Washington Green School this fall.
Since taking root at Washington State University in 1973, the Extension Master Gardener Program has empowered and strengthened local communities through relevant, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.
With roughly 6.5 million gardeners in Washington state alone, the program’s widespread impact is already evident in every county. The WSU Master Gardener Program Endowed Fund will elevate that impact by supporting the launch of the Washington Green School, a new online learning initiative debuting in fall 2025.
“Green School will make horticulture education accessible to anyone who is interested,” said Jennifer Marquis, statewide leader of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program. “The endowed fund will provide a continuous source of financial support that ensures Green School’s sustained growth. I’m excited for the many new possibilities.”
Green School will offer resources and training for new master gardener volunteers as well as nursery, landscape, and consumer horticulture professionals, parks and recreation department employees, city vegetation management employees, and others.
The endowment will be used to develop updated, cutting-edge curriculum for Green School, as well as comprehensive short courses focused on soil health, pruning techniques, and a variety of other topics. It will also allow for the review, revision, and creation of Hortsense and Pestsense fact sheets.
“Our master gardeners answer 70,000 plant clinic questions per year,” Marquis said. “It’s essential that they have access to updated, research-based fact sheets.”
With the fund’s help, certified master gardeners will be able to pursue advanced education, further improving their ability to serve their local communities.
“The endowment will allow us to better act on our mission and improve master gardener volunteer readiness, confidence, and competence,” Marquis said.
The fund will help foster a more Resilient Washington by promoting gardening education that protects the environment, supports the economy, and improves physical and mental health. It will also strengthen WSU Extension’s mission of service and education for all.
“Extension is about lifelong learning and providing people with access to the information they want and need,” Marquis said. “Previously, the Master Gardener Program’s ability to serve that mission was limited because it was only available to people with the privilege, time, and means to volunteer. With Green School, we’ll be able to share our resources with everyone.”
How you can help
To support the WSU Master Gardener Program Endowed Fund, you can become a CougsGive Ambassador. You can also provide a gift during CougsGive on April 16, 2025, and help share the word about WSU’s commitment to sustainable, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.