Volunteers are needed in all counties in 2026, but are especially needed to grow Master Gardener volunteer programming in the following counties: Brown, Cass, Freeborn, Grant, Jackson, Kittson, Koochiching, Mahnomen, Nobles, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Wabasha and Wilkin.
Becoming a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteer isn’t just about learning a wide swath of horticulture information and sharing that information with the inquiring public.
Yes, it starts that way — with an intensive Horticulture Core Course that covers botany, entomology, soil science and much more. But the experience of volunteering as a Master Gardener often becomes highly personal, says Anita Oakman of Dakota County.
Oakman applied for and was accepted into the Master Gardener Volunteer Program in the fall of 2023 and took the Core Course in 2024 (known as her “intern” year). Now she’s an active Master Gardener volunteer.
“Each of the interns comes in with their own interests and history,” says Oakman.
Oakman was focused on bettering her vegetable gardening skills and on sharing produce with folks in need. She had already volunteered for years at The Open Door food pantry in Dakota County, so leveling up her produce game with science-backed knowledge seemed like a natural fit.
She had heard about the program from friends, but ultimately jumped on board after being encouraged by volunteers to apply at the annual Master Gardener plant sale in Farmington.
“I finally decided to go for it,” Oakman says. “I am close to retirement age, so it was a natural step.”
Self-paced learning combined with live teaching
I could learn at my own pace and didn’t have the stress of having tests timed. I loved the mix of reading, listening and activities.
Taking the self-led online Core Course was an eye-opening experience, Oakman says.
“I found out just how many different areas there are to learn about,” Oakman said. “People came online to teach us different topics. It was pretty amazing.”
Core Course topics include botany and horticulture; soils, composting and fertilizers; integrated pest management; plant pathology; entomology; growing fruits and vegetables; herbaceous and woody ornamental plants; lawns; weeds; indoor plants and propagation; living with wildlife; plant diagnostics; inclusive volunteering; and community engagement.
Extension is offering the next Core Course in January 2026, which includes optional weekly live Zoom Q&A sessions on Tuesday nights from January through May, featuring University of Minnesota and Extension educators and faculty. Extension is accepting applications now through October 1, 2025.
During the 2024 Core Course, Oakman loved learning more about growing food, but was amazed by how much more she had to discover about other facets of horticulture.
“You might find that you’re really interested in another area,” Oakman says. “Extension has made it really easy for us to take in a lot of information at one time through the Core Course. I would recommend it.”
People who took the Core Course in 2025 said that one of the most appealing aspects of the program was the ability to complete self-paced modules at home.
“I loved the fact that it was remote learning,” one participant said. “I could learn at my own pace and didn’t have the stress of having tests timed. I loved the mix of reading, listening and activities. It’s a very well-done course!”
Another said, “Working two jobs and wanting to further my knowledge is hard at times, but this course made it very easy for me.”
Others called out the variety of the course. “I appreciated the multiple learning modalities incorporated in the Core Course — reading, listening, processing with discussion boards, activities and quizzes to reinforce the weekly modules.”
Volunteers grow community as well as gardens
Extension has trained thousands of Master Gardener volunteers over the years. Currently, more than 3,800 volunteers are active in the program, and they are expected to contribute an estimated 185,000 hours of their time to communities across Minnesota this year.
Oakman is at the stage in her volunteering where she’s putting her knowledge to work by collaborating with another Master Gardener, Mike Rausch, to partner with The Open Door food pantry. They will teach people how to grow food in community gardens, with the eventual help of other interns based in Dakota County.
Oakman said it’s important to remember that the program truly comes to life during the volunteer hours, long after the course is complete.
To become an active Master Gardener volunteer, individuals are required to complete the Core Course and accumulate 50 hours of volunteer work within the first year. After the first year, volunteers are asked to commit 25 hours to annual volunteer work as well as five hours of continuing education.
“First and foremost, it’s a volunteer program,” Oakman says. “But applicants don’t need to feel intimidated by the 50 volunteer hours. There are so many projects to participate in with like-minded Master Gardeners that the time flies by.”
Become a Master Gardener
Find out more about the Core Course
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