Union County is seeking volunteers for the 2025 Master Gardener Training Program

The Union County Board of County Commissioners has announced that the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is seeking volunteers for the 2025 Master Gardener Training Program, which will begin in January. The program offers residents interested in horticulture and gardening the opportunity to gain valuable skills, make new connections and contribute to their community.

Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded praised the program, saying, “The Master Gardener program offers residents the opportunity to learn practical horticultural skills that they can implement at home and share with neighbors and friends, while also developing the benefit the community through their volunteer work. This program is exceptional and we are pleased to continue supporting its growth. We encourage gardeners of all experience levels to sign up and join this wonderful community.”

This year, Union County will participate in a pilot program for the Rutgers Master Gardener Volunteer Training, including orientation Zoom meetings hosted by Rutgers for residents interested in becoming Master Gardeners. These sessions provide applicants with the opportunity to learn more about the program before participating.

To participate in the 2025 training program, residents must register and attend at least one of the virtual orientation sessions, offered twice a week through early December. Registration is possible via njaes.rutgers.edu/master-gardeners/. There is room for a maximum of 40 participants per session, so there is plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Classes are held on Wednesday mornings at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The course includes horticultural training with an emphasis on the volunteer aspects of being a Rutgers Master Gardener. The classroom is conveniently located near the 1.5-acre demonstration garden and greenhouse in Trailside, maintained by Master Gardeners.

Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Rutgers Cooperative Extension liaison, emphasized the importance of volunteering, saying, “By volunteering, participants gain a better understanding of the positive impact their contributions have on our environment and the community at large . . The Master Gardener Program is one of many volunteer opportunities offered in Union County. I encourage residents to review the program and attend an orientation session to find out if it is a good fit for them.”

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County is a volunteer program offered through Rutgers Cooperative Extension, NJ Agriculture Experiment Stations and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in partnership with the Union County Board of County Commissioners. The program is supported in Union County by the Commissioner Board, with administrative assistance and office space in Berkeley Heights, land for the Demonstration Garden and funding for special projects.

For more information about the 2025 Master Gardener Training Program, please call 908-654-9854, ext. 2 or visit mastergardeners-uc.org. Additional information about Union County extension projects and activities, including Master Gardeners, Master Tree Stewards and the 4-H youth development program, can be found at ucnj.org/rutgers-cooperative-extension-of-union-county/.

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Generative AI was used to create an early draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.