Success StoryThe Value of Master Gardeners



The Value of Master Gardeners

Author: Kelly Jackson

Planning Unit: Christian County CES

Major Program: Master Gardener

Plan of Work: Cultivating community leadership, engagement and pride through educational and experiential learning.

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Master Gardeners is a program run by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service to train citizens in many areas of horticulture. Upon completion of the Master Gardener education program, participants return 30 hours of community volunteer service through organized projects within one year to earn the title Master Gardener and 15 hours annually to maintain their volunteer status. During the 2022 program year Master Gardeners volunteered:

  1. 1620 hours of service in planting and maintaining demonstration gardens at the Extension office, Jeffers Bend Botanical Center and Arboretum and community gardens.
  2. 61 hours by serving as advisors and members of different community committees.
  3. 666 hours of service to host a regional garden exposition show.

A total of 3,364 hours of volunteer service has been reported from 49 volunteers. At the Independent Sector’s value of hourly volunteer time in Kentucky ($24.83), the value of Master Gardener volunteer service equates to $83,528.12 in value to Christian County Extension and the county. Additionally, these volunteers attained over 5,926 public contacts.






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