What is NC State Extension?

NC State Extension extends research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state.The Extension Office in Durham County is one of the 101 offices located in every county in North Carolina. In association with NC State University, we create opportunities for lifelong learning and connect residents with resources to improve quality of life. Extension provides education and other services to the community through workshops and trainings as well as customized education based on community needs and interests. Our programs are free or low-cost. The services include Early Childhood Development, Youth Development, Consumer and Family Education, Food and Nutrition, Agriculture and Horticulture and Community Capacity Building. How Extension Works

What are Extension Master Gardeners?

Since 1979, North Carolina Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers (EMGVs) have been leaders in this internationally acclaimed program, guiding homeowners in making environmentally sound decisions in their landscapes. Trained by North Carolina State University faculty and staff, EMGVs provide research-based information about gardening and environmental stewardship to individuals and communities across the state. EMGVs engage the community through education and outreach on a wide variety of subjects and through a broad spectrum of projects, all designed to maximize their impact. The goal for all of this is to help North Carolinians cultivate healthy plants, landscapes, ecosystems, and communities.

Lean more about the statewide efforts of Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.

To learn more about the work of the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers in Durham County specifically, visit their website.

Are you interested in becoming an Extension Master Gardener?

If you are interested in joining a network of passionate community members across the state dedicated to learning and sharing research-based information, enhancing their communities through volunteer service, and connecting people with the benefits of gardening through education and outreach, consider becoming an NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer!

The NC State Extension Master Gardener program is offered in 75 of the 101 Cooperative Extension sites in our state. Some aspects of the program are the same across the state, while others are tailored to meet the needs of the county in which it is based. For information about the Extension Master Gardener℠ training.

In all counties, Extension Master Gardener volunteers work under the guidance and direction of Extension professionals to complete a 40-hour training program, pass an exam and/or complete a garden project, and complete a 40-hour internship to become certified Master Gardener volunteers. To remain active in the program in Durham County, volunteers complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education each year.

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers:

• Represent NC State Extension.
• Promote the research-based recommendations of NC State Extension.
• May only use the title “Master Gardener volunteer” when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities.
• Follow the policies and procedures found in the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program Guidelines
• Abide by the NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Code of Conduct