Master Gardeners are people just like you who love gardening and have a desire to share with others. The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a volunteer horticulture training program that trains people in exchange for volunteer service dedicated back to the program so they can share what they have learned with other gardeners. The program is provided by the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and is open to all adults in Northwest Louisiana (Caddo, Bossier, Desoto & Red River Parishes).
Master Gardeners give a minimum of 20 hours of service each year -- most give more -- and take six hours of continuing education. They raise funds with events and sales to support community grants and educational and beautification projects. In 2023, Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners provided 11,911.90 hours of valued volunteering, estimated at $378,798.42, based on the 2023 IRS volunteer rate with 191,433 contacts, engaging 67,690 individuals. The group collectively earned 1,457.15 hours of continuing education. Educational and Volunteer Opportunities History of NWLA Master Gardeners The Louisiana Master Gardener program was started in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1994 as a means of extending the educational outreach of the LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. It was adopted statewide in 1997 and now is offered in 23 parishes with volunteer participation in 46 parishes. Louisiana Master Gardeners serve many roles in helping county agents deliver educational horticultural programs and information. The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener program was started in 1998 by Dr. Joe White, who developed and grew the program through 2002. In 2003, Denyse Cummins, Area Horticulturist, began working with the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners. Denyse was instrumental in developing the demonstration gardens around the Randle T. Moore Center and many other projects in the community. There have been 400 graduates of the NWLA Master Gardening Program, and now the organization has over 200 active members. Our Associate Extension Area Agent Horticulturist is Mark Wilson, who is now Master Gardener Coordinator for Northwest Louisiana. The Master Gardener office has moved to the Red River Research Station as of January, 2022. |
Horticulture Office
Red River Research Station 210 Research Station Drive Bossier City, LA 71112 318-408-0984 Fax: 318-741-7433 Master Gardeners Hotline 318-408-0984 Officers 2024-2025 President -- Lynn Burke Vice-President -- Gaye Dean Secretary -- Jennifer Donner Treasurer -- Ruth Baker Historian/Parliamentarian -- Margie Caplis Immediate Past President -- Ed Durham Board Members Sheila Harkey, 2024 Virginia Pinkley, 2024 Sadie Bolyer, 2025 Steve Pinkley, 2025 Melissa Elrod, 2026 John Rowell, 2026 2023 - Allison Martin Committees Bereavement and Gifts Mary Catherine Googe Communications Debra Rushing Community Gardens Jennifer Donner Community Grants Lesa McDonald Directory Chair Andree Caplis Greenhouse Sadie Bolyer Hours Evaluation Gary Northern Keep Bossier Beautiful Susan Larey Le Tour des Jardins Karen Durham LeTour committees
NWLAMG Fall Bulb Sale Lynn Brown, Linda Jones NWLAMG Plant Sale Cynthia Rowell, John Rowell Pioneer Heritage Center Mary Ann Tompkins Super plants Bed at Red River Research Station Andre Caplis Projects & Membership Lynn Burke Programs Mary Dumars Publicity Michele Wiener MG Office, RRRS Sadie Bolyer Rambling Rose Project @ the Am. Rose Center Larry Williams, Melissa Elrod Refreshments Virginia Pinkley Seedling Kerry Friestad Speakers Bureau Mary Dumars Web Site Maintenance Melissa Elrod, Allison Martin Contact Gaye Dean for information on Le Tour des Jardins 2024 |