The 2027 Master Gardener program is a 15-week course in which you will learn the basics of soils, diseases, insects, gardening, fruit trees, berries, wildflowers, botany, and so much more. At the end of the course, you will receive an open-book exam. At this point, you will be an MG intern and will have up to 1 year to volunteer for 40 hours in varying extension activities.
Below you will find your application to complete. Before you fill it out (deadline to the office by December 22, 2026) please read the below to make sure you understand and are committed to this program.
An interest meeting will be held December 3, 2026 at the Clay County Community Center at 1:00 PM. This meeting will go through course expectations and answer any questions you may have. Register here for the interest class.
If you do not have access to a printer, please stop by the Extension office to pick up a copy. You can email them to tosborn@ncsu.edu, drop them off at the Extension office, or mail them to us at:
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Clay County Center
25 Riverside Circle, Suite 2
Hayesville, NC 28904
Please do not include payment at this time. After receiving and reviewing your application, look for an acceptance letter from us for final details about the class no later than January 12. Space is limited in the class, so turning in the application does not guarantee a spot in this class. Due to the amount of applications received, you may be asked to be part of an interview process.
Start Date and Time
The first class will begin on Thursday, February 4, from 10 AM – 1 PM and finish on Thursday, May 27. Snow days are scheduled for March 18 and May 27, if a class needs to be rescheduled due to weather.
Cost – cash or check only due on the first day of class
The cost of this 15-week program will be $175. This pays for the State Master Gardener Fee and online access to the state book and study resources. You may order a hard copy of the book through Amazon. Checks can be made out to the Clay County Extension.
For the in-person classes, you will need something to take notes - either a notebook or laptop. The course material (books, assignments, quizzes, exams) is online, so you will need access to a computer - A CELL PHONE DOES NOT WORK FOR THE COURSE MATERIAL. Tablets are not recommended.
You are also welcome to bring something to drink and snacks in case you get hungry during the class - please clean up after yourself.
Please keep in mind that while there are in-person meetings, ALL of the resources and study material are online - including the final exam, so you will need a computer and internet access. Our building has free Wifi that you can use or you can visit the local library to use one of their computers.
Attendance
You are allowed to miss up to two classes during the course. If you think you will miss more classes, then we suggest waiting until the next intern class so that you can attend all of the classes. It is important that you attend the classes as these help supplement the material you are learning online, offer the chance to ask questions, and build relationships with your fellow interns that will last beyond the classroom and into the program.
Location
Classes will be held at the Clay County Community Room located at 25 Riverside Circle, Hayesville, NC. The community room is located on the top level.
Volunteer Hours – When attending the class, you are a Master Gardener student. For the last class, you will receive an open-book exam. Everyone always passes so no worries. Once you pass the exam you will be a Master Gardener Intern. The last stretch is completing volunteer hours to match the amount of class time (40 hours). You have one year from the date of your final to do so. Once you’ve completed your volunteer hours, you will be a certified Master Gardener and will receive a certificate and name badge. You can start your volunteer time right away once you start with classes (you will be assigned a mentor who will help you with volunteering and guide you through the program).
We look forward to meeting and working with you over the coming weeks. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to give us a call at (828) 389-6305 or e-mail tosborn@ncsu.edu.
