Ready to grow your skills? Garden Academy offers two paths:
Master Gardener Volunteer Track
Apply, complete training, complete volunteer orientation, and volunteer 40 hours in your first year. Fee: $175 through your county office.
Iowa Home Gardener Track
Purchase the course through the Extension Store ($350) and complete the 10-week online training—no volunteer requirement.
Key Dates:
- Spring Volunteer Applications: January 5 – January 30
- Spring classes start February 15 and end April 29
- Fall Volunteer Applications: July 20 – August 14
- Fall classes start August 31 and end November 6
For details and county schedules, visit the Master Gardener website or contact your local coordinator.
Join us in 2026 to expand your gardening knowledge!
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on December 8, 2025. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.