How to Apply / Training Schedule

Thank you for your interest in the Master Gardener Volunteer training. Master Gardeners are truly special people dedicated to sharing their horticultural knowledge and skills with their community.

How to Apply

We will be accepting applications for the 2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Course from January 6, 2020 through February 15, 2020. Applications are due by February 15, 2020.

Requirements: Attend 80% of the classes, including ALL of the core classes, and complete 40 hours of volunteer work following the program at an approved project. Participants not willing/able to complete 40 hours of volunteer service within a 12-month period following training should not apply for the Master Gardener Volunteers Program.

Please contact Lynne Holland at the  University of Maine Cooperative Extension Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties Office with any questions.

2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Application

Please read all before applying below.

Because of the high demand for this program, we are only able to accept a percentage of the applicants. Acceptance is based on complete and in-depth answers to questions on the application form, so be sure to respond thoughtfully and leave no blanks. Preference will be given to applicants residing in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties. 

If there is room, applicants from outside those counties will be accepted but they will be required to do their first 40 hours of volunteer work on projects in Androscoggin or Sagadahoc county. 

Deadline to apply: Saturday, February 15, 2020. 

Background Check

It is the University of Maine’s policy to conduct a background check on those who have direct responsibility for the care, safety, and security of community members or property and the care, safety, and security of minors (under 18), the elderly, incapacitated persons, or persons with developmental disabilities who participate in University-sponsored programs. Master Gardener Volunteers’ projects are diverse in scope and there are many occasions where Master Gardener Volunteers do take on this level of responsibility. It is for that reason we conduct background checks on all volunteers. If you are accepted into the program, Extension staff will provide you with the necessary URL for the background check. The Human Resources Department handles the background check process and staff does not receive a copy of the results. Please be aware any issues arising for the background check will not necessarily preclude you from participation in the program or being unable to volunteer, but it may impact which projects you are ultimately matched with. The University of Maine is committed to providing a safe environment for teaching, learning and community outreach.

Training Schedule and Requirements

The 2020 training will be held primarily at the Topsham Library, 25 Foreside Road, Topsham.  Classes are held every Monday from March 30-June 8 (with June 15th as a snow date) from 1-4:30. We will break for summer and resume on Mondays from August 24-October 26, from 1-4:30.  There will be at least two sessions held at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth. 

Since we are meeting on Mondays, we will NOT meet on April 20, May 25, September 7, September 28, or October 12, 2020 due to holidays.

If you commit to this program, you are expected to attend at least 80% of the 16 classes, pass the final exam, and work actively on an established Master Gardener Volunteer project for at least 40 hours following completion of the training.

View the Training Schedule  (Note – will publish as it becomes available)

In Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties , there are at least fifteen different predetermined Master Gardener Volunteer projects each year. You are expected to volunteer a minimum of 40 hours on an existing MGV project within one year of completing the training in order to become certified as a Master Gardener Volunteer.

The nature of these community volunteer projects is as follows:

  • Grow organic vegetables in community gardens for food pantries, soup kitchens, and limited income housing facilities (Bath,Brunswick, Lisbon, Auburn, Lewiston, Phippsburg, Topsham etc)
  • Care for and collaborate on gardens focused on educating youth (Lisbon, Auburn, Bath, Durham, Woolwich, Georgetown, etc) 
  • Glean produce from farms and deliver it to hunger relief organizations (Merrymeeting and Androscoggin Gleaning groups)
  • plan and lead public workshops on relevant gardening topics for small groups

Training Manual

The Maine Master Gardener Training Manual is an online resource that requires a reliable Internet connection. It contains a collection of bulletins, instructional videos, chapters, and links that have been carefully selected to provide you with timely, in-depth, and applied information. The online format will allow you to access new and updated materials long after your training.

Program Fee

The Maine Master Gardener Volunteers Training fee is $220. This fee will be due upon acceptance to the program, and before the first class. Instructions to make your online payment will be sent once you’ve been notified of acceptance into the program. Partial scholarships will be made available on a case-by-case basis. 

If you are in need of financial assistance, please check off the appropriate box on the application.

Apply to Become a Master Gardener Volunteer

Application Form  – You will receive an email confirmation when your application has successfully submitted.  Please contact lynne.holland@maine.edu  if you experience any problems while completing the application.

Deadline to apply:  February 15, 2020

Applicants will be notified by March 1, if accepted into the class.

Limited financial assistance is available. Contact Lynne Holland at lynne.holland@maine.edu for more information.

We Welcome Donations to Support Master Gardener Volunteers Activities.

For More Information

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please call 207.353.5550 or 1.800.287.1458 (in Maine) to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 14 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however, all requests will be considered.

Master Gardener Volunteers Re-enrollment for Current Active MGVs

The Master Gardener Volunteer year runs from October 1st of one year, to September 30th of the following year.

The UMaine Cooperative Extension County Offices must update contact information for each active Master Gardener Volunteer annually.

The University of Maine also requires that Volunteer Standards of Behavior, Photo Release and Non-Discrimination forms be kept on file in each office for the current year. These forms can be found below. Please print and complete them, then return them to the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties office. Please do so within the first few weeks of October.

Please contact Lynne Holland at lynne.holland@maine.edu if you’d like the forms mailed to you.