Master Gardeners at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden

Master Gardeners are people of all ages and from all walks of life. They include business men and women, professionals, educators, retirees, homemakers, and students - all with some experience and knowledge of plants and gardening. Master Gardeners are enthusiastic, willing to learn and help others, and are able to communicate with diverse groups of people.

Master Gardeners attend a training program comprising approximately fifty hours of instruction in plant science and horticulture covering such topics as soils, fertilizers, irrigation, weeds, diseases, insects and other pests, fruit and landscape trees, vegetables, xeriscaping, and more. Classes are taught by experts in their fields, including Cooperative Extention advisors and specialists from the Universtiy of California at Berkeley and Davis, local community college faculty, and other knowledgeable resource people.

After completing the training and passing a written exam, the new Master Gardeners are required to perform volunteer service. In order to retain the title Master Gardener in ensuing years, Master Gardeners must perform additional hours of volunteer service every year as well as completing continuing education hours.

The Master Gardeners at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden volunteer in many ways:

• staffing information tables at the local Farmer's Markets


• developing displays for the County Fair


• staffing information sites at the Garden


• outreach educational programs in the Mendocino Coast schools


• presentations to local public groups


• leading docent tours at the Garden


• developing educational programs


• assisting with nursery questions

For more information on Master Gardeners in Mendocino County, see the University of California website.

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The Master Gardeners Are In!
(The Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden Library!)

In the fall and winter we begin to settle in for a quiet time in the garden, but there is always planning for the next season to keep you busy on those rainy days! If you are looking for gardening answers, the Master Gardeners are ready to lend a hand.

You can ask a Master Gardener your garden questions through the phone hotline, 707-964-4352 ext 27, or email hotline, mastergardener@gardenbythesea.org.

See the Additional Information box to the right for Mendocino Coast Master Gardener plant recommendations for coastal gardens.