Travis County Master Gardener Training

The Travis County Master Gardeners are volunteers for the Travis County AgriLife Extension Service, assisting in Extension’s mission to disseminate research-based horticultural and environmental knowledge among the citizens of Central Texas.

Training to become a Travis County Master Gardener volunteer is conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service a maximum of once per year, but not necessarily held every year.  The limited number of spaces in the program are filled based on assessment of the applications and personal interviews.

Sign Up for Notifications

The next training session has not been scheduled and is likely to be delayed until 2024. You can add your name to the list and get a notification when more is known.

The training has two parts, allowing interested individuals to learn more about gardening in Austin without having to commit to subsequent volunteer hours.

Part 1 Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas

The Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas course with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service begins with a series of virtual, self-paced webinars presented by AgriLife Extension specialists, staff, and Texas Master Gardeners. The cost of the Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas course in 2022 was $250 with the Texas Master Gardener Handbook or $175 without the handbook, payable upon registration. The handbook is not required in order to complete the Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas Course.

Course Description

Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas course is completely virtual and consists of two parts: one weekly pre-recorded seminar (self-paced) and one weekly Q&A session. Webinars are presented by various Extension personnel, and the Q&A sessions will be led by Travis County CEA-Hort, Daphne Richards.

Topics are typically as follows: Basic Plant Science; Earth-Kind Principles; Soils; Water & Irrigation; Entomology and Integrated Pest Management; Turfgrass; Plant Pathology; Fruit Crops; and Vegetables.

The course is held via Microsoft Teams. You can use Teams via web browser, but it functions best by utilizing the Microsoft Teams app. Microsoft Teams does not function on the Safari browser or on iOS mobile devices. The course materials for this prerequisite training series are a series of links and materials that are found only within the Microsoft Teams application.

Part 2 Hands-on Master Gardener Training

Only those who successfully complete Horticultural Principals and Practices for Central Texas and pass the final exam are invited to apply for Travis County Master Gardener Training. Master Gardener training is typically a multi-week, in-person/hands-on training, starting in early in the year. The training will cover additional subject matter and will incur an additional registration fee. Master Gardener training includes the requisite volunteer service to become fully certified TCMG volunteers.

Applications Available by Invitation Only

Applications are by invitation only to participants who have completed the coursework and pass the final exam. Applications are not available elsewhere.

Applicant Interviews

After reviewing the applications, the selection committee chooses applicants for interviews. The number of applicants receiving admission into the program changes each year and depends on potential volunteer opportunities.

Training Cost

The total fee for both Horticulture Principals and Practices for Central Texas and the Master Gardener program in Travis County is  typically $400.

Criminal Background Check Required

A criminal background check is required of all Extension volunteers, including Master Gardeners.  Therefore, as a matter of policy, criminal background checks occur on all persons accepted into the Master Gardener training program, and every three years thereafter.

Training Schedule

The course normally meets virtually once a week using Microsoft Teams. Additional training will be scheduled as needed (or allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions) at the Travis County Extension office, 1600 Smith Rd, Austin, 78721. At this time the course meets on week days during office hours.

Volunteer Commitment

If accepted into the training program, complete the virtual and hands-on classroom training, and pass the final exam at the end of the course, you will be required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service by December 31 of the following year. Your volunteer hours are with various Extension-approved projects as explained during the program.

Certification

Participants earn the title “Texas Master Gardener” after they have completed the training course, passed the final exam, and fulfilled their volunteer commitment. Certified Master Gardeners must continue to complete volunteer and learning requirements each year in order to retain the title “Texas Master Gardener.”

Preferred Skills for Master Gardener Candidates

Successful applicants to the Travis County Master Gardener program have the following list of characteristics, skills, and interests:

• Enjoys helping others
• Enjoys speaking to groups of people
• A willingness to lead projects or events
• Is a lifelong learner
• Has experience teaching others through volunteer work, community organizations, or professional career
• Can successfully work with others in both small and large groups
• Has experience with social media either personally or professionally
• Is willing to contribute blog posts, articles, photographs, or go on camera in virtual formats like webinars or videos
• Loves to garden!

More information about Master Gardeners is available on the Texas Master Gardener Association web page.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas cooperating.

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend a meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services are required to contact Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis County at 512-854-9600 ten working days prior to the meeting so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Additional Resources

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