Join the Pulaski County Master Gardeners
Our 2026 recruitment cycle is now open for residents of Pulaski County.
The Opportunity
Expert Training: 40+ hours of horticulture instruction provided by University of Arkansas specialists.
Community Service: Direct involvement in maintaining Little Rock’s premier public gardens and landmarks.
Continuing Ed: Access to advanced “Sanctioned Project” training and frequent educational seminars.
The Commitment
Initial Training: Attendance at the comprehensive 40-hour Basic Training course.
Volunteer Hours: 40 hours of service in Year 1 (including 20 hours on an assigned sanctioned project). Plus 20 educational hours.
Learning Credits: Many options for continuing education annually to maintain certification.
What is the process to become a Master Gardener?
- Apply on line at this link
- You will be interviewed in August
- You will find out if you are selected the first week of September.
When is Training?
Master Gardener training is every year in the fall. Classes meet once a week on Wednesday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm for 5 weeks. Classes are mandatory.
What does it mean to be a Master Gardener?
You don’t have to know anything about plants to become a master gardener. All you need is:
- Willingness to Learn
- Desire to Volunteer
- Want to better our community
As a Master Gardener you serve your community in a variety of ways, and in turn, you receive training on many aspects of horticulture while making meaningful relationships and having enriching experiences. Scroll to bottom for the Apply Link.
Master Gardeners serve their local community by answering questions, researching specific problems, planting educational and therapeutic gardens, providing public speakers and much more.
As horticultural trained volunteers, Master Gardeners extend research-based information through demonstration and educational programs using horticulture best practices, strengthening communities and families throughout Arkansas.
How much time is involved?
After completing your 40-hour horticulture training (one day a week for 5 weeks in the Fall) you are required to complete 40 service hours and 20 educational hours during your first year. In your subsequent years you will provide only 20 working hours and 20 educational hours.
The required 40 hour Master Gardener training differs depending on which training option your location provides as well as host site fees. The Pulaski County Extension office will send you an email with details when the dates and fee has been set.
What are your responsibilites?
Following a comprehensive training in horticulture, Master Gardeners have one year from the end of training to complete the agreed upon volunteer time. Usually the volunteer work is done on one of the over 30 projects in Pulaski County. These projects are located in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and West Little Rock. Here is a current list of projects.
You must become a member of one of over 30 projects to get 20 of your first year’s 40 work hours. Such as ….
Little Rock Greenhouse
Curran Hall Visitors Center
Mount Holly Cemetery
What does it cost?
Besides the cost of training which will be spelled out in the application, Dues are $20 a year if paid before the deadline.
Who is eligible?
Anyone with horticultural skills, a willingness to learn, and a desire to help others.
Master Gardener volunteers are responsible for completing and reporting planned activities to the county through an online time clock tool. If daytime employment interferes with volunteer work, some projects have their workdays on weekends.
What are the benefits?
It is often said that the Master Gardener Program is more than ‘just a horticulture class’—and it is. As a Master Gardener you are afforded many of the resources of the University of Arkansas.
Master Gardeners receive many hours of training in botany, soil science, plant propagation, pest management, pesticide and herbicide usage, vegetable and ornamental plant gardening, plant and weed identification, pruning and other horticulture related subjects.
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