2024 MGV Youth Education Grant Link to Application or Printable PDF
Zanesville, OH–OSU Extension Muskingum County will offer a Master Gardener Volunteer Training Class in 2024. The basic premise of the Master Gardener Volunteer program is to provide training in horticulture to interested volunteers in exchange for 50 hours of horticulture service back to the community. Training will begin on February 15, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm with conventional classroom instruction. Program cost is $125. Applications will be available online at muskingum.osu.edu/mgv or at the Muskingum County Extension Office, 225 Underwood St, Zanesville.
For more information, contact Clifton Martin at martin.2422@osu.edu or 740-454-0144. The Master Gardener Volunteer program in Ohio has existed since the late 1970’s and has had a presence in Muskingum County since 1996.
You may add your name to our contact list to be notified about current updates to the class at: https://go.osu.edu/newmcmgv.
The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested Ohio residents, who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local OSU Extension county office. Volunteers are not required to have gardening skills or knowledge; but a passion for learning about gardening and sharing this knowledge with others is a must!
The mission of the Muskingum County Master Gardeners is to serve the community as volunteers by providing educational opportunities relating to horticulture through programs and activities.
The first group of Master Gardeners to be trained by Extension professionals was in the state of Washington in 1972. The first MG programs in Ohio originated in the late 1970’s in the larger urban counties. More than 65 Ohio counties are now served by about 4,000 MG volunteers.
The first MG classes in Muskingum County were conducted in 1996 in conjunction with several other counties. Approximately 160 individuals have participated in MG training classes since 1996 in the county.
If you are interested in applying to become a MG, call the OSU Extension office at (740) 454-0144 or click here to add your name to the mailing list. Ask to be added to the mailing list for the next MG training class. You will be contacted by the Extension office when the next training class will be offered. Each prospective MG fills out an application, is interviewed by the MG coordinator and then is notified if he/she has been selected to become part of the MG training class.
Upon successful completion of fifty hours of the MG training program, each volunteer is expected to provide fifty hours of horticultural education to the community through activities and programs of the Muskingum County Master Gardeners organization.
The Muskingum County Master Gardeners are involved in a number of educational horticultural activities and program in the community. They sponsor a booth at the Zanesville Farmers Market every Saturday during market season. They sponsor Earth to Art, a summer fundraiser that combines art and horticulture. Proceeds from Earth to Art support a number of horticultural programs in Muskingum County schools. The MG set up educational displays at a number of events including Farm-City Day. The MG have renovated the herb garden at the Dr. Increase Matthews Museum and assist in educational activities at several community gardens.
The Muskingum County Master Gardeners elect officers annually and meet as a group on a monthly basis to plan activities and programming.
More information about state-level Master Gardener Volunteer programs and activities is available at http://mastergardener.osu.edu.