Master Gardener
Program Manual

WSU Extension is statewide, working in every county and with our tribal partners. Translating world-class research into hands-on practice to help create thriving communities, families, and individuals. WSU Extension is the front door to the University. Extension builds the capacity of individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities, empowering them to find solutions for local issues and to improve their quality of life. Extension collaborates with communities to create a culture of life-long learning and is recognized for its accessible, learner-centered, relevant, high-quality, unbiased educational programs. 
 
The mission of WSU Extension is to engage people, organizations, and communities to advance knowledge, economic well-being, and quality of life by fostering inquiry, learning, and the application of research. 
 
Extension’s close relationships within communities allow us to deliver personalized education that challenges and inspires individuals to achieve their highest goals. As part of WSU, we: 

• Work in partnership with communities to identify issues that university research and knowledge bases can address.
• Provide unbiased, research-based information that gives people the knowledge to improve their health and livelihoods. 
• Deliver educational programs that are adapted to the critical needs in the community. 
• Enable community members to come to WSU directly with their issues. 
• Leverage human and capital resources through partnerships in order to act on critical issues. 

Statewide Leadership 

Leadership for the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is provided by a director. The statewide WSU Master Gardener Program Director is responsible for providing overall direction to local program coordinators and volunteers.  

Local County Leadership 

Local county program coordinators are responsible for leading and managing county-specific WSU Extension Master Gardener programs. In general, WSU Extension offices supervise and support Master Gardener volunteers in various ways, depending on available resources. In some cases, the Statewide Program Director supervises local program coordinators. One or more of the following may provide leadership for local WSU Master Gardener programs: 

• County/Regional Extension Director—overall leadership for the office, in addition to maintaining a strong relationship with county government, budget development, civil rights, a county advisory system, and supervision of support staff and program staff; 
• County Extension Faculty—leadership for educational program(s) and supervision of the county staff and volunteers related to each program; 
• Local Program Coordinator—coordination and management of a specific program and its volunteers. The title “program coordinator” is assigned to a faculty, staff, or volunteer who has agreed to coordinate a local Master Gardener (MG) program. 

Local County Advisory Committees 

Master Gardener program coordinators should implement program advisory teams/committees comprised of a cross section of WSU Master Gardener Program volunteers who represent a variety of programs and projects and who have skill sets in organizational planning, program development and evaluation to support strategic planning, decision making, and program and project selection. The purpose of an advisory team is to assist the local program coordinator in decision making, determining and prioritizing the current needs of internal and external stakeholders as they relate to the WSU Master Gardener Program vision and mission, and to align educational needs with fund development opportunities and with foundation support. The program coordinator maintains ultimate responsibility and authority. 

Supporting Organizations 

Volunteers in some counties have formed organizations called foundations or associations to work in partnership with the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program. For more information about Master Gardener organizations that partner with the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program, refer to Chapter 6: Master Gardener Foundations.

Brief History

The Master Gardener title was derived from Germany’s “gartenmeisters,” who were highly respected horticulturists in their communities. That is the legacy to which the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program aspires. The WSU Master Gardener Program started in 1973 when WSU Extension faculty in King and Pierce Counties saw an unmet need in the communities they were serving. To that end, faculty began training volunteers to become WSU Extension Master Gardeners. Little did they realize they would launch an entire “Master Gardener Movement” that would spread across the nation and overseas.

Our Guiding Statements: Slogan, Vision, Mission, Values

Our Slogan or Tagline 

The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program slogan is “Volunteer Community Educators—cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.” 

Our Strategic Vision 

Highly recognized, diverse, and fully supported, WSU Master Gardener volunteers are the go-to resource for communities seeking research-based, unbiased, innovative solutions for their ever-changing horticulture and environmental stewardship needs. 

Our Mission 

Engaging university-trained volunteers to empower and sustain diverse communities with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education. 

Our Values 

• We value personal and professional research and discovery because it encourages us to stay current about horticulture and environmental stewardship to meet the unique educational needs of our communities. 
• We foster and benefit from an atmosphere of diversity and inclusivity because our differences inspire creative thinking and innovative solutions. 
• We act with integrity because trust, truthfulness, and respect create a healthy and positive culture. 
• We are committed to stewardship and sustainability, serving as ethical and responsible agents of our natural resources, human resources, and University resources. 
• We collaborate because together we empower healthy and resilient communities. 
• We are a dynamic and responsive program where knowledge inspires change. 

WSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers represent WSU Extension and the land-grant heritage it serves. WSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers address critical issues by meeting the diverse educational needs of Washington residents that align with our program vision, and mission, and in alignment with our values. Faculty, staff, and volunteers should understand and be able to tell a compelling and impactful story about how educational offerings provided by the WSU Master Gardener Program meet local needs and address the following program priorities grouped into three categories: 

Our Program Priorities

People and Plants: 

• Nearby Nature: We teach about the health and wellness benefits that access to plants, green spaces, and public landscapes has on individuals, families, and communities. 
• Biodiversity: We teach stewardship of diverse ecosystems through invasive species management, native species conservation and restoration in landscapes. 
• Fire Resistant Landscaping: We teach landscaping principles to reduce the risk of loss due to wildfire. 

Resilient Gardening: 

• Clean Water: We teach integrated pest management to minimize polluted runoff. 
• Water Conservation: We teach water-wise gardening and landscaping practices to conserve water. 
• Climate Change: We teach ways to create resilient landscapes that are adapted to our changing climate. 

Nutrition Security: 

• Local Food: We teach sustainable techniques for growing local food to improve individual & community health and wellness. 
• Pollinators: We teach ways to help native bees and other pollinators thrive in home and community landscapes. 
• Soil Health: We teach building healthy soils to prevent depletion and ensure the long-term viability of local food security & natural resources. 

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is funded through a variety of sources. 

• Washington State University 
• County government, as determined by county commissioners and council members 
• The United States Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (ISDA-NIFA) 
• Master Gardener Foundations 
• WSU Extension Master Gardener Program Endowment Fund 
• Grants and contracts form both the public and private sectors 
• Fees for service
• Donor gifts and bequests 

To effectively engage, support, and retain WSU Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers, program coordinators and volunteer leaders must understand the motivations that bring individuals to volunteer service. Volunteer motivation is not static; it evolves over time and directly influences a volunteer’s level of engagement and commitment. 

Volunteer motivations can be broadly understood across three primary drivers: 

• Personal Drive: Individuals volunteer to gain personal benefits, such as learning new skills or expanding knowledge. Example: “I volunteer because I want to learn more about gardening.” 
• Relational Drive: Individuals volunteer because of social connections or encouragement from others. 
  Example: “I volunteer because someone I know invited me or I want to be part of a group.” 
• Belief Drive: Individuals volunteer because they are committed to the mission, values, or impact of the organization. Example: “I volunteer because I believe in the importance of providing research-based horticulture education to my community.” 

Within the WSU Master Gardener Program, volunteers are often initially motivated by a desire to learn about home horticulture and connect with others who share similar interests. Over time, many volunteers develop a deeper commitment rooted in service and a desire to give back to their communities. 

The Continuum of Commitment 

Volunteer motivation is closely linked to a continuum of commitment: 

• Entry-Level Commitment (Personal Drive) 
  New volunteers are often primarily motivated by learning and personal enrichment. Their engagement may be exploratory and focused on individual benefit. 
• Mid-Level Commitment (Relational Drive) 
  As volunteers build relationships and a sense of belonging, their engagement increases. Social connection and group identity reinforce participation. 
• High-Level Commitment (Belief Drive) 
  Long-term volunteers typically demonstrate strong alignment with the program’s mission and values. These individuals consistently contribute time, expertise, and leadership in support of WSU Extension’s educational goals. 

Volunteer commitment is dynamic and may shift over time. Recognizing where a volunteer is on this continuum allows program leaders to provide appropriate support and opportunities for growth. 

Program Responsibility: Advancing Volunteer Engagement 

WSU Extension faculty, staff, and Master Gardener volunteer leaders share responsibility for fostering volunteer growth along the continuum of commitment. This is achieved by creating a program environment that prioritizes satisfaction, inclusion, and purpose. 

Guiding Principle

Satisfied volunteers are engaged volunteers; engaged volunteers are committed volunteers. 

To support this progression, program leaders must: 

• Meet Volunteer Needs: Recognize and respond to individual motivations, interests, and goals. 
• Set Clear Expectations: Communicate roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations consistently.
• Provide Training and Resources: Equip volunteers with the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to succeed as educators. 
• Build Trust and Accountability: Empower volunteers to take ownership of their roles while maintaining program standards. 
• Define and Align Goals: Connect volunteer activities to program mission, vision, and measurable outcomes. 
• Ensure Policy Awareness and Compliance: Maintain consistent understanding of program policies and procedures across all participants. 
• Communicate Regularly: Foster transparent, timely, and two-way communication. 
• Give and Receive Feedback: Encourage continuous improvement through constructive feedback and recognition. 

Developing Competent and Confident Volunteers 

Volunteers enter the WSU Master Gardener Program with a passion for learning. The role of program leadership is to intentionally cultivate that passion into meaningful, mission-driven service. 

Through education, mentorship, and engagement opportunities, volunteers develop into: 

• Competent Educators – grounded in current, research-based horticulture information 
• Confident Communicators – able to effectively share knowledge with diverse audiences 
• Community Contributors – committed to advancing environmental stewardship and public education 

By supporting volunteer development, the program ensures that all Master Gardener volunteers are prepared to fulfill the mission of empowering and sustaining communities with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education. 

Summary for Practice 

Effective volunteer engagement requires intentional leadership. Program success depends on the ability to: 

1. Recognize and respect diverse motivations
2. Support progression along the commitment continuum 
3. Create meaningful, mission-aligned opportunities for service 
4. Foster a culture of learning, inclusion, and accountability 

Through these practices, the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program sustains a highly engaged volunteer workforce capable of delivering impactful education across Washington State.