MARIPOSA, CA – Are you interested in gardening and want to learn more? Are you looking to be more active in our Mariposa Community? Do you enjoy interacting with others, sharing ideas, and making new friends? Do you have a talent in computer skills, writing, or social media? If you are thinking…that sounds like me…then consider becoming a UC Mariposa Master Gardener.

The UC Master Gardener mission is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California. In our case the residents of Mariposa Country. Don’t worry if that sounds too lofty, we teach you what you need to know, how to apply it and where to find the answers to quirky questions. And if this is piquing your interest, there is a new training class starting in January 2026!

In the training class you will learn about plant identification and propagation, understanding soil, pest identification and management and generally how to garden in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. You will learn about water management, weeds, seeds and insects. You will learn how magical it is to grow plants from seed, nurture them and then sell them to members of your community at our Annual Plant Sale.

There are practice labs where you will determine what type of soil you have on your property, learn the plant families and how to identify particular plants through keying out the flowers, and how fires burn based on fuel, terrain and weather. And just as important as gaining this knowledge, you will have FUN while doing it!

The class uses a hybrid model with most of the training lessons online while also holding in-person labs where the theoretical transforms into practical practice. The labs are the place to get your questions answered by our knowledgeable instructors as well as current Master Gardeners, where you get to get your hands dirty as you physically engage with the plant material in myriad ways, and where you connect with your classmates and develop lasting friendships.

Once you become a UC Master Gardener you will participate in various activities/events where you acquire your required volunteer hours. You see us volunteering at the Farmer’s Market, the Butterfly Festival, Pow Wow, the fair, and other community events where we get the word out about home horticulture. We also have public workshops throughout the year and are delving into webinar presentations too. We have monthly meetings (mostly on Zoom) and various in-person gatherings throughout the year. It’s really all about working and learning with a group of local, passionate gardening enthusiasts! You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!

To learn more about our 2026 UC Master Gardener Training Class, go to https://ucanr.edu/county- office/mariposa-county/be-master-gardener. To apply, contact Sheri Mace: smace@ucanr.edu or call 209 966-2417. Deadline for applications is November 29th.

This story was written by By Tery Susman, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County

UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County are located in Mariposa at 5009 Fairgrounds Rd. Visit our website at http:// cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master Gardener/, Facebook – UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County or Instagram – ucmariposamg for more gardening information and events. UC Master Gardeners staff a Helpline serving Mariposa County, including Greely Hill, Coulterville, and Lake Don Pedro (209)-966-7078 or mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu). Listen to us on the radio at KRYZ 98.5 Mariposa on Wednesdays at 2:00 and Saturdays at 5:00.

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