Who Are Master Gardeners? What Do They Do?

Master Gardeners (MGs) are volunteer educators working with Cooperative Extension Services all over the USA. In Virginia, 50 clock hours of instruction on all facets of gardening are required. After passing an exam, MGs assist the extension agent mainly by providing information and education to the public. To become full-fledged MGs, new volunteers contribute 50 approved volunteer hours during their first year following graduation from classes. Maintaining MG status then requires a minimum of 20 hours of service and 8 hours of continuing education each year.

The mission of the Virginia MG program is “Sharing Knowledge. Empowering Communities.” They adhere to three core values: respect for the environment, each other, and those we serve; accountability for wise stewardship of resources to our organization, our community, and each other; and collaboration as we willingly work with a diverse group to reach a common goal and as we actively seek out partners. The Hill City Master Gardener Association (HCMGA) is a vibrant organization that works to bring these values alive through the following programs.

Summer Vegetable Gardens

Called “summer” gardens, the activities begin in early spring at Boys & Girls Club, Jubilee Family Center, and DePaul Community Resources. They begin with early crops (potatoes, onions, lettuce, and radishes). Summer crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, melons, etc.) go into the ground when soil has  warmed. At most gardens, some produce is cooked and sampled after harvesting while the remainder is sent home.

Master Gardeners are members of the community who take an active interest in gardening; they are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others. In addition, they communicate with diverse groups of people.

For Adults

The Davis Instructional Garden:  Since 2015 the Davis Instructional Garden at Humankind has served as a community outreach program and a volunteer venue for HCMGA members.  In the 30,000 sq foot garden there are 18 plots leased to community members to grow their own produce and 9 demonstration plots staffed by Master Gardeners. These plots are for vegetables as well as annual, perennial, and native plants and last year yielded 1500 lbs. of produce donated to various food banks. A 600 sq. foot educational pavilion was erected in 2022 to serve as a site for seasonal educational programs to promote safe and sustainable horticultural practices.

Compost Center at Old City Cemetery:  HCMGA will be staffing the Compost Education Center in The Old City Cemetery on Saturdays to demonstrate and answer composting questions. We’ll be there from 11 a.m. to 12 noon each Saturday as weather permits and other times and days by appointment.  Our aim is to demonstrate how homeowners can create inexpensive, non-smelly, and presentable sites that will corral yard and kitchen wastes and will not offend the neighbors or attract vermin.  This is an opportunity to learn a simple method that cuts waste, harnesses renewable nutrients for the yard and garden, and helps the city and the planet.

Help desks were likely one of the first ways in which MGs provided service to the public. At the Lynchburg Community Market and at the VCE office, volunteers are available to answer questions or find resources for community members during the growing season. HCMGA’s Speaker’s Bureau offers presentations to club and meetings in the area, and a variety of topics are available.

A group of volunteers visits an Amherst County nursing home monthly to arrange and discuss flowers. Seeing and smelling the flowers brings residents memories of their own gardens. The home visit team helps answer questions and gives guidance on solving problems. If you are wondering about good place to plant a tree or why the grass won’t grow, a home visit can be arranged.

 At Jefferson’s Lynchburg retreat, Poplar Forest Interpretive Garden shows a sampling of some of the common vegetables and herbs of that era. It is open to the public during the growing season. Working with garden clubs, scouts, and others, HCMGA is spearheading the Amherst Depot Pollinator Garden at the Amherst Visitors’ Center.

In Our Local Schools

In Lynchburg, fourth graders at five elementary schools participate in three programs each year. With emphasis on skills required for Science Standards of Learning, the programs center on soils, house plants, and growing annual plants.  At the house plants program, each student pots and takes home a spider plant to grow.

MGs at Bedford Hills Elementary School support a program that begins with kindergarten classes planting sunflowers and morning glories, first grade growing zinnias, and second grade planting and eating salad in the spring and corn, lima beans, and pumpkins in the fall.

At the Amherst Middle School Garden of Honor, students interact with Veterans from local organizations and Master Gardeners. Agricultural education is included for 8^th grade students.

At Amherst High School, Master Gardeners work with the Environmental Science classes to study and show how to maintain their school gardens.

At the Campbell County Cultivators project, the Master Gardeners in conjunction with the Campbell County VCE 4-H agent and the Campbell County Library Director provide agricultural programs with library resources included for third and fifth graders from the Campbell County Schools.

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