SPOKANE, Wash. — The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program continues to provide research-based horticultural education and community outreach through trained volunteers across Benton and Franklin Counties, with ongoing events, clinics, and plant sales supporting its mission.
The program touts trained volunteers who share horticulture knowledge with local residents and focus on protecting natural resources while improving quality of life.
The program began in 1973 when King County and Pierce County extension agents looked for a way to meet heavy public demand for gardening help. More than 600 people applied for the first class and 200 were accepted. The university said the model later spread across the United States and internationally and now includes 85,000 certified Extension Master Gardeners.
In 2023, WSU Extension Benton/Franklin County Master Gardeners were awarded first place in the David Gibby Search for Excellence youth category.
A major event is also coming up. There will be a Master Gardener Plant Sale at Highlands Grange Park, 1600 S. Union St. in Kennewick. That sale is scheduled for May 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and May 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
People interested in gardening and community service can apply to become Master Gardener volunteers from July 1 through August 30, 2025.
For more information and how to become a master gardener, visit the WSU Master Gardener website.
Comments are closed.