Next Class starts January 13th, 2026
Read on and complete the Interest Form at the bottom of the page
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!
NC State Extension Master Gardener SM volunteers (“EMG”) are essentially an “extension” of NC State Cooperative Extension and NC State University, a North Carolina land-grant institution. They assist in our mission of public outreach and education.
The EMG volunteer training program for Brunswick County is offered once a year.
EMG volunteers:
Represent NC State Extension.
Promote the research-based recommendations of NC State Extension.
May only use the title “Extension Master Gardener volunteer” when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities.
Follow the policies and procedures found in the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program Guidelines
Abide by the NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Code of Conduct
EMG volunteers complete the following steps to join the program:
Submit An Application
Becoming an EMG volunteer begins with an interview and an accepted application to our local county program.
Upon acceptance into the program, the fee is $230, payable in advance through our Eventbrite site. A hard copy of the textbook “Extension Gardener Handbook” and a companion workbook are included in the fee.
Complete Initial Volunteer Training
Initial training prepares you to be a EMG volunteer. The course introduces a wide range of horticultural topics, with a focus on finding research-based information and sharing the science behind sustainable gardening practices. Initial training includes:
Minimum of 75 hours of in-person instruction and homework.
The classes will be in-person at the Cooperative Extension Office, 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, Bolivia NC
Class dates: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9a-12p, beginning January 13th – March 10th
Classes are mandatory and taught by Extension staff and other experts.
Topics include, but are not limited to, soils and plant nutrients, turf, insects, diseases, Integrated Pest Management, food production, herbaceous, woody and native plants, wildlife, landscape design, and more.
Weekly assignments and Quizzes
Take-home or in-class, open-book exam
Intern Project
Visit the Extension Gardener Handbook online to explore more about the program and training curriculum.
Complete Volunteer Internship
Once initial training is complete, volunteers complete a minimum 40-hour Internship in Brunswick County, to learn even more about horticulture, our local program, and volunteer opportunities, and give back to the community.
During the internship, volunteers rotate through a variety of required volunteer opportunities that support the educational outreach priorities of their local Extension center.
Become Certified
Once the 40-hour internship has been completed the volunteer is eligible to become a Certified Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
Maintain Certification
In order to remain active in the program, Master Gardener volunteers in Brunswick County must meet annual recertification requirements, with a minimum of:
40 hours of volunteer service in Brunswick County and
10 hours of continuing education.
Click Here to access and complete the Interest Form for the EMG Class of 2026 You’ll then be contacted by Extension staff in the coming days.