gardener.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Represent the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service in a professional manner.
• Complete the agreed-upon minimum 40 hours of volunteer time within one year from the end of training.
• Maintain a written record of volunteer activities and provide the extension agent with a monthly activity report.
• Respect civil rights, confidences and clientele information.
• Provide unbiased, university research-based information.
• Follow published Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service consumer horticulture recommendations.
• Refer all commercial horticulture calls to an extension agent.
• Use the Master Gardener title only when assisting at extension-sponsored programs.
• Wear a Master Gardener name badge only at scheduled or approved events.
• Adhere to the policies regarding the Louisiana Master Gardener program.

Examples of Volunteer Service

As a Master Gardener, you have volunteered to do work related to horticulture for your local extension office. This work may consist of a variety of jobs because Master Gardeners bring a wealth of expertise to the program. If you can think of a job that will use your talents, please suggest it to the agent you’re working with. Listed here are various types of volunteer service opportunities available to Louisiana Master Gardeners:

• Advisory committee
• 4-H presentation coach
• Answering telephone hotline
• Exhibits at fair/malls/shows
• Demonstration/teaching gardens
• Newsletter editor
• Master Gardener Volunteer personnel records
• School gardens
• Plant clinics
• Speakers bureau
• Office work
• New class coordinator

Possible Volunteer Service Projects

• Planting and maintaining demonstration areas (turf, flowers, vegetables, water conservation, native plants, etc.)
• Working at plant clinics in the Extension office or other locations
• Producing a home horticulture newsletter for the local area
• Answering horticulture questions that come to the county Extension office by phone, office visitor, and letter
• Instructing Master Gardener classes and/or labs
• Conducting horticulture tours and contests
• Creating and maintaining youth, community, or school gardens
• Maintaining an office reference library
• Compiling plant lists for specific areas
• Writing and designing educational materials
• Developing, setting up, and staffing educational exhibits
• Assist with 4-H club meetings and programs
• Serving as 4-H horticulture project leaders
• Teaching 4-H horticulture enrichment units in local schools
• Speaking to civic groups and garden clubs
• Producing educational Power Point presentations
• Conducting horticulture therapy programs at nursing homes
• Judging horticulture exhibits or school science fair projects
• Judging 4-H horticulture demonstrations or illustrated talks
• Training horticulture teams for competition at 4-H University
• Mailing newsletters, publications, and bulletins to noncommercial horticultural clientele
• Appearing on television or radio programs to discuss home horticulture topics
• Serve on an extension advisory committee (local or state level)