Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension will offer the Master Gardener Training course starting in February 2027. Applications are being accepted until December 1, 2026.
The Master Gardener program is a nationwide volunteer service program and one of the largest in the country. Master Gardener Volunteers support the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension by “extending” the research-based information and guidelines put forth by Cornell University to their county residents. The Master Gardener Training Course is the required first step for those who are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The 2027 course will combine online lessons with weekly in-person classes to reinforce key topics. The online portion is self-paced, meaning students have a set timeframe to complete each module and can choose when to complete the coursework based on their personal schedule.
In-person classes will be held every Thursday, February 4 through May 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Orleans County CCE ‘Buzz Hill’ Education Center, led by CCE Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes, the coordinator of the Master Gardener Volunteers and the facilitator of the Master Gardener Training Course.
“The Master Gardener Training Course was an excellent experience; it changed the way I garden and look at my environment. The research-based educational materials were thorough, interesting, and challenged me to think differently,” explained Sue Starkweather Miller, who completed the course in 2022.
After completing the training program, students serve 40 hours within the next year through the MG Program to become official Master Gardener Volunteers. Those service hours can include attending monthly Master Gardener meetings, helping at various Master Gardener educational programs, tabling at public events like the Home and Garden Show and the Orleans County 4-H Fair, or finding answers to gardening questions from county residents.
“I love the Master Gardener program,” said Elaine Clute, a graduate of the 2024 MG Training Course. “It’s a great group of gardeners who support each other and are committed to community and outreach.”
Orleans County CCE will close the application process on December 1, 2026, after which it will select participants and notify them of acceptance into the program. Preference will be given to Orleans County residents and those who are interested in becoming long-term volunteers with the Master Gardener Program. The cost of the course is $200. If you are interested in the course, but require financial assistance, please contact Katie Oakes directly at 585-798-4265 ext. 125 or by email at klo54@cornell.edu. Applications can be found online at https://cce.cornell.edu/orleans/programs-and-education/master-gardener.
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