Planting Dedication

Mary Watts says she has the best job in the world. As the Master Gardener program coordinator for Snohomish County since 2019, Watts works with what she calls the most amazing group of people she’s ever known – 275 Master Gardener volunteers.

“I love my job. It’s my favorite job I’ve ever had in my career,” said Watts, who earned her Master Gardener credentials in 2017. “They are really phenomenal people committed to making the world a better place.”

Who are Master Gardeners, and what do they do in the community? The short answer from Watts is they are university-trained public educators. “We are trained in science and research-based home horticultural best practices, and then we do outreach to the public.”

The program’s goal is to bring relevant, unbiased environmental stewardship education to the community. Washington State University originated the first Master Gardener program in 1973 and, after its initial success, programs spread throughout the United States and Canada. Master Gardeners are now found all over the world, including in South Korea.

WSU Extension oversees the program in Washington at the local level, with one coordinator generally responsible for each county. In 2023, there were 3,357 Master Gardeners in the state.

Master Gardeners engage in different types of public outreach, including teaching classes, lectures, and workshops, hosting garden demonstrations and tours, and hosting question-and-answer clinics. These Q&A clinics are held at farmers markets and stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Regularly scheduled sessions are also scheduled at the program office at Willis Tucker Park in Snohomish.

Shifting demographics

In the past, many Master Gardeners tended to be older and often retired. It’s still the case, though the demographics are changing. “There are more older people than younger people,” Watts said. “We’re working on that. But it’s partly because it’s a pretty demanding program, and for some people, that’s hard to balance when they’re still in the workforce. We are making the training part of it more accessible.”

More women are Master Gardeners than men; the program is looking for more diversity. “We’d love to see more equality among age, as well as gender and ethnicity, and all those things,” Watts said.

In fall 2018, Edmonds resident Joe Shields signed up for the Master Gardener program a few months after retiring from a career in human resources. He’s noticed more younger people joining the program.

Mill Creek resident Susan Snyder started taking Master Gardener classes in 2018 as she was stepping back from a floral design career. She enjoys meeting people with different backgrounds who share a love of gardening. “It’s very welcoming. We have all ages, all backgrounds. We back each other up. We lift each other up when we have a down day. It’s a real strong family.”

The strong sense of community is by design. Certified Master Gardeners serve as mentors for incoming students. “Everyone has someone they can lean on for support and advice,” Watts said.

Shields and Snyder enjoy mentoring others. “I’ve been a mentor for four years. I’ve helped and guided (people) through the program. That’s been really positive,” Shields said. “It fits well with my background.” Snyder remembers feeling overwhelmed when she initially signed up for the program. Her mentor was invaluable to Snyder’s success. After she was certified as a Master Gardener, Snyder decided she wanted to help others. “My mentor assured me that I could get through this.”

Once students earn their Master Gardeners certification (by scoring 80% or higher on the quizzes and exams), they are required to volunteer a specified number of hours and take continuing education classes in subsequent years. The program takes a year to complete. “They have to recertify every year. It’s not a one and done,” Watts said. “There’s a list of steps they have to go through each year to recertify.”

New approach to training

A major change in training should help to broaden the field of candidates. Starting in the fall, people will have the option of two different tracks – one for those who want to become certified Master Gardeners, and the other for those interested in the educational part of the program but don’t want to volunteer. The second option is appropriate for people in professions such as landscapers or nursery workers.

“It’s going to be flexible, remote, and hybrid. That’s the part that will be much more accessible to people still in the workforce,” Watts said. The online component for the two paths will be the same, but those who want to become Master Gardener volunteers will have additional training. “It’ll be more robust for those who want to become certified Master Gardeners.”

Many previous candidates came in with some gardening expertise, but more novice gardeners are getting involved. “The most important criteria is a desire to learn and a commitment to volunteerism,” Watts said. “They do not necessarily have to have horticultural knowledge coming in. It used to be that people with horticultural knowledge were more likely to get into the program. But we’ve been doing a lot of work lately to make it more accessible to a more diverse array of people.”

Snyder knew a lot about flowers because of her work as a floral designer. She didn’t have the same knowledge base about plants, soils, or insects. With her children in college, there was extra time on her hands. The community volunteer part of the program was what really appealed to her, though. “I had the time to volunteer. It was the perfect thing to do.” 

Shields said he was in no way an expert in gardening prior to the program. “I’ve been a homeowner for years trying to keep the plants in my yard alive. I’ve never been a vegetable gardener. I have an interest in trees, conifers. I was looking for volunteer opportunities and the opportunity to learn." One day while at the Edmonds farmers market, Shields stopped by a Master Gardener booth and learned more about the program. “The timing was great,” he said.

All walks of life 

Master Gardeners hail from all walks of life and even include apartment and condo dwellers. Snohomish County has two demonstration gardens in Marysville and north Everett. Those students without yards at home still have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the field. “They get to get their hands in the dirt in our demonstration gardens,” Watts said. “They will have opportunities to volunteer in the demonstration gardens and have that exposure. They’ll also get to know how to better take care of their house plants or container gardens on their patio.”

The highlight for many Master Gardeners is becoming part of a community. They share a passion for gardening, an interest in protecting the environment, and a love of sharing their knowledge with others. Volunteers tell Watts how rewarding it is to find the overlap between their passions and making an impact in their community. “That’s a very, very satisfying combination. They are making a difference and getting to engage the public and share their knowledge.”

Each year, Snohomish County adds from 30 to 50 new Master Gardeners. Statewide, 616 people joined the program in 2023. The longest-serving volunteer in Snohomish County started in 1997.

The pandemic impacted the program’s overall numbers. No volunteer hours were required for two years in order to keep volunteers safe. Watts said some decided not to return. “We aren’t yet at our pre-pandemic numbers, but we are slowly getting our numbers back.”

Helping the public and finding their people

Shields and Snyder agree what they enjoy the most is working with the public during the question-and-answer clinics. “People asking questions are usually a lot smarter than you are,” Shields said. Snyder added she and other volunteers might not know the answer to a specific question right away. “But we know where to find the answer. I enjoy being able to talk with the public and being able to speak one-on-one with people. It’s the educational part. I love interacting with different people.”

Watts has seen lifelong friendships develop between Master Gardeners. Many volunteers, including Watts, experience what she describes as the joy of “finding one’s people.” At a picnic last year, one Master Gardener told Watts that when he talks gardening with non-Master Gardeners the conversation can fizzle out. “But he can talk to a fellow Master Gardener at length. It’s kind of finding your geek crowd – I guess the people you can geek out with on something that you’re both interested in.”

Snyder encourages people who love gardening to come join them. “They will find a place, a home.”

Information about the Snohomish County Master Gardener program: tinyurl.com/56w9tk2e.