The next UCCE Nevada County Master Gardener volunteer training is scheduled for 2026. Please feel free to complete this brief interest survey. The deadline for completing the Interest Survey is August 10, 2025. Happy Gardening!

What is the UC Master Gardener program all about?

Thank you for your interest in the University of California (UC) Master Gardener volunteer program.  The UC Master Gardener program is a county-based volunteer program; that is, the local University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) county office administers the local Master Gardener program. The UC Master Gardener Program is open to individuals interested in becoming volunteers and sharing gardening knowledge with the public through community outreach. Applicants looking to increase knowledge and horticulture experience will be considered regardless of gardening experience. 

In our case, the UCCE office covers 2 counties (Nevada and Placer) and therefore we administer two Master Gardener programs, each one separate and distinct.  Our Nevada County office at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Grass Valley is the home base for the UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County while our Placer County office in Auburn serves our UC Master Gardeners of Placer County. 

The UC Master Gardener program is a VOLUNTEER program not a CERTIFICATE program. 

Master Gardener Training Courses

Once accepted into the UC Master Gardener program by a local UC Cooperative Extension office, applicants will receive a minimum of 50 hours of training provided by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources over the course of 16 weeks .

Training topics include:

• Introduction to Horticulture
• Soil and Fertilizer Management
• Water Management
• Plant Propagation
• Plant Pathology
• Insects
• Weeds
• Safe and Sustainable Pest Management
• House Plants
• Lawns
• Woody Landscape Plants
• Home Vegetable Gardening
• Grapes
• Berries
• Temperate Tree Fruit and Nut Crops
• Citrus
• Avocados
• Landscape and Garden Design
• Poisonous Plants
• Diagnosing Plant Problems

In exchange for education and certification, UC Master Gardeners are required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours in the first year and 25 hours each subsequent year. UC Master Gardeners must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education per year, starting their second year. 

How UC Master Gardeners make a difference:

• Promote environmentally responsible and sustainable horticultural practices
• Reduce fertilizer and pesticide pollutants
• Protect water quality and promote water conservation
• Compost green-waste,reducing landfill materials and improving air quality
• Detect and manage invasive species
• Raise wildland fire protection awareness

Examples of community outreach from UC Master Gardeners: 

• Demonstration gardens
• School edudcational outreach
• Classes and workshops
• Websites and blogs
• Free diagnostic office and hotline
• Fairs, grower's markets and other community events
• Print and digital media

If you have more questions about the Nevada or Placer County Master Gardener program, feel free to leave a message on our Hotline (530) 273-0919 or email cburzinski@ucanr.edu