Collage of Master Gardener pictures.
50 years and counting
Cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973
Support the Master Gardener Program

Throughout this site there are links to documents of various file types.
Please contact our Statewide Program Leader if you require this information in a different format.

It all began at Washington State University

A grassroots, sociologic movement that started at Washington State University in 1973 and was emulated across the United States and into Canada and South Korea, the Master Gardener Program is WSU Extension’s flagship volunteer program.


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Commemorative keepsakes available!

New 50th anniversary commemorative items have been added to help celebrate and remember this milestone anniversary. Purchase your keepsakes and support the Program by visiting the WSU Master Gardener store today.


Learn how we celebrated 50 years of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program around Washington State!

April 8, 2023

Our kick-off event!
Puyallup Research and Extension Center
2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA

May 20, 2023

Photo of Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center.

Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC)
24106 N Bunn Rd, Prosser, WA

June 10, 2023

Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research Extension Center

Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC)
1100 N Western Ave, Wenatchee, WA

July 13, 2023

Photo of Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center.

Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC)
16650 State Route 536
Mount Vernon, WA

September 27-30, 2023

Marriott Tacoma Downtown
1538 Commerce Street
Tacoma, Washington

Don’t miss the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program 50th Anniversary Advanced Education Conference 2023!

WSU Extension Master Gardener Conference logo.
Presented by the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program and is sponsored by the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State.

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Yesterday

One of the first Extension Master Gardener clinics in Washington State.

Washington State University is a Land Grant institute which means it has a responsibility to teach, research, and extend knowledge. Initially WSU assigned horticulture faculty to county offices as part of the Agriculture, Home Economics, and 4-H outreach education programs. The emphasis of the horticultural programs was crop production. It was not until rapid urban growth and the burgeoning interest in gardening that Extension began to develop programs emphasizing urban horticulture.

Today

The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program addresses important sociologic and environmental issues by teaching research-based horticulture information. We want people to have important skills and abilities that help mitigate challenges and to understand that everyone has a role to play in creating and sustaining healthy and resilient communities.

Tomorrow

Image of two Master Gardeners teaching gardening to group of children.

We use knowledge to empower healthy and resilient communities, but what if we could do more?

The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is raising money to establish the first ever faculty chair fully dedicated to the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program.

Resources and marketing materials for Extension Master Gardener Programs