Program Overview

• Annual VCE training opportunity for gardeners of all skill levels  

• Fee: $160 (includes digital Virginia Extension Master Gardener Handbook)  

• Hands-on experience in demonstration gardens and community projects  

• Covers in-depth topics from botany to landscape design  

• Pathway to becoming a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

• Registration starts September 1, 2026

• Deadline for accepting applications is October 18, 2026 

​

Training Structure

Classroom Sessions  
Our 2027 classroom schedule begins January 12 through April 15. Students meet:  
Tuesdays, 9:30 am–12:30 pm in Goochland (Goochland Extension Building, 2748 Dogtown Rd)  
Thursdays, 9:30 am–12:30 pm in Powhatan (Powhatan County Public Library, 2270 Mann Rd)  

 

Internship & Graduation  

• Complete 50 classroom hours to earn EMG Intern status  

• Serve a minimum of 50 volunteer hours on approved projects — you’ll choose from a list of local opportunities (this follows the classroom sessions mentioned above)

• Upon completion, receive a graduate certificate as a VCE Master Gardener Volunteer (this title will be carried as long as you remain an active Master Gardener). Students have till the end of 2026 to complete required hours.

• Graduation ceremony will be held January 2027.

 

Topics Covered in Sustainable Landscape Management:

- Botany  
- Soils & Fertilizer  
- Entomology (Insects)  
- Propagation  
- Vegetables, Fruits, & Turf  
- Woody & Herbaceous Plants  
- Water Quality & Pruning  
- Plant Pathology & Damage Diagnosis  
- Pesticides & Landscape Design  
- Gardening for Wildlife  

​

Cost & Materials

• Program fee: $160

• Includes digital Virginia Extension Master Gardener Handbook  

• Optional printed handbook available for an additional fee (details provided upon acceptance) 

*** Need-based scholarships are available

​

Any further questions about the program, please contact:

Skye Brickhouse at skyeb@vt.edu

or Laura Brady at laurabrady@vt.edu