The Master Gardener program is an unpaid volunteer program in which individuals are trained specifically to represent the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, helping by providing to the local community approved information on gardening. Master Gardener training includes 40 hours of classroom instruction and many hours of ongoing education in botany, soil science, plant propagation, pest management, pesticide and herbicide usage, vegetable and ornamental plant gardening, plant and weed identification, pruning, and other horticulture related subjects. Once trained, Master Gardeners aid the Extension Service and give back to their local communities by doing work related to horticulture, such as designing and implementing community gardening projects, working with special groups in the community, disseminating approved horticultural information, answering questions, researching specific problems, planting educational and therapeutic gardens, being public speakers and much more.
Our next training class for new members will take place on the 5 Wednesdays starting October 18th, then the 25th, Nov 1st, 8th, and finishing on Nov 15th.  Classes start at 8:30 am and finish at 4 pm, with a 1 hour lunch break.  For more information, you can call our award-winning County Extension Agent, Mark Keaton, at the Extension Office at (870) 425-2335​​.
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    Master gardener Application

    I wish to become a Master Gardener in Baxter County. I want to be accepted into the 40-hour Master Gardener training program offered by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. I understand that in exchange for the training, I will volunteer at least 40 hours of my time to the Master Gardener Program withing the next year. I understand that I will become a certified Master Gardener when I complete the training and an examination.