Become an Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer in Guilford County!
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We will be accepting applications for our 2026 Extension Master Gardener℠ Class
September 2- December 8, 2025
*Take advantage of our early bird application period! Submit your completed application AND fee by September 26, 2025 to receive a $20 discount off the application fee ($100 fee instead of $120).
If you have been thinking about joining the Extension Master Gardener℠ program, now is the time to apply!
Applications for the 2026 class will be accepted beginning on September 2, 2025 through December 8, 2025 with required info sessions on what to expect as a Master Gardener℠ student December 9th and 10th; 2 p.m.-3 p.m. (you need to attend one of the two sessions). Applications can be found below.
Applications can be submitted online, mailed (Attn. Holly Key), or brought in-person to 3309 Burlington Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405. The $120 (or $100 if meeting early bird application requirements) non-refundable application fee must be paid when you submit the application. If submitting an online application, you can mail (Attn. Holly Key- and please include a note inside with your name, contact, and “MG application fee”) or bring in your payment. Payment can be made as cash (exact change) or a check made payable to Guilford County. Applications without payment will not be considered. Accepted applicants will be notified via email on or before December 9, 2025.
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Click HERE for the online 2026 application beginning on September 2, 2025
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Click HERE to download and print the 2026 application- COMING SOON
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2026 Extension Master Gardener℠ Class Schedule and Outline (below):
downloadable schedule and outline
Classes will consist of 2 units
Unit 1 will be a hybrid model with half virtual (pre-recorded videos) and half in-person classes (Wednesdays; 1:30 p.m. -4:00 p.m.). The unit will end with an in-person application day with hands-on activities for the lessons covered in that unit.
Unit 2 will be all in-person classes ending with an in-person application day with hands-on activities for the lessons covered in that unit.
The final exam and Infoline training will follow the two units.
Students can only miss 2 in-person sessions and those absences can only include missing 1 of the application days. Any missed in-person classes must be made up by completing make-up work which will be sent following the missed class. Upon completion of make-up work, students can record education hours for the class missed.
Students must attend all virtual classes. Attendance for virtual classes will consist of watching the recorded lecture and filling out the accompanying questions via a Google form by the due date. You will not be able to record your hours for a virtual class unless you turn in the completed questions.
Students must attend the final exam.
**Students will need to obtain 40 education hours total.
35 education hours come from attending all the required classes.
Options for obtaining the remaining 5 education hours:
- **3 scheduled (see schedule below) optional field trips; PDIC & Soil Lab Tour (3 hours), Greensboro Arboretum Tour (1 hour), Buster Sykes Demonstration Farm Tour (? hours)
- You can choose to attend the optional review time before the final exam (1.5 hours)
- Educational videos, events, webinars, and seminars (See Intranet and/or Holly)
Find out more about the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer program below!
What is an Extension Master
Gardener℠ volunteer?
Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers are volunteers who have the unique experience of receiving and learning how to distribute research-based information from the land grant universities while being involved in various gardening related programs that help the community! Keep reading below for some information about the basic requirements of an Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer.
In your first year you will be considered a student/intern and you will be required to attend classes that will teach you valuable research-based horticulture information. In your first year, you will also be required to complete 40 volunteer hours with designated hours from certain program areas. There are lots of opportunities to complete these hours throughout the year. If you fulfill these requirements in your first year (40 education hours that mostly come from attending the required classes and 40 volunteer hours), you will become certified. Each year thereafter the requirements are 10 education hours and 30 volunteer hours for the year to remain in the program.
The cost for the first year is $120 (or $100 if submitted with a completed during the early bird application period Sept. 2-Sept. 26, 2025) which needs to be submitted with the application (a check made payable to Guilford County or cash-exact change). Each year, after you become certified, it is a $20 recertification fee. You may mail the application and fee or bring it in person to 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro, NC 27405.
What is so great about the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer program?
You get to help your community as a valuable volunteer while furthering your own education, and you get to become part of a community of individuals who love plants as much as you! Check out what some of our current Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers had to say when asked why they loved being an EMGV (Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer):
Janet, who has been an EMGV since 2012 said she loves it because of exposure to current garden practices, ability to share the world of gardening with the public and working alongside other master gardeners℠.
Gordon, who has been an EMGV since 2016 said he loves it because of learning more about gardening and being around others that enjoy gardening.
Nancy, who has been an EMGV since 1998 said she loves it because, “I enjoy learning and sharing new fact-based information and spending time with other very knowledgeable and fun gardeners!”
It really is a special community! If you are ready to join our EMGV community, submit an application for the 2026 class!
For questions, accommodation requests, or program inquiries, please contact
Holly Key (hmkey@ncsu.edu)