Connecting to Nature and Community as a New Master Gardener

By Katie Nicholson,

Piedmont Master Gardener Intern

When I first signed up for Extension Master Gardener training, I imagined I would be sitting in a classroom learning about plants. I expected soil testing kits, lectures on native plants, maybe some botany terms I would forget after the exam. What I did not anticipate was how much the experience would connect me to people and help me feel rooted in the community. 

Some of my earliest memories involve helping my father in our family garden. Watching seeds transform into food and flowers felt magical. The woods, creeks and trees of my childhood were my first teachers. They shaped how I understand the world. That early sense of wonder never left me, and as an adult, I finally had the chance to create a garden of my own.

In 2024, my husband and I started our garden from scratch on raw land. With lots of compost and literal blood, sweat and tears, we managed to produce vegetables and flowers in abundance. I was hooked. But the more I learned through trial and error, the more I realized how much I didn’t know. How can I improve this clay soil? Why are the grass and cover crop seeds washing away with every storm? What keeps eating my beans, cucumbers and tomatoes? Every new answer seemed to produce new questions. I spent countless hours scrolling through Instagram Reels and YouTube videos searching for guidance, only to become more confused by the contradictory and anecdotal advice I found there.

So when I first heard about the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program, I was intrigued but hesitant. With only one season of managing my own garden, how could I possibly be a “master” at anything? And what even was a Master Gardener?

What I learned is that the word “master” in this case does not mean knowing everything. Instead, it means committing to curiosity, to learning deeply and to sharing that knowledge with others. Extension Master Gardeners are volunteer horticulture educators who receive more than 70 hours of training in science-based gardening practices and then volunteer in schools, community gardens, and at public events to bring that knowledge to the community.

I submitted my application at the last minute, the day before the December 1st deadline, and nervously waited to hear back. A few days later, I received an email inviting me to schedule an interview. Because space in the class is limited to just 25 participants, each applicant goes through an interview with the Master Gardener Coordinator employed by the Albemarle-Charlottesville unit of Virginia Cooperative Extension, along with several current Piedmont Master Gardener volunteers. The idea of an interview was intimidating, but it turned out to be a great opportunity to ask more questions about the program and hear about all of the ways Master Gardeners serve the community. 

When the acceptance email arrived announcing my place in the 2025 class, I was thrilled. The Spring 2025 course was offered in a hybrid format, with virtual lectures on Tuesday evenings and hands-on workshops on Saturday mornings. For me, that schedule fit perfectly around work and family obligations. In alternating years, the program is offered entirely in-person, and in 2026 the class will return to that format, meeting on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m from February until April.

Our training began in the dead of winter, when gardens still slept under frost and the green leaves of summer were distant memories. As someone who was firmly rooted in the humanities and who avoided science classes in college, I expected to feel overwhelmed by the technical material. To my surprise, the mix of lectures, readings and hands-on activities made difficult concepts easier to understand and more engaging.

Sessions ranged from soil science and plant biology to practical skills like plant identification and gardening with native plants. I had braced myself for subjects I assumed would be tedious or too difficult, yet I found myself leaning in with genuine curiosity. Even turfgrass—to my mind, hardly the glamorous side of horticulture—became fascinating when presented by an engaging instructor who showed how lawns fit into the broader ecology of our landscapes.

One of my favorite moments came during a plant identification workshop at Ivy Creek Natural Area. We spent the day walking trails with a dichotomous key in hand, learning the names of plants that were once strangers. With this key to identify plants, every step outdoors became a richer experience, each plant playing a role in the larger story of the environment around us. This blend of classroom learning and field experience brought the knowledge to life.

What surprised me most, though, was how much the program was about connection. Of course, I gained research-based, reliable information that helped me sort through the noise of internet advice. But beyond the content of the classes, I met so many interesting – and interested – people. It feels nice to belong to a community of learners and gardeners who are eager to share their knowledge, their expertise and their encouragement.

Being an Extension Master Gardener is not just about growing plants; it is about growing a better world for our community and building relationships. As volunteers, we share what we learn with others. The joy of gardening is multiplied when it is shared.

Looking back, I realize I entered the program because I wanted better information to become a better gardener — but along the way I became part of something bigger, a collective effort to connect people to plants and to each other. 

After completing the 70 hours of training, interns give back by volunteering 50 hours in their first year. These hours are spent bringing science-based gardening education directly into the community, whether through answering questions at the main VCE or mobile help desks, giving public talks, assisting in school or demonstration gardens or preparing workshops. I am already well into my volunteer hours and each project has reinforced the idea that the heart of Master Gardener projects is not just education, but connection.

If you love gardening and want not only to deepen your knowledge but also to join a community of people who share your passion, I encourage you to apply. You’ll leave with more than resources and training; you’ll leave with roots in a community that will continue to grow with you. 

If you are interested in joining us, applications for the 2026 Extension Master Gardener training program are open through December 1, 2025. Classes meet weekly in-person from February through April. Find the application and other details at piedmontmastergardeners.org/resources.