Master Gardener Certification Program 

The Master Gardener Certification Program Information

How Can I Become a Massachusetts Master Gardener?

Master Gardener programs grew out of extension education services offered through land grant universities in the United States. The first Master Gardener program was established in 1973, and today there are master gardener programs in all 50 states and in 8 provinces in Canada. The mission of the Master Gardener program is focused on urban and suburban gardens with emphasis on unbiased scientific horticultural practices. Master Gardener certification programs are not accredited programs to train landscape professionals. The program is intended for the home gardener. 

There are 4 independent Master Gardener organizations in Massachusetts; each organization serves a different geographic area. This site describes the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association’s (MMGA) certification program for Eastern and Central Massachusetts. 

Information about the other 3 Massachusetts organizations can be found here:

• Master Gardener Association of Cape Cod

• Master Urban Gardener Program (Boston)

• Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association

The Massachusetts Master Gardener Association (MMGA) became an independent organization in 2008 and has grown to have more than 500 active volunteers that work in more than 40 gardens throughout eastern and central Massachusetts. Our mission is to act as a resource for our communities through direct service in a wide variety of gardens including historic and food pantry gardens as well as giving lectures and supporting outreach projects in schools and non-profit organizations. To support this mission, we train our volunteers in best practices horticultural methods in the classroom and hands-on training.

The 2025 Program begins January 7th with a 16-week lecture series. This is followed by a 7 month internship from May 1 to November 30, 2025. After completing the program requirements, you will become a Certified Master Gardener. You will be part of a community who is passionate about horticulture, who successfully initiate projects in our neighborhoods, and work in ongoing project gardens as a community of colleagues and friends. Additionally, we have many social events to learn more about horticulture, new project gardens, and each other’s gardens.

Requirements: 

• Must be a resident of central or eastern Massachusetts.

• Be physically confident - gardening can be physically demanding.

• Have access to a desktop or laptop computer.

• Be comfortable with using online resources: using Gmail, using Zoom, sharing resources electronically, researching using the internet, completing and returning class assignments which are distributed electronically.

• Complete and submit the application and pay the non-refundable $25 application fee.

• Complete a telephone interview to be scheduled in October 2025

• Upon acceptance to the program, pay the tuition fee of $650 and purchase the master gardener textbook from Pennsylvania State Extension ($75 plus shipping and handling).

• Before the lecture series begins, you will need to submit the required information for a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) check by the State of Massachusetts. We will help you with that process.

• Lecture series: 

  • Attend all 16 scheduled lecture meetings (12 via zoom, 4 in-person, locations to be determined - see below).

  • Complete all homework assignments and 2 take-home exams.

• Internship:

  • Complete 60 volunteer hours, supervised by other Certified Master Gardeners in MMGA projects, by November 30, 2025.

Lecture series schedule: January 7 - April 29, 2025

The class size is 42 people, and the expectation is that you attend all the scheduled lectures; they are not recorded. The lectures are held on Tuesdays from 8:45 am to 12pm. There are weekly homework assignments and 2 take-home exams. 

January 7 Orientation (in-person, site to be determined)*

January 14  Botany, part 1

January 21  Botany & Nomenclature, part 2

January 28  Soil Science & Soil Testing

February 4  Plant Nutrition & Composting

February 11    Perennials

February 18  Native Plants

February 25    Woody Plants

March 4       Vegetables

March 11     NO CLASS MEETING, mid-term due Mar 31

March 18    Weeds & Invasive species

March 25     Plant Propagation

April 1          Integrated Pest Management/Entomology

April 8          Pruning (in person, site to be determined)*

April 15        Plant Diseases

April 22       Lab Day / practicum (in-person, site to be determined)*

April 29        Project Day (in-person, site to be determined)*

*In-person meetings, locations to be determined

Internship: May 1 - November 30, 2025

During the 7-month internship, the students are asked to complete 60 hours of volunteer work in various MMGA projects. You will be supported and supervised and work along-side MMGA Certified Master Gardeners. The volunteer hours are broken up into several categories. We want to expose you to all the types of volunteer work the organization does. 

• Gardening: Work in at least 3 of our project gardens (24 hours)

• Helpline: Work with a Certified Master Gardener, respond to horticultural questions emailed by the public (6 hours)

• Outreach: Participate in MMGA Outreach activities in an “Ask a Master Gardener” booth at farmers markets and autumn agricultural fairs (6 hours)

• Continuing Education: Attend MMGA sponsored Continuing Education programs (6 hours)

• MMGA Administration: Participate in MMGA administrative work such as attending Associate or Regional meetings, auditing a committee meeting, volunteering at the MMGA Symposium in the fall (8 hours)

• “Any hours”: Volunteer in your favorite category above! (10 hours)

What Are the Benefits to Becoming a Certified Massachusetts Master Gardener? 

• Learn best practices in horticulture by working with skilled Certified Master Gardeners in MMGA sponsored project gardens.

• Participate in the dozens of MMGA-sponsored Continuing Education classes, workshops, field trips and visits to members’ and project gardens.

• Provide best practice horticultural knowledge and gardening support at the community level through our outreach programs: Ask a Master Gardener, Helpline and Soil pH testing at farmers markets, plant sales, & local fairs.

• Learn how to be an informative speaker by joining our Speakers’ Bureau which presents lectures to the community on horticultural topics.

• Meet other Master Gardeners through bi-monthly social meetings that include a horticultural presentation and updates about the MMGA organization.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Massachusetts Master Gardener. We are at capacity for our 2025 class.

To those who applied: we will email the application questions to you on October 1, 2024.

If you already subscribe to The Dirt, thank you. If you are not a current subscriber, please click here to subscribe. If you have any questions, please email: mgcprogram@massmastergardeners.org.