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Master Gardener

The Master Gardener program is an all-volunteer organization sanctioned by the land-grant institution in each state and functions as an extension of the college or university. In Illinois, this program is sponsored by University of Illinois.

Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who love gardening and who have previous gardening experience. You can become a Master Gardener if
- you have some knowledge or experience in gardening or landscape management
(you need not be an expert)
- you are willing to learn share horticulture information with others, and
- you are accepted into a local training program and can volunteer time conducting
horticultural educational programming coordinated through your local Extension unit.

University of Illinois Extension appreciates the trained Master Gardener volunteers who help meet the constant demand for horticultural information by citizens of our state. There are currently more than 3,500 Master Gardener volunteers in Illinois.

Green Connections Unit Wide Meetings 2026

Core Education Training Registration 2026

Core Education Training Schedule June 2026

Monday, June 8

9am – ICC Horticulture Demonstration Garden & Soils Lab
- Address: College Dr, East Peoria, IL 61635
3:30pm – Tazwell County Health Department Giving Garden
- Address: 21306 IL-9, Tremont, IL 61568

Tuesday, June 9

9am – St. Ann’s Garden of Hope
- 1414 W Antoinette St, Peoria, IL 61605
1pm – University of Illinois College of Medicine Garden
- 1 Illini Dr, Peoria, IL 61605 – Behind church on MLK Jr Drive.
3:30pm – Peoria Friendship House Student Garden
- 800 NE Madison Ave, Peoria, IL 61603

Wednesday, June 10

9am – University of Illinois Extension, Fulton Branch
- Address: 15411 IL-100, Lewistown, IL 61542
3:30pm – Canton Giving Garden at First Congregational Church
- Address: 159 N 2nd Ave, Canton, IL 61520

Thursday, June 11

9am – Wildlife Prairie Park
- Address: 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL 61536
3:30pm – Jubilee State Park – Butterfly Garden
- Address: 11817 W Jubilee College Rd, Brimfield, IL 61517

Friday, June 12

9am – Luthy Botanical Garden
- Address: 2520 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603
- Master Gardener Picnic Lunch – 12pm
3:30pm – Peoria Zoo Pollinator Garden
- Address: 2320 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603

Green Connections Newsletter

Volume 3 - 2026

Volume 2 - 2025

Volume 1 - 2024

Speakers Network Request

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists are available to provide educational presentations at your request.

Our Speakers Bureau provides a variety of garden and nature-inspired topics, free of charge (except when noted for workshop materials).

Ask a Gardening or Natural Resources Question to the Help Desk

Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers are available to answer questions regarding your garden or natural spaces. Use this form to begin the inquiry process.

Describe your question, location, and, if able, include photos of the plant or situation you are asking about.

Include your name, contact information, and if you prefer to be contacted by phone or email.

Allow 3 to 5 business days for volunteers to complete the research and response.

Help Desk Request Form

Partner Programs

Conservation@Home

Master Naturalists

Horticulture Webpage

Steps for Joining

For those wanting to become a Master Gardener volunteer, University of Illinois requires each applicant to complete an application, background screening paperwork, and schedule an interview with Extension staff. The fee to participate is $250 and covers classroom sessions, handouts, and the Master Gardener manual.

Upon completion of the Master Gardener training, graduates who have selected the volunteer option will become Master Gardener Interns and have 2 years to complete 40 volunteer service hours to become an Active Master Gardener.

To continue as an Active Master Gardener, volunteers must fulfill 20 volunteer hours and 10 continuing education hours annually.

Illinois Professional Development hours for Illinois teachers may be available for the 60 hours of training, through the Council on Teacher Education.

The 2025 in-person Master Gardener training week is scheduled to be held from September 29 through October 3. Training locations include Wildlife Prairie Parik, Luthy Botanical Garden, WIC Garden at Tazewell County Health Department, Morton Giving Garden, Tres Rojas Winery, Black Sheep Flower Farm, and ICC Demonstration Garden and Hort Lab.

An online, self-guided Illinois Gardener training course is available to take from the comfort of your home at your own pace. The Online Illinois Gardener Training is currently offered three times a year in Winter, Summer, and Fall.

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener please contact Ainsley Olsen at ainsleyo@illinois.edu

Meeting Schedule

Extension Master Gardeners host a monthly meeting that includes an educational program. The programs are always open to the public and free. Visit our Events page for the most current meeting details.

Fulton and Mason County Master Gardener Meetings

2nd Tuesday, social time 5:30 p.m., program begins at 6 p.m.

The meeting location varies.

Peoria County Master Gardener Meetings

3rd Wednesday, social time 1 p.m., program at 1:30 p.m., membership meeting at 2:30 p.m.

Location is typically the University of Illinois Extension office in Peoria.

Tazewell County Master Gardener Meetings

4th Monday, social time 5:30 p.m., program at 6 p.m. - March through November.

Location is typically the University of Illinois Extension office in Pekin.

About Our Program

Why Become a Master Gardener?

The mission of the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program is "Helping Others Learn to Grow." Master Gardeners involve people in improving the quality of life by helping them find sound management practices for home and urban natural resources, by creating aesthetically pleasing environments, by promoting well-being through people-plant interactions and horticultural therapy, and by contributing to a safe, abundant food supply through home fruit and vegetable production.

What Qualifications Must I Meet?

Anyone can become a Master Gardener - it does not require a degree or years of experience. You do, however, need to:

Have a sincere desire to learn and share horticulture information within your community
Be able to communicate effectively
Be willing to devote time to volunteering and continuing education

What Does the Training Involve?

Local trainings are typically offered in a hybrid format pairing in-person activities and demonstrations with online learning modules completed on trainees’ own time. The in-person component is typically scheduled as a week-long, 5-day course from 9 am-3 pm each day (with a short lunch break) and includes hands-on learning at gardens throughout the four-county unit. For those unable to work with this local schedule the state offers a 100% online training option. More information on that is available at extension.illinois.edu/mg/online-illinois-gardener-training

Approximately 60 hours of instruction and field study and 40 hours of volunteer internship work are required to complete the program and become certified. In order to remain a certified Master Gardener, 20 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year.

Example Master Gardener Volunteer Opportunities

Youth programs such as 4-H Show judge or superintendent or 4-H gardening Special Interest club
Informational booths: farmers markets, community events, health fairs, county fairs
Community gardens: Morton Library native garden, WIC vegetable garden, Wildlife Prairie Park butterfly habitat, Illinois Central College
Ask a Gardening Question helpline
Write educational articles: nature magazines, blogs, news papers
Educational programs: Speakers Bureau, Clean Water Celebration, Farm Safety Day

Resources

GivePulse - Go.illinois.edu/MGGivepulse

Master Gardener Brochure

Illinois Master Gardener website

Master Gardener Apparel can be ordered anytime at go.illinoi s.edu/ExtensionMerch