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Boulder County Master Gardeners
Volunteer Projects
In exchange for intensive training in horticulture, Colorado Master Gardeners return community volunteer service in many different ways, including mentoring special populations, teaching classes, writing articles, maintaining demonstration sites, and answering gardening questions at garden centers or by phone.
The Colorado Master Gardener Program in Boulder County is innovative and flexible in its outreach and works to match volunteer interests, skills and schedules. We combine partnerships with the Green Industry, elementary and secondary schools, and community service programs to promote environmentally responsible horticulture throughout our community. Special events and projects vary from season to season. Read on to learn about some of our current projects.
 The Boulder County Jail Project. Since 1995, Master Gardeners have been mentoring inmates at a one-acre food production garden at the Boulder County Jail. The garden provides fresh vegetables and fruit for the jail kitchen as well as for Community Food Share. In 2004, the garden produced more than twenty-two thousand pounds of fresh produce!
Drip systems, compost, and water-wise techniques ensure that this large-scale garden has a low impact on natural resources. Inmates learn life skills by caring for plants and build self-esteem through their work. In 2001, they entered and won a blue ribbon at the county fair for their crops!
Earth Gardens. Earth Gardens provides hands-on experiential lessons in a school setting. In partnership with the Boulder County 4-H youth program, Master Gardeners help elementary school kids broaden their horizons with gardening. Research has shown that school-aged children in kindergarten through sixth grade need more opportunities to learn about the world of gardening, as many do not have gardens at home. We know that gardening provides a great educational vehicle, but it takes more than a curriculum to be successful. Earth Gardens provides that bridge. The mission of Earth Gardens is to enrich youth in school by helping them developing awareness of renewable and sustainable habitats with hands-on gardening experiences.
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