With a population of nearly 67,000 people, residential/suburban areas make up over half of Oldham County.   With this high population comes a great demand for home garden and landscape information.  Extension Master Gardener volunteers help address this need through a variety of volunteer work in Oldham County.  Their work helps support Extension’s mission of teaching self-reliance skills as well as supporting tourist destinations in the county through their volunteer service.

Master Gardeners complete the Extension Master Gardener program in order to begin volunteering. This program consists of 11 classes based on Extension curriculum, with participants completing homework assignments and a final comprehensive exam. The Master Gardener program is a partnership of Oldham County Extension agent and staff, UK Extension Specialists, and local plant experts, plus the participants themselves who agree to learn and contribute volunteer hours.

 Despite the COVID19 pandemic slowing down many activities, twenty-nine Master Gardeners contributed 1,593 volunteer hours in the community in 2019-2020.  This work is valued at over $35,000 based on the Independent Sector's value of volunteer time in Kentucky. 

Highlights of their service include the following activities:

- Many Master Gardeners volunteer at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve and Yew Dell Gardens, two tourist destinations in the county. Their work enhances the beauty and success of these sites and supports tourism dollars spent in Oldham County. Their activities at these sites include All-America Selection plant variety trials; greenhouse production, and leading tours.

- The Oldham County Master Gardener Association organized and helped teach 11 horticulture programs for the community.

- A Master Gardener grows vegetable transplants to provide to Red Cross Food Bank clients.  This encourages clients to produce their own fresh produce.

- Master Gardeners take care of gardens and plant new ones at local churches and schools.  They also help their families, friends, and neighbors to become better gardeners.  This provides self-reliance skills in growing food and taking care of landscapes.

Master Gardener volunteer activities are ongoing.  The Oldham County Extension Agriculture Agent and Horticulture Assistant, plus the Master Gardener Association develop and provide continuing education and volunteer opportunities to inspire continued learning, leadership, and service.