Master Gardener Volunteer Projects

• Answering home gardening and pest management phone calls and helping visitors at the county Extension Office.
• Compiling mail-outs; organizing Extension newsletters and phone schedules for Master Gardener Program.
• Organizing reference materials, publications and files for Master Gardeners to distribute.
• Accepting plant, disease, insect or soil samples for the Extension Office.
• Assisting the Extension Office with educational programs.

• Managing and requesting hours from volunteers. (Hours are important in providing data to the state and federal government about the Master Gardener Program’s impact, progress and needs.)
• Assisting the Extension agent in compiling volunteer service hours for all Master Gardeners in the county and entering hours into the Tennessee Master Gardener Web site database (the Extension agent will generate final reports).

• Coordinating or assisting with home and garden shows, county fairs, gardening information booths, problem diagnostic clinics, etc.
• Picking up or delivering supplies for programs, plant clinics, exhibits, seminars, conferences or other Master Gardener functions.
• Preparing displays, posters, advertisements or any artwork that benefits or represents the Master Gardener Volunteer program or UT Extension.
• Serving as special events coordinator
• Organizing field trips

• Writing articles for the local association newsletter.
• Photographing events and projects.
• Writing news articles (must be approved by county Extension Agent prior to release).
• Serving as newsletter chair, communications director, publicity director or serving on newsletter committee.

• Working on research projects and reports to develop and disseminate information.
• Seeking grants under the supervision of the county Extension Agent.

• Serving as a project coordinator/chair.
• Serving as Master Gardener group liaison (coordinating cooperative programs with other agencies).
• Example projects to participate in: Plant-a-row for the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity, county fair and community beautification projects.

• Collecting articles and photos of the Master Gardener activities published in the newspaper and other media.
• Recording the history of the group.

• Organizing, researching, planning and presenting programs/classes to civic or garden clubs, schools, Master Gardener classes or meetings, conferences, botanical gardens, community colleges, etc.
• Serving as a speakers bureau coordinator, project chair or program director.

• Assisting with assembly of written • materials and handouts, equipment setup, refreshments, test grading, etc.
• Serving as class coordinator.
• Serving on a selection committee to  screen applications.
• Organizing a Mentor Program (Bud Sprout).

• Receiving and disseminating information provided by the state Master Gardener Coordinator and the county Master Gardener Coordinator to the county Master Gardener group.

• Extension Office Liaison: Coordinating volunteers for office and phone duties; orienting new Master Gardeners to the Extension Office staff and resources (in some cases the Extension Office Liaison may be used to assist managing agents with volunteer management).
• Officers: Serving in any office, leadership function or committees on the local or state level of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
• Examples: Tennessee Master Gardener Board members and committee members; local association officers and committee members including historian, parliamentarian, refreshments coordinator, awards coordinator, etc. Organization and structure of executive committee will vary from county to county.
  

• Assist classroom teachers with gardening projects, school gardens or landscapes (involving students).
• 4-H youth activities (including judging projects).
• Mentor a Junior Master Gardener Program.