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Becoming a Portsmouth Master Gardener
Do you want to help Portsmouth citizens learn how to plant a garden, improve water quality, and promote horticulture and the environment in other ways?
Then read on to find out if the Master Gardener Volunteer Program is for you!
The Portsmouth Master Gardener volunteer program is a community service program that partners with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the City of Portsmouth.
Trained PMG volunteers share environmentally sound, research-based information with the community through various outreach programs.
The process begins with filling out an application.
Applications will be accepted through November 21, 2024.
Qualified applicants will be contacted to attend one of our required Interview/Orientation sessions. At these sessions, you will answer questions about your background, experience with horticulture, and interests. You can also bring your questions for local Master Gardeners and our Extension Agent Cyndi Wyskiewicz.
After the Orientation/Interview, you will be asked to complete a background check. Once your background check clears, a $165.00 fee will cover the reference materials and the 50-hour training program on many horticultural subjects, which is due by January.
The 12-week training will begin on February 04, 2025, and run through April 24, 2025.
Training will be held at the Portsmouth VCE office conference room, 105 Utah Street, Portsmouth, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some meetings will be in other locations or may be virtual.
Additional days are scheduled for field trips, two required diagnostic trainings, and some Saturday mornings with dates to be determined.
After training, interns will contribute back to the community by volunteering a minimum of 50 hours in a variety of tasks and sharing horticulture information with the citizens of Portsmouth at a wide array of events, including the Olde Towne Portsmouth Farmers Market, at our Helpline (runs M-W-F 10-2 April to October, or year-round via email), in schools, community gardens, the VCE Office Display Gardens, and our annual Spring and Fall Plant sales. Many opportunities to serve on one of our three Portsmouth Master Gardeners Association Committees are also available.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Cyndi Wyskiewicz, Portsmouth VCE-Horticulture Agent, cyndiw@vt.edu (757) 393-5314