The 2024 Class is in Session.
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Applications for 2025 will begin being accepted in the Fall of 2024.
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 partnership between Virginia Cooperative Extension and the City of Portsmouth.
Trained PMG volunteers share environmentally sound, research-based information with the community through a variety of outreach programs.
The process begins with filling out an application. Applications will be accepted in the fall of 2024.
Qualified applicants will be contacted to attend one of our Interview/Orientation sessions in November. This is where you will meet local Master Gardeners and bring your questions.
You will then be asked to complete a background check. There is a $165.00 fee that covers the reference materials and the 50-hour training program on many horticultural subjects due by January.
The 12-week training will begin on February 01, 2024 and run through April 25, 2024.
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.
A few Saturday mornings may also be required for off-site instruction as well as diagnostic training with dates to be determined.
After training all trainees must contribute back to the community a minimum of 50 volunteer hours in a variety of tasks and share horticulture information with the citizens of Portsmouth in a wide array of events.
If you have questions please contact Cyndi Wyskiewicz, Portsmouth VCE-Horticulture Agent, cyndiw@vt.edu (757) 393-5314