Roots
In 1972, an under-budgeted Seattle area agent needed help, answering homeowner gardening questions for two counties. He recruited 300 experienced gardeners, got horticulture professors to teach their specialties, and certified the recruits.
From those roots, the movement grew, nationwide, and beyond, always neighbor helping neighbor. The SFMGA began in 1998.
SFMGA is part of the Master Gardener program run by NMSU's County Extension Services.
Our Mission
The SFMGA is educational association that trains and assists the County Extension Agent in providing the general public reliable, current, research-based gardening information.
Service
To help the County Agent help our community, SFMGA members serve in many ways.
- Continuing education
- is our training beyond the first 16 weeks: classes, lectures, and workshops.
- Hands on work
- is labor in our gardens: pruning, planting, fertilizing, weeding,
getting hands dirty
. - Public contact
- is answering questions for folks, such as, at an
Ask a Master Gardener
site, or on the Hotline. - Organization support
- is help with the smooth running of SFMGA, such as planning, organizing, and working on events, socials, projects, classes, and workshops; attending meetings (including Board and committee); making calls, sending mail, or sending email; and working in the office or elsewhere as needed.
To remain certified, MGs volunteer 25 hours per year and pay $25 dues.
Leaders
We elect Board members each year. Project and activity leaders may change from time to time. See our Leadership Roster.