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Deadline for Master Gardener Volunteer Training Applications

• Friday, September 12, 2025, 4:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Are you passionate about gardening and ready to give back to your community? Apply now for the 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer Training with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. This hybrid program includes self-paced online learning, weekly Zoom classes, and in-person Saturday sessions (three per month) from late October 2025 to March 2026.

Participants will learn about botany, soil health, food gardening, pest management, climate-friendly practices, and much more. The program includes field trips, garden visits, and an opportunity to develop and present your own educational outreach project.

Graduates are asked to contribute 150 volunteer hours within two years. Access to a laptop or computer is highly recommended.

Training fee: $300, due upon acceptance. Scholarships available. Applications must be received by September 12, 2025.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of our virtual info sessions, “So You Want to Be a Master Gardener Volunteer?”, offered via Zoom on July 9 at 10am, August 18 at 2:30pm, or September 10 at 2pm.

Application TBA

Additional Notes:

In-person classes rotate between Hudson and Acra offices

Background checks and interviews required prior to start

Applicants will be notified of decisions in late September

Fee is refundable (minus $75) until first day of training

This training prepares participants to serve as community volunteers with CCE. It does not confer professional certification, licensure, or business credentials, and it should not be used for commercial promotion or as a resume certification. The value of the program is in the hands-on learning, access to research-based horticulture resources, and joining a network of active garden educators making a difference in their local communities.

Last updated June 12, 2025