Becoming a Virginia Beach Master Gardener
Master Gardeners is not a garden club. It is a state-wide group of trained volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and training.

As an educational outreach component of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Master Gardener program brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities – Virginia Tech and Virginia State University – to the people of the commonwealth.

All volunteers are trained and have at least 50 hours of horticultural classes and return at least 50 hours of volunteer community service through their local Extension office.

Virginia Beach Master Gardeners connect with the community at garden projects throughout the city, public education events, lecture series, school and youth programs, and special events. 
2024 Orientation &
​Training Information
VCE Master Gardener Volunteer Program Orientation will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 10:00 am at Kempsville Recreation Center, and virtually on Zoom at the same time. 

You must attend the orientation to participate in the application process. No registration is necessary. The program is open to all Virginia Beach residents.

Volunteer training classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 9 - Mar. 14, 2024, from 9 am-1pm.
Learn more about the Virginia Extension Master Gardener Program.
Master Gardener Training Program for Virginia Beach
  • Attend a mandatory VCE Virginia Beach Master Gardener orientation session. Orientation is held in the fall of each year. 
  • Complete the application and submit by the due date. 
  • VCE staff will notify you to let you know if you've been accepted to the program. 
  • If accepted, pay for training & materials. 
  • Classes are held January - March. 

What to expect

  • Fifty hours of classroom training is provided on the following topics:  Botany, Soils & Fertilizer, Entomology (insects), Propagation, Vegetables, Fruits, Turf, Woody Plants, Herbaceous Plants, Water Quality, Pruning, Plant Pathology (diseases), Plant Damage (diagnosis), Pesticides, Landscape Design, and Gardening for Wildlife.
  • Trainees are expected to attend all classes. Multiple absences may result in dismissal from the program. 
  • Trainees are paired with mentors who are experienced Master Gardeners. Mentors assist trainees in finding volunteer opportunities to fit their schedules, reporting hours, and answering questions. 
  • After graduation, Master Gardener Interns have a full year to complete 50 hours of hands-on training in order to be recognized as full Master Gardeners.
  • Annual recertification is maintained through ongoing continuing education and volunteer service.​
Virginia Beach Master Gardeners is for you if you:
  • are a Virginia Beach resident
  • are interested in gardening
  • are interested in educating the community
  • want to join a diverse group of active volunteers
  • want to promote sustainable horticulture practices
  • can commit to attending training classes & fulfilling 50 hours of hands-on training

Master Gardeners can meet their volunteer requirements in a variety of projects including: 
Adam Thoroughgood House 
Ask a Master Gardener Clinics
Children’s Education Garden at the Farmers Market
Fall Gardening Festival
Farm Days/Harvest Fair (children’s programs)
Francis Land House
Horticulture Therapy Workshops
HRAREC Display Gardens, Trial Gardens, Arboretum and School Tours
Jr. Master Gardener Camp
Kitchen Garden at the Farmers Market
Lynnhaven House
Ready Set Grow 
Seed Library
SPCA Rain Garden
Speakers Bureau
Spring Plant Sale
VCE Help Desk