Importance

Louisiana has an estimated 625,800 home gardens with a projected annual value of more than $334.8 million (2019 Louisiana Summary). There are also countless home landscapes requiring maintenance and development that relates to an ever- increasing need by consumers for horticulture information, training and timely access to the LSU AgCenter. The Louisiana Master Gardener (LMG) Program provides a network of volunteer support that strengthens and expands the capacity of the LSU AgCenter’s Cooperative Extension Service to effectively meet the educational needs of home gardeners in Louisiana. The program follows traditional Master Gardener format patterned after that of most states where volunteers complete the standardized LMG training course and return 40 hours of volunteer service the first year and 20 hours each year thereafter as gardening educators. The Louisiana Master Gardener program is administered and coordinated by LSU AgCenter Extension faculty who provide training and support to Master Gardener volunteer education and service projects that meet local parish needs.

LMG Graduates & Registered Volunteers per LMG Program

Dynamics

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's Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. This pilot program was so successful that Master Gardener programs were started in 1998 in all the major metropolitan areas of Louisiana. Now in its 23^rd year statewide, there are 30 Louisiana Master Gardener volunteer training programs to reach participants throughout Louisiana. This LSU AgCenter signature program interacts with Habitat for Humanity, garden clubs and foundations, parish beautification programs, local farmers markets, school and community gardening programs, food banks, community and faith-based organizations, local master gardener associations, and Master Gardener programs in other states. In 2021, in-person LMG volunteer efforts slowly returned after the abrupt halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers completed most of their volunteer service hours individually or in small groups where adequate social distancing could be practiced.

Volunteer Hours per Activity

Impact

The increased need for consumer horticulture information and enhanced accessibility to the LSU AgCenter has proven that highly trained LMG volunteers presenting researched based information are recognized in their community as an important and critical resource for gardening education. In 2021, the Louisiana Master Gardener Program trained 274 new volunteers that increased the active number of LMG volunteers statewide to over 1,600. These volunteers donated 54,477 hours of their time to Extension horticulture education and service. While volunteer effort has increased, when compared to 2019 values, the reduced number of volunteer service hours is directly related limitations enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the efforts of these volunteers, residents in Louisiana were provided research-based, consumer horticulture information and training. Additionally, volunteers continued their education by completing over 12,000 continuing education units (CEUs) in 2021.

LMG Program Impact/5 Year Average

LMG Volunteer Contribution