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 2025
Core Education Schedule October 2024
Core Education Registration October 2024
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).
Master Gardener Plant Detectives and Extension staff are armed and ready to "Help Others Learn to Grow."
Email: uiemg-peoria@illinois.edu
Or call one of our local offices to have staff send in your question for you.
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.
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. Click here to see the 2024 in-person Master Gardener training schedule.
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 Rachel Driver at rdriv2@illinois.edu.
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.
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:
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
Resources
GivePulse - Go.illinois.edu/MGGivepulse
Illinois Master Gardener website
Master Gardener Apparel can be ordered anytime at go.illinois.edu/ExtensionMerch
Seed Starting Workshop | Gardeners' BIG Day 2025
Gardeners' BIG Day 2024 | Plant Sale | DIY Botanical Prints Program | Horticulture Core Education Training 2024 | Master Volunteer End-of-Year Celebration | Greater Peoria Farm Show
Master Volunteer Christmas Party | Master Gardener Wreath Making at ICC | Master Volunteer Meeting - Sustainable Landscape Design | 2023 State MG Awards | Conservation@Home Training | Pollinator Prairie at Lakeland Park, Canton | Native Plant Demonstration Garden, Fulton Farm Bureau | Gardeners' BIG Day | Patch of Prairie Program | 4-H Learning Garden | Phoenix Community Garden | Native Pollinators Program
Master Volunteer 12 Days of Christmas Party | Fulton Fall Celebration - 4-H, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists | Unit-wide Master Gardener Meeting | Horticulture Core Education Training | Black Sheep Flower Farm Tour | Garden of Hope | Morton Giving Garden | Young Garden Explorers Day | Tres Rojas Winery Tour | WIC Garden | Fulton-Mason Tree Walk Canton |
Master Gardener State Awards | Horticulture Core Education Training | Unit-wide Master Gardener Meeting |
Master Gardener State Awards | Glen Oak Zoo Pollinator Garden | Fulton Volunteer Banquet |
101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)
1301 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801
Email: extension@illinois.edu
