Become a Pima County Master Gardener

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Pima County Master Gardener!

Please read the following information about our program before you apply. Please understand that due to demand and our class size restrictions that not all applicants will be selected to become Master Gardeners. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

Mission Statement
Pima County Master Gardener volunteers, directed and supported by University of Arizona faculty and staff, educate residents by providing unbiased research-based horticulture practices and information that promote the development of healthy, sustainable communities.

What is a Master Gardener?
Master Gardeners are volunteers who work with Cooperative Extension offices throughout the United States. Each state's land grant university oversees the Master Gardener program in that state. Here in Arizona, the Pima County Cooperative Extension (PCCE) and the Master Gardener program are part of the University of Arizona, which is Arizona's land grant university. There are currently approximately 150 active Certified Master Gardener volunteers here in Pima County.

What happens after Master Gardeners are selected?
Applicants selected to become Certified Master Gardeners complete approximately 60 hours of classroom training beginning the 1st week of August and continuing until the second week of December. Classes will be in-person on site. Zoom meetings may be required but our preference is to hold these meetings in-person. Once the classroom training is successfully completed, the intern period begins. The intern period is for you to gain more hands-on experience and mentoring from other Master Gardeners. You will need to complete 50 hours of volunteer service before becoming a Certified Master Gardener.

Maintaining Master Gardener status through volunteer hours
To maintain Certified Master Gardener status, each volunteer must participate in 50 hours of approved service activities and complete 10 hours of continuing education training annually.

Types of Volunteering
- Speaking Team
  One of the most meaningful outreach activities the Pima County Master Gardener program offers is the speaking team. Master Gardeners present landscape and gardening programs throughout Pima County, giving talks to various civic groups and community gardens. Library talks are usually given from October through April at several libraries throughout Pima County, and we also offer these presentations via Zoom on a year-round basis. The speaking team also holds paid seminars and will give presentations with our community partners.
- Plant Clinic
  The Plant Clinic is another meaningful outreach effort. Plant Clinic volunteers answer landscape and gardening questions from the public. The Plant Clinic is mostly conducted online but we do offer an in-person clinic with limited hours during the week.
- Demonstration Garden
  Master Gardeners also maintain the 1-acre demonstration garden on site at the Pima County Extension Office. Garden committees work on Thursday mornings throughout the year. These gardens are used for teaching purposes as well as showing the community best practices in local gardening. We also propagate plants for our two plant sales that help support our program.

2023 Application Process
Apply online or download and fill out the application.

Online Application
Download Application
- If you choose to download the application you may either email your completed application to celestegambill@arizona.edu or mail it to:
  Master Gardener Training, Pima County Cooperative Extension
  4210 N. Campbell Ave.
  Tucson AZ 85719

Financial Aid Form

The Pima County Master Gardener program is an outreach program of the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension Service. Our mission is to educate residents by providing unbiased research-based horticulture practices and information that promote the development of healthy, sustainable communities. We achieve this mission through a variety of outreach and educational activities that our trained volunteers lead throughout the year. Through our own fundraising, we are pleased to be able to offer a limited amount of financial assistance to those who wish to join the Master Gardener program in 2023, but for whom full tuition would be a hardship. Assistance is a partial scholarship only. Incoming Master Gardeners Students who are approved for assistance would need still need to pay $75 out of pocket. The remainder of the tuition would be waived by the Master Gardener program. Due to the limited amount of funds available, not all applications will be funded.

Please fill out and turn this form ONLY if you are interested in receiving financial assistance toward the cost of tuition. Once complete please either email it to celestegambill@arizona.edu or mail it to: Master Gardener Training, Pima County Cooperative Extension, 4210 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson AZ 85719 before the April 28^th Deadline.

Download Financial Aid Form