History

The Master Gardening concept originated in 1972 in Washington State in response to high demand for individualized gardening information. Dr. David Gibby, a county extension agent, devised a plan to give specialized horticultural training to gardeners in exchange for volunteer hours devoted to outreach. In the thirty plus years since, Master Gardening has spread throughout the United States and Canada and continues to be a popular program.

Master Gardening came to York County in 1982 when Betty Sivinsky, Extension Educator, held the first training. The volunteers from that class were sent out into the community on their own to volunteer. There were no additional trainings until 1989, the year that the York County Extension office moved to "Shaw's Ridge”.

This move opened new opportunities for volunteer projects, beginning with Michelle Rose MG '89 and her reclamation of the perennial gardens and the development of demonstration gardens at the Extension office on Shaw’s Ridge Rd.  The Spring Plant Sale and Summer Workshop Series were started at this point. In 1992 Frank Wertheim succeeded Betty as Extension Educator and for two years the trainings were done in conjunction with other southern Maine counties. Since 1995 the trainings have been done annually here in York County. More than 450 Master Gardeners have been trained in York County of whom about 150 remain active today.

The York County Master Gardener Association (YCMGA) was formed in 2003 to help UMaine Extension increase communication and support between the 100+ volunteers active at the time and the myriad of outreach projects they were conducting throughout the county – reaching hundreds of residents. Another major role of the association is fundraising to support the wide variety of community outreach projects (hot link to projects list) Master Gardener Volunteers are involved with throughout York County.   

All active York County Master Gardeners, including those in the current training class, are members of the YCMGA.  We have a 9 member board made up of active York County Master Gardener Volunteers, elected by the broader York County Master Gardener Association, whose role it is to help facilitate our many activities.  Our membership increases each year and so do our projects.  Together we do great things!

The current YCMGA Board members are:

Sue Tkacik, President   stkacik@umext.maine.edu

Sandy Hutchinson, Secretary

Donna Flint, Treasurer

Gerard Labbe

Arlene Carroll

Chris Paquette

Cheryl Shaw

Zelda Kenney

Sean Gorham

For More Information regarding the UMCE Master Gardener Program, call 1-800-287-1535 or visit http://www.ummaine.edu/umextlyork.