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