Master Gardener Training

What is a Master Gardener? Master Gardener Organizations are a network of associations throughout North America, all of whom share a basic philosophy - a passion for gardening. They are run by volunteers as not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing horticultural information to the public. Avid gardeners participate in a training program to build competency in a broad range of gardening skills, and then share that knowledge and skill as volunteers in some capacity. To become a “Master Gardener”, you are required to have training in horticulture and to volunteer within your community. The number of volunteer hours you are expected to acquire annually will depend on the Master Gardener Organization to which you belong. For more information on the Atlantic Master Gardener Association, please visit their website at www.atlanticmastergardeners.com For more information on the Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc., please visit their web site at www.mgoi.ca

Master Gardener Training
Continuing and Distance Education developed Master Gardener training to fulfill the “training” component of becoming a Master Gardener. The program is offered through Distance Education and consists of 4 independent study courses available online, and a one week, on site summer school. Each course is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during this time. Students can print the materials and read them in bed, or outside while admiring the garden!

The Master Gardener training at NSAC brings together gardeners who share a passion for horticulture of all kinds, and are dedicated to learning and growing their knowledge to share with their community.

Welcome to MOODLE!

Visit our online learning system, moodle, at http://elearn.nsac.ca/ Under the Main Menu (on the left side of the screen) are the On-line Moodle Resources.  These links provide great background information and tutorials to help you learn the Moodle system. As always, contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Certificates

Those who complete only the 4 online courses are able to apply for the Master Gardener Training certificate.

Those who take the four online courses plus the week-long Master Gardener Summer School can apply for the Master Gardener Training Program certificate

Master Gardener Program Frequently Asked Questions
Please click here for our Master Gardener FAQ page.

NOTE: Registration deadline for January 2012 intake is December 9, 2011

Courses in the Master Gardener Training Program

For more information about the above courses, please click on the course name to visit that particular course's individual page.

NOTE: The Master Gardener courses may be taken in any order, however, Continuing & Distance Education recommends that they be completed in the order they are listed above. The courses were designed to flow in this format.

Applying for a Course Extension

 Courses started in October end on March 31. Courses started in January and March all end on June 30. If you need more time, a one-month extension may be granted by filling out the Online Extension Form, or fill out and FAX the PDF version.

Please fill out and send the forms 2 weeks prior to your course end date.

Master Gardener Training Bursary

The Centre for Continuing & Distance Education awards two $300 bursaries to students of the Master Gardener Training program at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.  The purpose of the bursary is to provide incentive for further education in gardening.  To qualify applicants must be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in one of the four online courses that are required for either the Master Gardener Training or Master Gardener Training Program certificates. Selection is based on an explanation of the following selection criteria: your financial need for the bursary, your active involvement in comunity activities and why you chose the Master Gardener Training program.  Click here Application for the Master Gardener Training Bursary to print the Application Form. Applications must be submitted to Continuing Education no later than October 15th.  The bursary can be applied to courses offered in the January and March intakes as well as Summer School (Level I). 

Congratulations to this year's bursary recipients: Tammy Chrzaszcz (Sydney, NS) and David Pavanel (Mississauga, ON).

Tuition Increase

The Centre of Continuing and Distance Education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College is proud of our Master Gardener Training program and how it has helped to fulfill the “training” component of becoming a Master Gardener.  This program has brought together gardeners who share a passion for horticulture of all kinds and we have watched it grow from 5 graduates in 2007 to 49 represented at this year’s graduation ceremony.  This growth has increased the complexities of administering the program, while maintaining flexibility of client services for the adult learner. We have been faced with rising costs per student associated with materials, marketing, services, and staffing.  As a result, we have decided to raise the tuition for the Master Gardener courses from $250 to $300 (including the distance education fee).  This tuition increase will come into effect on January 1, 2012.  Courses offered in the January and March intakes of the 2011-2012 academic year are subject to the new rate regardless when the Course Selection Form is received.

Graduation Information
If you have completed, or are about to complete your 4 online courses, please visit our graduation information web page.