Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) are educators who volunteer within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education.
EMGs work with local agencies, such as schools and parks departments, to teach residents on a variety of home horticulture topics, including:
- Growing food at home or school gardens.
- Adding native plants to support Virginia’s pollinators and wildlife.
- Helping children with hands-on learning opportunities that will stick with them throughout life, and perhaps inspire them to volunteer in the future.
- Gardening basics, like soil testing and preparation, choosing the right plants, integrated pest management, and how to use fertilizers or pesticides when necessary.
Our History
The Extension Master Gardener program was established in 1972 in Washington State to meet the needs of home gardeners. The Suffolk EMG program was initiated in 1994. Currently, the unit holds annual training courses either in person or online hybrid formats. If you’d like more information about joining, please see Join Us and email SuffolkMG@gmail.com.
The Suffolk Master Gardener Association is a 501(c)(3) organization formed to support its EMG volunteers. Membership is open to any program Trainee, Intern, Master Gardener, or Emeritus EMG serving the unit of Suffolk.