​The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer program that serves state citizens with horticulture education!
The program trains and certifies volunteers who provide community service through county Extension offices. Master Gardeners are trained, certified volunteers for the University of Tennessee Extension County Offices.
Tennessee Extension Master Gardeners (TEMG’s) are trained volunteers that help the Extension Service share the latest and greatest gardening information! All volunteers are trained with 40 hours of horticultural classes and return 40 hours of volunteer community service through their Extension office.
2027 Master Gardener Intern Class
Applications open November 1st, 2026!
The 2027 Master Gardener Intern class will meet on Tuesdays from February 2, 2027, through April 27, 2027. Classes will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each Tuesday at the Sevier County Extension Office.
The class fee is $175, which includes course materials, the Master Gardener Handbook, and additional program resources.
Applications will be accepted beginning November 1, 2026, and must be received no later than January 15, 2027. After applying, a brief interview will be conducted in person or by phone before acceptance into the program. Once accepted, the $175 program fee may be paid in the office or online.
2027 Intern Training Schedule
Feb. 2nd Local Opening week with no zoom
Feb. 9th Welcome to TEMG and TN Geography- Chap. 1,2 – Dr.
Natalie Bumgarner and the whole TEMG Workgroup
Feb. 16th
Stewardship- Chap. 4- Dr. Andrea Ludwig and Emily
Richards
Feb. 23rd
Soils and mgt.- Chap. 5,6- Gregg Upchurch and Melody
Rose
Mar. 2nd
Botany and propagation- Chap. 3- Dr. Bumgarner and
Lucas Holman
Mar. 9th
Vegetable gardens- Chap. 11- Amy Dunlap and Melody
Rose
Mar. 16th
Home fruit- Chap. 12- Gregg Upchurch and Dr. Annie
Vogel
Mar. 23rd
Entomology and IPM- Chap. 13- Seth Whitehouse and
Dr. Chris Cooper
Mar. 30th
Pathology and diagnostics- Chap. 14- Celeste Scott and
Justin Stefanski
Apr. 6th
Turfgrass and weed mgt- Chap. 10,15- Dr. Becky
Bowling and a member of the weed science crew
Apr. 13th
Sustainable design and herbaceous plants- Chap. 7,9-
Mike Ross and Celeste Scott
Apr. 20th Woody ornamentals- Chap. 8- Taylor Reeder and Lee
Rumble
Apr. 27th
Pollinators and Wildlife- Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda and
Haley Treadway