It is back, it is re-vamped and it is better than ever.
Training to become a Yakima County Master Gardener has been offered through Washington State University (WSU) for more than 50 years. Over a year ago, a committee was formed to study how the training was offered and to update both what is taught and how it is taught to create a more user-friendly version. Registration is now open for the upcoming class which will begin this fall.
All classes will be offered online with additional in-person opportunities to learn in a group setting. There will be Q&A sessions offered live each week to address any concerns and to answer questions that trainees might have. After the online course is completed early in 2026, trainees will work with current Master Gardeners to gain hands-on experience and to begin volunteering throughout the community.
After course and volunteer requirements have been completed, trainees will be eligible for certification as a WSU Extension Master Gardener.
The Master Gardener program is based on nine different priorities, ranging from water conservation to wildfire preparedness to incorporating more native plants into your garden. It presents an opportunity for gardeners to gain more knowledge and for novices to become more confident in their gardening experience. Upon certification, new Master Gardeners you will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills by teaching others in our Yakima community.
If you feel that a credential is not the path you want to take, there is a second option. You can complete the training and receive a Washington Gardener Certificate of Completion after you have finished. This certificate can be included on your resume and will provide the same information and level of training without completing the volunteer hours needed to become a credentialed Master Gardener. This training is flexible, can be completed at your own pace and is also offered as an on-line course.
There is a cost associated with completing the training, and it differs based on what your goal is. The Washington Gardener Certificate of Completion is $500 which includes everything you need to obtain the certification. The cost for the WSU Extension Master Gardener credential is $275 with partial scholarships available. In part, this reduction in cost acknowledges the volunteer hours and the continuing service to the community that Master Gardeners contribute.
If you have always enjoyed getting your hands dirty, watching the magic of nature at work and want to contribute to a better environment for us all, then this training is for you. It is your chance to learn more about how to garden in a changing climate, grow some of your own food (and perhaps have enough to share with others) and help create sustainability into the future.
For more information on both the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program and the Washington Gardener Certificate of Completion, go to greenschool.extension.wsu.edu. There you will find specific details about each option, application forms and further information on how to move forward with the program. You can also access through yhne.ws/ycmgjoinus.
But don’t wait because registration for the 2025 Master Gardener training closes Aug. 19.
There will be a meet and greet from 1-2 p.m. Aug. 20, an orientation luncheon from noon-2 p.m. Sept. 10 and online classes and in-person training from Oct. 1-March 11, 2026. You can also reach out to the local Yakima County Program Coordinator, Patty Ratzlaff, at patty.ratzlaff@wsu.edu to learn about how the program works here in our local area.
You could make a positive impact on gardening in the Yakima Valley. Please consider joining us.
• For any gardening questions, contact the Master Gardener Clinic at 509-574-1604 or email askamastergardener@yakimamg.org.