Speaker Bureau

Harness the Master Gardener’s Expertise for your Community!

Trained by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Master Gardener Volunteers of Columbia and Greene counties are available to provide timely, scientifically accurate programs on a variety of gardening topics and environmental issues (see our brochure). Workshops, zoom, and in person presentations are offered year-round at our offices in Acra and Hudson or at your chosen location. Our knowledgeable, informed, and enthusiastic presenters will tailor the presentation to your audience.

The suggested donations for these programs help us further our educational mission. (Discounts may be available on a case-by-case basis.) Presentations are approximately one hour long with additional time for Q&A. We ask for an audience that includes a minimum of 10 people.

How to Book a Speaker

Speakers' Bureau presentations are booked on a first-come, first-served, basis. Please let us know at least two months before your event to allow for adequate preparation and marketing. We will do our best to provide you with a program on your requested date and topic. If you are interested, please fill out the following link: 

Speakers Bureau Request Form

Zoom Presentations/ In-Person presentations:

• Seed Starting Strategies
• Veggie Gardening Fundamentals
• Grow your own Cut Flowers 
• Flower Power for Pollinators 
• Compost, Black Gold for your Garden 
• Ticks, the clock is ticking 
• The Undercover Garden: Extending the growing season
• A Garden Can be Anywhere: Container Gardening 
• Putting the garden to bed
• Getting Started in Bee Keeping: Sweet Success 
• Herb Gardening, Never Buy Parsley Again 
• Invasive species, Stopping the Bad Guys 
• Gardening in our Changing Climate 
• What’s Next in Your Garden: Sequence of Bloom 
• Birding 101 moving beyond the bird feeder
• Roses Throughout the Seasons
• Gardening Tips: Collective Considerations from Master Gardeners
• Landscaping with a Variety of Garden Beds
• Best Practices in Turf Management for your Home

Demonstrations/Workshops:

• Succulent Terrarium, a mini desert in a jar
• Terrarium Gardening
• Seed Bomb Workshop, Make Flowers not War
• Hypertufa planters
• Ergonomics Gardening: Garden All Day and Dance the Night Away
• Build your own worm bin!

Field Trips:

• Invasive ID – (seasonal – Spring, Summer, Fall) – The presenter will suggest a location.
• Seasonal Bird walk – (Late Spring , Early Summer and Winter) - The presenter will suggest a location.

Last updated January 27, 2025