The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Huntingdon County offer a program to become a Master Gardener. The mission of the Penn State Master Gardener volunteer program is to support Penn State Extension by utilizing research-based information to educate the public on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.
Master Gardeners at Old Crow Wetlands, 2020
Process for applying to the Master Gardener program
The Penn State Extension in Huntingdon County trains Master Gardeners every other year with the next training class planned for the fall of 2024. We will host informational sessions and begin accepting applications in April, 2024 through August, 2024. This program consists of a volunteer training course designed to provide experienced home gardeners with information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others and in the community. The group assists Penn State Extension by educating groups as well as individuals on proper horticultural practices. They have been trained to share their gardening knowledge with county residents under the direction of Penn State Extension. Master Gardeners reach out to many areas of the community (children, seniors, and the under-served populations) to teach them about horticulture. This is done through demonstrations, speaking engagements, and hands-on presentations throughout the county.
As a Penn State Master Gardener, one must complete a thirteen-week course that covers information on botany, plant propagation, insects and diseases, plant identification, diagnostics, and much more. Upon completion of this course, the Master Gardener trainee must dedicate 50 hours of volunteer time to the Master Gardener program throughout the following year. To maintain Master Gardener status, an additional 20 hours per year following their initial commitment as well as 10 hours of approved continuing education is required.
Master Gardeners cooperate with local organizations, schools, and service clubs and provide speakers on a wide variety of gardening topics. They provide a link between their community and Penn State Extension. Some of the volunteer activities Huntingdon County Master Gardeners participate in are:
- creating demonstration gardens to educate the public on various horticultural subjects
- teaching plant science to school-age children
- teaching horticulture to adults
- answering gardening questions
- teaching environmentally sound gardening to community groups
- writing articles for local newspapers
- working with community gardens
Once you have applied to the program you will be notified and scheduled an interview date. Unfortunately, we cannot accept every applicant into the program.
If you would like to apply to the Master Gardener Program in Huntingdon County, here's the application: Master Gardener Program in Huntingdon County
