When the Extension Master Gardenersm program began, Master Gardenersm volunteers mostly answered telephone requests for gardening information. They also staffed plant clinics and information booths. These tasks are still vital to Extension. In recent years, however, creative MGs and Extension agents have recognized the talents which citizens bring to the Extension Master Gardenersm program that can be utilized in a variety of horticultural activities.

Some examples of activities that MGs have participated in include. 

• Create and maintain a demonstration garden 
• Garden with the elderly and handicapped 
• Work at county fairs and plant clinics 
• Conduct school gardening program 
• Give talks to groups interested in horticulture 
• Present 4-H day camp demonstrations 
• Coordinate Master Gardener projects 
• Participate in on-site lawn clinics 
• Work in trial gardens at research station 
• Work on special events projects (Arbor Day, Wake Up to Agriculture, Environmental Field Days) 
• Plan and complete community beautification projects 
• Photograph Master Gardenersm activities 
• Manage a plant diagnostics lab 
• Maintain Master Gardenersm office reference library 
• Design brochures or fliers for an Extension event 
• Solicit donations for program expenses 
• Conduct vegetable gardening project with young offenders 
• Judge school science fair 
• Organize Master Gardenersm graduation picnic 
• Volunteer as a 4-H leader 
• Conduct a gardening project with low-income youth 
• Serve on Extension Advisory Committee 

If you think of an activity which utilizes your special talents, discuss this with your agent. Volunteer hours involved with interagency projects can count with prior approval of the Extension agent and if the Extension Service is a cosponsor of the project.

Sample Job Descriptions:
 

Phone Consultant - Answer consumer horticulture phone calls in the office. Answers should be consistent with current Extension Service recommendations. Extension literature and reference books will be utilized. The volunteer will consult with other MGs and/or the Extension agent on difficult questions. Volunteers are not expect to answer commercial horticulture, medical, legal, or household pest problems. You may be expected to assist walk-in clientele who have horticulture questions and to mail out Extension brochures upon request. Keep the Extension agent informed of current problems and requests.

Desirable Skills:

• An interest in helping people solve plant problems. 
• Ability to communicate effectively by phone or in person. 
• Horticultural experience in a number of areas. 
• Willingness to accept supervision and to cooperate with other office staff. 
• Ability to read and interpret technical information. 
• Willingness to search for answers when information is not directly at hand. 

Desirable Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively through writing. 
• Ability to work independently and accept responsibility. 
• Willing to accept supervision and to cooperate with other office staff members. 
• Ability to read and interpret Extension literature and research articles.

Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator 
Duties: Meet with the Extension agent on a regular basis to discuss current needs and to plan and evaluate volunteer management activities. Assist with recruitment in order to expand volunteer involvement in Extension programs. Interview prospective volunteers to assess individual objectives and assets. Discuss proposed volunteer placement with agent. Maintain volunteer records and assist in preparing reports concerning volunteer involvement.

Job Title: Demonstration Gardener
Duties: Form a demonstration garden group/committee and elect a chairman who will coordinate activities. Work with Extension agent to develop a plan for the garden, acquire seeds/transplants, prepare soil and plant the garden. Work with group/committee to establish a regular maintenance program (weeding, watering, insect control, etc.). Possible demonstration gardens include, but are not limited to: weed garden, turf plots, vegetable garden, fruit orchard, rose garden, ground cover plots.

Expected results: community residents will have access to a garden site which demonstrates new methods for growing certain plants.

Job Title: Horticultural Office Assistant 
Duties: Assist with clerical duties necessary for conducting a consumer horticultural program. Prepare labels and envelopes for mailings. Arrange materials for office display. Maintain and update horticultural mailing lists. Inventory, file, label, and distribute materials and supplies. Organize, type, and maintain materials for office files and notebooks. Assist with purging and maintenance of horticulture files.

Expected results: Volunteer will increase knowledge and skill in clerical support functions and enable the Extension office to become more efficient and effective.

Job Title: Neighborhood Plant Expert 
Duties: Answer questions relating to ornamental horticulture, vegetable gardening, soil testing, disease, insect, and weed control, house plants and related areas. Provide advice based on Cooperative Extension  recommendations, and provide appropriate publications available from Extension. Volunteers will work with neighborhood association to devise a schedule for making their services available. Example: be available at monthly meetings, take phone calls from 10-12:00 Saturdays. Will make general report to agent of types of situations encountered and recommendations made. Refer to agent, names of persons and nature of problems that could not be answered.

Job Title: Graphic Artist 
Duties: Volunteer will work with supervising person to develop visual aids to be used in presenting Extension programs. Photographing and assembling slide sets and scripts on particular topics, e.g., pruning, repotting; drawing posters or flyers on specific subjects, or advertising upcoming Extension programs.

Job Title: Senior Citizens Program Aide
Duties: MG will provide instruction in the culture of indoor plants, floral design, and/or container and raised bed gardening to groups of senior citizens on a regular basis for a specified period of time. Extension agents will assist volunteers in establishing an appropriate curriculum for the respective programs.

Job Title: School Garden Coordinator
Duties: Set up time and date to meet with teachers and/or students to work on a project. Possible projects include outdoor and container vegetable gardening, windowsill herb gardening, sprouting seeds, etc. Take needed project materials (already made up) to class. Make at least one follow-up visit to offer further help if needed. Make an end-of-project visit with the designated agent to recognize the students' work.

Expected results: Volunteer will increase knowledge of gardening and develop skills useful in working with children. Teachers and students will be able to carry out successful gardening projects and learn to garden on their own.

Job Title: 4-H Leader
Duties: Work with community 4-H clubs or start a horticulture 4-H club. Provide scheduled training and supervision of 4-H projects. Establish recognition program for 4-H youth. Possible resources include 4-H record books, the Junior Master Gardenersm manual, and the National Junior Horticultural Association (NJHA) manual. Possible projects include starting a garden contest, training a judging team, promoting a gardening photography or poster contest.

Job Title: Arbor Day Coordinator
Duties: Talk with PTSA presidents, elementary school principals, garden club representatives, and designated teachers and solicit their involvement in observance of Arbor Day. Serve as coordinator with the responsible agent and the representatives from participating schools. Assist in developing program and gathering supplies.

Expected results: Volunteer will increase knowledge of trees and their care and develop skills in organizing citizen participation events. Students will be encouraged to understand the importance of trees.

Job Title: Plant Clinic Staff
Duties: MG will be available at prearranged sites and times to examine and diagnose plant specimens and problems brought in by citizens and make recommendations in compliance with Extension recommendations and approved practices. Possible sites include libraries, recreation centers, shopping centers, Extension center, farmers market, etc.

• Form a plant clinic group/committee and elect a chairman, who will coordinate activities. 
• Work with Extension agent(s) to establish regular sites for plant clinics. 
• Establish the frequency of plant clinics and the number of hours MGs are to spend at the clinic. 
• Work with Extension agent and volunteer graphic artist to create plant clinic promotional materials. 
• Keep records of clients seen, problems diagnosed, and recommendations given. 
• Forward to Extension agents any materials which MGs cannot diagnose. 
• Assist with setup and takedown as well as with staffing plant clinics.

Job Title: Horticultural Events/Exhibits Coordinator
Duties: Recruit and coordinate activities of volunteers involved in developing exhibits for horticultural programs, shows, fairs, that will depict the horticultural programs offered to city or county residents through their Extension centers and other topics which are relevant to current problems in consumer horticulture, such as, soil testing, lawn care.

Develop exhibits: MGs working on exhibits will meet with Extension agents or other designated persons to design an appropriate exhibit, provide leadership to other MGs, particularly graphic artists, and plant clinic staff. MGs will establish subgroups of the main exhibit committee which will take responsibility for the development of individual portions of the exhibit, i.e. plant materials. In cooperation with Extension agent or designated person, MGs will arrange for the transportation, setup, and take down of the exhibit on prescribed dates and times. 

Expected results: A quality exhibit that informs the public of Extension Service programs or other appropriate areas in consumer horticulture. A plant clinic staffed by volunteers that provides accurate answers to the public concerning plant problems.