Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides programs, tools, and resources that teach people how to improve agriculture and food production, advance health practices, protect the environment, strengthen our communities, and enrich youth. A Master Gardener is a gardening enthusiast of any age, who has been formally trained in horticulture by Texas AgriLife Extension and has completed a period of volunteer service. The first class of Kaufman County Master Gardeners, with 12 participants, trained in 2000. From that beginning, we have grown to an organization with almost 50 members. Master Gardeners have four major objectives, as defined in the Texas Master Gardener Management Guide:
to expand the capabilities of Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Service to disseminate horticultural information to individuals and groups in the community
- to develop and enhance community projects related to horticulture, including: horticultural therapy projects, community gardens, and demonstration gardens;
- to develop a Master Gardener network to assist in administration of the local Master Gardener Program;
- to enhance 4-H programs through the establishment of 4-H horticultural clubs and Junior Master Gardener groups. KCMGA achieves these objective through a variety of activities, described throughout this site, including:
- Distributing horticultural information to the community through: (1) Answering questions by telephone and at local events, (2) Distributing horticultural literature, (3) Organizing local horticultural education events, (4) Consulting with local organizations on horticultural issues.
- Showcase the best in horticultural practices by: (1) Designing and maintaining demonstration gardens, (2) Assisting in design and maintenance of community gardens, (3) Participating in garden trials.
