Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. What sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their cooperative Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
History
Fort Bend County Master Gardeners began in 1989 with the first graduating class of 24 taking place on November 27, 1990.
The Texas Master Gardener program originally formed in Montgomery County, Texas in 1979, with five more counties following close behind. In the 1990s, the Texas Master Gardener movement exploded, fueled by the program’s success and visibility. In 1991, a statewide, non-profit called the Texas Master Gardener Association was formed. Today there are Master Gardener organizations in 76 Texas counties.
The Texas Master Gardener program is a volunteer development program offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. It is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and improve the quality of life through horticultural projects. In addition, Fort Bend County Master Gardeners’ mission is to provide volunteer service through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. These volunteers deliver university research-based horticulture and environmental education and projects to the Fort Bend County residents.
Today, Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, consists of 200 Certified Texas Master Gardeners and Associates who work extremely hard to further the mission of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. In 2016, these dedicated Fort Bend County Master Gardeners contributed over 17,000 volunteer hours.
Awards
Texas State Master Gardener Association Awards presented to Fort Bend Master Gardeners at the yearly state conferences:
2017
- 1st Place – JMG/Youth Program for the Earth-Kind Kids Kamp
- 2nd Place – Written Educational Category for Vegetable Garden Pest Field Guide
- 2nd Educational Program for “Garden with Confidence”
- 2nd Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
2015
- 2nd Place – Educational Program – Girl Scout Badge/Patch Program
- 3rd Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
2012
- 3rd Place – Publication – “The Butterflies in Our Gardens”
2009
- 1st Place – Multimedia – FBMG Website
- 2nd Place – Project – Ag-Tivity Barn
2008
- 1st Place – Newsletter – The Grapevine
- 1st Place – Graphics – Attracting Birds and Butterflies to your garden
- 2nd Place – Publication – Garden Insect Field Guide
- 2nd Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
- 3rd Place – Individual Master Gardener – Cliff Bergman
2006
- 3rd Place – Graphic Presentation – Green Thumb Seminar “Soil & Composting” PowerPoint
2005
- 1st Place – Graphics – Program – Green Thumb: Plant Growth & Disease Control
- 3rd Place – Newsletter – The Grapevine
2004
- 1st Place – Visual Arts – Vegetables and the Insects that Love Them
- 1st Place – Publication – Plants in the Classroom
- 2ns Place – Multimedia – Fort Bend County Master Gardener Website FAQ
- 2nd Place – Program – Green Thumb Seminar
- 2nd Place – Project – Krause Children’s Residential Treatment Center “Garden Guardians”
2003
- 1st Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
- 1st Place – Programs – Monthly Programs
- 1st Place – Multimedia – Winter Gardening, Stafford Magazine
- 3rd Place – Publication – FBC Fruit Tree Handout
2002
- 1st Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
- 2nd Place – Visual Arts – Grafting with the Fort Bend Master Gardeners
- 2nd Place – Publication – Propagating Root Stock and Grafting Hibiscus
- 2nd Place – Multimedia – Great American Past Times
2001
- 1st Place – Visual Arts – Spring Gardening
- 2nd Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Large Size Group
- 2nd Place – Multimedia – The Garden Gourmet
- 3rd Place – Publication: The Circle Garden Journal
2000
- 2nd Place – Multimedia Production – FBMG Website
- 2nd Place – Visual Arts – Video: Building Your Own Biological Filter
- 3rd Place – Individual Master Gardener – Wayne Roden
1999
- 1st Place – Multimedia Production
- 2nd Place – Outstanding Master Gardener Association – Medium Size Group