Become a Master Gardener
Join a network of passionate gardeners in Brunswick County who are dedicated to learning and sharing research-based information, enhancing the communities in which they live through horticulture, and connecting people with the benefits of gardening. Become a Master Gardener℠ volunteer in Brunswick County!
The EMG volunteer training program for Brunswick County is offered once a year. Join us this January!
North Carolina Rice Festival
Volunteers from the Master Gardener program will be staffing an educational table at the North Carolina Rice Festival on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. We’ll be there all day sharing information and resources about native plants, including planting guides, species recommendations, and tips on supporting pollinators and local wildlife. Stop by to chat with Master Gardener volunteers, pick up free educational materials, and learn how you can bring more native beauty and ecological resilience to your own landscape this spring!
Brunswick County Community Day
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth offering resources, fun, and expert advice. Stop by to pick up handouts on pollinators, learn about the “Bucket of Doom” mosquito control method, and enjoy a hands-on activity for kids.
Our “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed with volunteers and Extension agents ready to answer your gardening questions. Whether you’re curious about pollinator-friendly plants or need help identifying a problem in your landscape, we’re here to help! Please bring clear photos (close-up, whole plant, and surrounding area) or samples (leaves, twigs) to assist in diagnosis.
Herb Container Workshop
*Sold Out* We will teach you the techniques we used to grow the herbs, how to plant and care for container plants, and share written information on each plant offered.
Participants will choose three herb plants from a selection grown by Master Gardener volunteers and plant them in a container to take home. In addition, you will select two more herb plants to take home. All five herb plants, the container, soil, and educational materials are included in the workshop fee. Additional herbs may be available for purchase.
Online Plant Sale
This year’s theme, Celebrating Our Colonial Roots, honors Brunswick County’s rich history through the plants that shaped early life along the Cape Fear River. Shoppers will find herbs, flowers, vines, shrubs, and small trees that thrive in our coastal climate—many native species familiar to our Colonial ancestors and vital to today’s pollinators.
We’ll also feature plants brought from Europe by early settlers and selections that recognize the gardening traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, whose knowledge and culture deeply influenced Southern horticulture.
Join us in celebrating the plants, people, and stories that continue to grow in our coastal gardens!
Green Wave Festival
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth offering resources, fun, and expert advice. Stop by to pick up handouts on pollinators, learn about the “Bucket of Doom” mosquito control method, and enjoy a hands-on activity for kids.
Our “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed with volunteers and Extension agents ready to answer your gardening questions. Whether you’re curious about pollinator-friendly plants or need help identifying a problem in your landscape, we’re here to help! Please bring clear photos (close-up, whole plant, and surrounding area) or samples (leaves, twigs) to assist in diagnosis.
St James Garden Tour
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth offering resources, fun, and expert advice.
Town of Leland Hurricane Expo
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth offering resources, fun, and expert advice. Stop by to pick up handouts on pollinators, learn about the “Bucket of Doom” mosquito control method, and enjoy a hands-on activity for kids.
Our “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed with volunteers and Extension agents ready to answer your gardening questions. Whether you’re curious about pollinator-friendly plants or need help identifying a problem in your landscape, we’re here to help! Please bring clear photos (close-up, whole plant, and surrounding area) or samples (leaves, twigs) to assist in diagnosis.
Backyard Bee Hotel Workshop
Looking for a fun summer project to do with your child or grandchild? Join Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers for the Backyard Bee Hotel workshop. Kids will learn about bees and their vital role in pollination and our food supply. Then, each child will decorate their own bee hotel to take home and hang in the backyard — a fun way to support our buzzing friends!
Exact date and time to be announced soon. Registration will open in June.
Agricultural Fair & Expo
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth at this year’s County Fair, offering resources, fun, and expert advice. Stop by to pick up handouts on pollinators, learn about the “Bucket of Doom” mosquito control method, and enjoy a hands-on activity for kids.
Our “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed with volunteers and Extension agents ready to answer your gardening questions. Whether you’re curious about pollinator-friendly plants or need help identifying a problem in your landscape, we’re here to help! Please bring clear photos (close-up, whole plant, and surrounding area) or samples (leaves, twigs) to assist in diagnosis.
Holiday Porch Pots Workshop
Add a touch of natural beauty to your holiday décor! Join the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers for a hands-on workshop where you’ll design a festive porch pot using greenery and accents gathered from your own landscape. Learn how to combine textures, colors, and seasonal elements to create a long-lasting outdoor display that highlights the beauty of your garden through the winter months.
Tickets will go on sale the first week in November. Sign up for our newsletter below for a reminder.
Grow Your Own Salad Bowl
Love fresh salads? Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to create a container garden full of your favorite cool-season greens that will last into spring. The workshop begins with a short overview about container gardens, then you’ll create your own salad bowl to take home!
Agricultural Fair & Expo
The Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers will be hosting a booth at this year’s County Fair, offering resources, fun, and expert advice. Stop by to pick up handouts on pollinators, learn about the “Bucket of Doom” mosquito control method, and enjoy a hands-on activity for kids.
Our “Ask a Master Gardener” table will be staffed with volunteers and Extension agents ready to answer your gardening questions. Whether you’re curious about pollinator-friendly plants or need help identifying a problem in your landscape, we’re here to help! Please bring clear photos (close-up, whole plant, and surrounding area) or samples (leaves, twigs) to assist in diagnosis.
Pop Up Plant Sale
The Brunswick County Master Gardener volunteers will be holding an “End of Season” plant sale next Wednesday, October 1 for County employees. We will set up under the portico in front of the Extension Office (Building N) from 11:00am until 1:00pm.
Cash or Check Only Please
Native Plant Festival
Join the Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers at Shelton Herb Farm (340 Goodman Rd NE, Leland) for the Cape Fear Native Plant Festival’s Native Plant Shopping Day on Saturday, Sept. 20. We’ll offer handouts on native plants and pollinators, soil sample kits, and on-the-spot guidance from EMG volunteers. Browse native selections from regional vendors and learn how to choose plants that support local ecosystems. Come say hello and leave ready to plant with confidence.
Plant Sale Pickup and More
Plant pick-up will be on Friday, September 12th at the BCMGVA lot inside the Brunswick County Government Complex. Additional plants will be offered for sale at pick-up and we will have an “Ask a Master Gardener” booth and printed materials available to aid in your gardening efforts in Brunswick County. So, get your questions ready!
Online Plant Sale
This is a great opportunity to purchase perennial plants which are perfect for a pollinator garden, are heat, drought, and deer resistant and just look nice as additions to your fall season displays. The sale will be online and will open Friday, September 9th and run through Tuesday, September 9th. Plant pick-up will be on Friday, September 12th at the BCMGVA lot inside the Brunswick County Government Complex.
Story Walk
This September, we invite families, book lovers, and nature enthusiasts to experience its seasonal Story Walk, a free, family-friendly event that blends outdoor exploration with the joy of reading. Visitors can stroll through the gardens from September 1–30 while following the pages of From Seed to Plant by award-winning children’s author Gail Gibbons.
Pollinator Plus Workshop
In conjunction with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2025, the Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers are offering Pollinator PLUS Workshops.
Pollinator Plus Workshop
In conjunction with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2025, the Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers are offering Pollinator PLUS Workshops.
Plant Clinic - SW Branch Library
We will be hosting a plant clinic to answer questions related to gardens, lawn care, pest, and plant disease. Bring all your gardening questions and curiosities to our experts! No registration required.
Plant Clinic - SW Branch Library
We will be hosting a plant clinic to answer questions related to gardens, lawn care, pest, and plant disease. Bring all your gardening questions and curiosities to our experts! No registration required.
Plant Clinic - SW Branch Library
We will be hosting a plant clinic to answer questions related to gardens, lawn care, pest, and plant disease. Bring all your gardening questions and curiosities to our experts! No registration required.
Backyard Bee Hotel Workshop
Looking for a fun summer project to do with your child or grandchild? Join Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers for the Backyard Bee Hotel workshop. Kids will learn about bees and their vital role in pollination and our food supply. Then, each child will decorate their own bee hotel to take home and hang in the backyard — a fun way to support our buzzing friends! Registration will open in June.
4-H District Activity Day
Master Gardener Volunteers will be judging in two of the competitions at the SE District 4-H Presentation Competition: Agriculture Safety and Health and Digital Reality.
Plant Clinic - SW Branch Library
We will be hosting a plant clinic to answer questions related to gardens, lawn care, pest, and plant disease. Bring all your gardening questions and curiosities to our experts! No registration required.
Leland Hurricane Expo
Stop by and pick up information about how to prepare your garden for potential storms. Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. No registration required.
