Become a Florida Master Gardener

Join the elite group of dedicated gardeners in Miami-Dade County who help others solve their horticulture problems. You will learn and have fun!

What is a Master Gardener?

Master Gardener is a title granted by the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to individuals who complete both the Master Gardener training course and their required volunteer hours. They are individuals who are interested in:

• Horticulture 
• Educating and helping others 
• Making civic contributions through volunteer work

More Information on the Master Gardener Volunteer program:

• What Does a Master Gardener Do?

  Master Gardeners make an important contribution to the community through volunteering their time and learned expertise by assisting the Urban Horticulture Agent in several ways.

  At the Extension office, Master Gardeners help answer homeowner phone calls on:

  • Flower & vegetable gardening    
  • Plant selection
  • Insect, disease, & weed identification
  • Least-toxic pest control
  • Pesticide & fertilizer use
  • Composting, recycling & mulching

  Veteran Master Gardeners assist the Extension Agent with:

  • Establishing demonstration & community gardens
  • Horticultural presentations & demonstrations
  • Staffing gardening information booths at community events & plant shows
  • Teaching the 9 Principles of Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN)
  • And more …..   
• How Do I Become a Master Gardener?

  How Do I Become a Master Gardener?

  To be selected for the Master Gardener Program, you must fill out the program application and you will be contacted for an interview. If you are selected, you will be notified and provided with the course schedule. 

  Selectees must attend the Master Gardener training program, pass the exam, and complete an internship portion at the Homestead office during weekdays. Classroom training takes one full day (9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) per week (M-F) for 10-12 weeks and is held at the Miami-Dade County Extension office in Homestead, Florida. Volunteering opportunities are at selected sites throughout the county after completion of the internship in Homestead. No more than two classes can be missed. 

• How is a Master Gardener Trained?

  Through the Master Gardener training program, participants receive more than 80 hours of classroom & field training from University of Florida professors, horticultural professionals, and Extension Agents. The Miami-Dade County Extension office offers the program now run once a year from January through March.

  What a Master Gardener Learns About:

  • Flower & Vegetable Gardening
  • Ornamental Trees, Palms, & Shrubs
  • Insect, Disease, & Weed Identification
  • Soils, Composting, & Mulching
  • And much, much more!
  • Fruit Trees
  • Lawns
  • Proper Pesticide & Fertilizer Use
  • Basic Botany

  What Does it Cost?

  Master Gardeners pay for their specialized training by volunteering 75 hours of their time and expertise to the Miami-Dade County Extension office. This is a required internship before the title ‘Master Gardener’ is granted.

  In addition to your volunteer contribution, there is a nominal fee to purchase the Master Gardener literature, which is yours to keep. The comprehensive Master Gardener literature, prepared by the University of Florida, includes multiple books and publications related to urban horticulture. 

  The fee will be $250.00 and covers the course, books, materials, and refreshments.

  Classes are during the week and are intense, but rewarding. There is a final exam at the end of the course. You will be contacted for an interview once your name is on the waiting list and a seat is open. We are looking for people who are interested in making a long-term commitment to volunteering.

  Master Gardener Program Application Form

  This program is meant for those who have a flexible schedule.

Classroom training is at the Homestead Extension office with a couple of field trips. The majority of the initial volunteering (internship) includes; assisting walk-in clients, answering homeowner phone calls, and replying to emails during the week so we can gauge your knowledge. 

Come join our Miami-Dade County team of Master Gardeners today!

Learn, Share, and Have Fun too!  

Have gardening questions?
Contact the Master Gardener Help Desk:
dademg@ifas.ufl.edu
(305) 679-0222