Grow Your Passion: Master Gardener Training Coming to Cattaraugus County
Cornell Cooperative Extension invites aspiring green thumbs to dig deeper this spring with hands-on horticulture training and community volunteer opportunities
ELLICOTTVILLE - For years Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners have measured success by gardens planted, insects identified, produce harvested, and the millions of hours volunteers have logged by helping others learn to grow. From farms and small towns to suburbs and the inner city, more than 2,600 volunteers statewide put their mission of “helping others learn to grow” into practice by providing gardening education and outreach in their communities. Take your love of gardening to the next level by joining the Master Gardeners in 2026.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County (CCE Cattaraugus) will soon be offering a Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) Training program. The course will use Cornell’s Garden-Based Learning Library and a blended format that combines in-person and hybrid instruction, giving participants greater flexibility to fit the training into their schedules. The online component allows trainees to learn at their own pace, while scheduled sessions provide opportunities to connect, ask questions, and learn alongside fellow trainees.
The MGV training will cover many of the core aspects of horticulture and is open to anyone with a passion for gardening and a willingness to volunteer. The cost of the training is $225, which includes access to course materials and the hardcover Penn State Master Gardener manual, or $175 for access to online course materials only. Financial assistance may be available to qualified individuals. A required New York State volunteer background screening and interview will be completed before being accepted into the program.
After receiving training, volunteers participate in education programs in their communities. Those opportunities may include speaking at local libraries, civic groups, or schools; answering calls or emails at garden help desks; establishing demonstration gardens that serve as educational tools; and educating others on how to establish community gardens.
Complete wait list registration at the folling link: https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=MasterGardenerWaitList26_258.
For more information, please contact Kim Oudemool, Natural Resources Educator for CCE Cattaraugus at kkr35@cornell.edu or 716-699-2377 ext. 106.