OZAUKEE COUNTY — Those who love digging in the dirt, growing plants, volunteering in their community and sharing knowledge with others may be interested in becoming a Master Gardener.
The Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program is open to anyone who wants to deepen their gardening knowledge while giving back to their community. In 2026, the process to join begins with the online course, Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening. The course is offered annually in fall and provides information on the foundational gardening concepts at one’s own pace.
Registration for this year’s course opens Monday. Those who register by Aug. 9 will receive an early bird discount.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension is offering a limited number of need-based scholarships for the 2026 Foundations in Gardening course. The Future Master Gardener Scholarship provides a $100 course discount and free onboarding registration — an additional $100 value — for those who intend to enter the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program in 2027. Scholarship applications will be accepted starting July 13. People are encouraged to apply early as the scholarships go quickly.
After one completes the Foundations in Gardening course, they will have up to five years to enroll in the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Onboarding course, held annually in winter. This online course covers what it means to be a Master Gardener— from reporting volunteer hours to keeping up with continuing education. Onboarding also includes a horticulture entrance exam that covers information from Foundations in Gardening.
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After successfully completing both courses, one will be part of a statewide network of Master Gardeners who use their knowledge of plants and environmental stewardship to improve lives and enhance the quality of local communities. Master Gardeners apply their knowledge and skills to educate others and make a positive difference in your community.
The Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program has several participation levels to allow flexibility based on a participant’s life circumstances. The most rigorous level is Certified, which requires 10 hours of continuing education and 24 hours of volunteer service per year.
Other levels are available with smaller time commitments. All participation levels are valued. The different participation levels are covered in the Master Gardener Onboarding course.
Those interested in joining can find more information at master-gardener. extension.wisc.edu/join or learn more about the Foundations in Gardening course.
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