History

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City (MGGKC) started in 1987 as a program of the
University of Missouri Extension. MGGKC joined the Urban Region of the Missouri Master
Gardener Association, www.momga.org, in 2012 and today 25 Missouri chapters participate in
MOMGA. Quarterly meetings in Columbia, MO provide updates from MU Extension and affords
members a platform to share programming ideas.

In 2019, we had 228 Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) reporting volunteer hours, serving Clay, Platte,
and Jackson counties. 37 in-class and online trainees graduated to become EMG Interns. And this
year we welcomed 11 new Emeritus members for a total of 96 Emeritus EMGs, members that have
been active for 10 years. By year end, 18 EMGs had also completed their active volunteer years and
will become Emeritus members in 2020.

To join MGGKC, our volunteers complete 16 weeks of training. These classes are taught by horticulture
educators and professionals in the field. Following training, each intern completes 45 hours of
volunteer service in the community.

Volunteer opportunities include community and affiliate garden projects, located at historic sites,
museum grounds, a nature preserve, schools, and several community gardens. Volunteers provide
horticulture education for the public through the Children’s programs, Garden Hotline, Speakers’
Bureau, five Gardeners Gathering lectures and our highly successful Spring Seminar.