Success StoryMaster Gardeners Make A Difference



Master Gardeners Make A Difference

Author: Erika Wood

Planning Unit: Hopkins County CES

Major Program: Master Gardener

Plan of Work: Enhancing Leadership, Volunteerism, and Public Policy Awareness

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization dedicated to teaching and training people about horticulture related topics. This program is a part of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and assists county extension agents in providing education and outreach in the community.   Master Gardeners are required to undergo training and complete 40 hours of volunteer service in their first year before becoming certified.  After the first year, Master Gardeners are required to complete 20 hours of service and 10 continuing education credit hours annually in order to continue their certification.   

In 2019, the Pennyroyal Master Gardener Association reported that 38 volunteers completed a total of 2078.26 service hours and 643 continuing education hours.  According to Independent Sector, the 2018 dollar value of volunteer time in Kentucky was $21.42 per hour.  Based on this rate, the volunteer service of the Pennyroyal Master Gardeners holds to $44,516.33 in value.  






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