Which of the following is NOT an approved Master Gardener volunteer activity?

• A. labeling a demonstration garden at the County Extension office
• B. teaching plant propagation to school children
• C. planting and maintaining church flower gardens
• D. answering neighbors' garden questions

Answer: (C)

Master Gardeners serve through Extension by providing education, outreach, and guidance that uses research-based horticulture to benefit the public. Activities should align with Extension’s mission and be part of publicly accessible learning or assistance, supervised or coordinated by Extension staff.

Labeling a demonstration garden at the County Extension office is a clear fit because it creates an educational display that visitors can learn from, using vetted practices. Teaching plant propagation to school children directly spreads gardening knowledge to youth in an educational setting. Answering neighbors’ garden questions is a classic Extension outreach role, offering research-based guidance to the community.

Planting and maintaining church flower gardens, while valuable to the church and community, generally falls outside Extension’s formal outreach unless it’s part of a coordinated Extension program. Without that coordination, it isn’t considered an approved Master Gardener volunteer activity.