- Who We Are
The Master Gardener program was founded more than 50 years ago in Washington State to provide gardening information to the public, free of charge. Today, this program has grown to operate in 45 states in the US and in four Canadian provinces.
As an educational outreach component of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Extension Master Gardener program brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities – Virginia Tech and Virginia State University – to the people of the commonwealth. To make this happen, the Extension Master Gardener program equips local volunteers with scientific based horticultural knowledge to share in their communities. Members of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Master Gardener (ESVMG) unit bring this knowledge to the citizens of the Shore.
- What We Do
Master Gardeners is not a garden club. It is an essential part of the fabric of Virginia Cooperative Extension in the commonwealth. Extension Master Gardeners embody the program mission of “Sharing Knowledge, Empowering Communities.” We work within our community to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices.
The services we provide include hosting the “Help Line” and a weekly radio program of gardening interest, conducting plant clinics and educational forums, beautifying the community through demonstration gardens, answering individuals’ gardening questions, and performing other related services and activities that educate the public to improve and sustain the quality of horticultural practices.
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.