Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
Master Gardeners planting a native plants demonstration garden

Master Gardeners plant and maintain demonstration gardens at CCE Tompkins

Master Gardener volunteer conducts a pH soil test on a soil sample
Image by Sandy Repp

Master Gardener volunteers help extend gardening knowledge into the community.

Master Gardener Volunteer Training

***Applications for the 2023 Training are now closed, please check back in Spring of 2024 for the next offering.***

The Master Gardener Volunteer Training is a 20 week course that starts at the beginning of September and ends in March, with a break from mid-November to January. It is a hybrid course, most weeks are virtual with one in-person meeting a month. Virtual sessions are one hour on Saturday mornings, in-person sessions are longer events also on Saturdays. Tompkins County often participates in the Southern Tier Regional Training. In-person days are spread throughout the Southern Tier counties participating. Travel accommodations can be granted. 

The training costs $75 with an additional $50 deposit that is returned after completing the require 20 hours of volunteer service. Full and partial scholarships are availale.

Trained MGVs volunteer to teach classes and workshops, maintain our Demonstration Gardens, provide information and soil pH testing at events, answer questions for the Growline, our garden hotline, and/or work with partners on community gardening projects.

To remain an active MGV, one must volunteer 20 hours per year.

Last updated December 22, 2023

Master Gardener Volunteers

NYS Master Gardeners

Cornell University Master Gardener logo Learn more about the NY State Master Gardener Volunteer Program by visiting their pages on the Cornell University website!

Remake of Cornell Garden Based Learning image, 850x425, to link to their website at: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/

Tuition & Scholarships

We encourage people of all income levels who are able to meet the volunteer commitment to apply to be part of the program. We offer full or partial scholarships to interested community members for whom the program tuition will be a barrier to entry. Monthly payment plans are available. All participants, except for those on scholarship, will pay a $50 deposit that will be returned in full upon completion of the required 20 volunteer hours.

Here are the payment options:

(1) Pay the full program fee of $75 plus $50 deposit.

(2) Pay only the deposit of $50, apply for a partial scholarship and pay the remaining amount.

(3) Apply for a full scholarship for the program.

(4) Set up a monthly payment plan for the full ($125) or partial amount.

Benefits to the Community

As a Master Gardener volunteer, you are expected to share the knowledge you gained in the training sessions with other gardeners in the community. You can do this by participating in a variety of ways. Every time you answer a gardening question from a friend, you extend the knowledge you have gained. The Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program offers many volunteer opportunities, or volunteers can design their own projects to benefit the community. Volunteer hours are flexible depending on interest and time available. Travel expenses are tax-deductible.