This has been the year of master gardeners! The international organization began in 1973 in Washington state, when two WSU Extension faculty members, David Gibby and Bill Scheer, enlisted volunteers to meet the public’s growing demand for gardening guidance.
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, WSU Extension master gardeners hosted four different celebration events at WSU facilities around the state to allow as many people to attend as possible.
Each event featured talks from local and state dignitaries, historical information about the impact the program has had in each region, and the chance to tour demonstration gardens and other WSU facilities.
In addition to celebrating their past, master gardeners touted their current programs and future plans.
Currently, volunteers work across nine different themes of stewardship, with each county choosing where to focus their energies. Each theme is reflected in the free plant clinics that are the backbone of the Extension Master Gardener Program. Clinics are places where volunteers visit with new and experienced gardeners about sustainable gardening practices.
“Our clinics create learning opportunities for both Extension master gardener volunteers and the community members who seek out our services,” said Jennifer Marquis, statewide program leader for the Master Gardener Program.
With the successful celebration of 50 years coming to a close, the program now turns its attention to ways it can evolve over the next 50 years and beyond, all while remaining relevant to the communities it serves.
“The Master Gardener Program must keep its pulse on local community needs, and how best to engage with those communities, big and small,” Marquis said. “The volunteers know the needs of their communities. They hear what people are talking about and worried about, and it’s the volunteers who will help us develop innovative solutions.”