Despite diverse backgrounds, education and experience, Franklin County Master Gardeners (FCMGs), share a love of gardening.  We want to learn more about gardening and use that knowledge and experience to educate others in our community about responsible horticulture and sustainable landscape practices.  We receive 50 hours of specialized training in horticulture and landscaping while working with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) in programs designed to:  ‘enhance the environment through sustainable landscape practices; use horticulture and landscaping to promote community development; produce food,  improve nutrition and food security; and provide positive, educational experiences for youth in horticulture and landscaping.’ 

Our local Franklin County chapter was started in 1994, after their first training class, with 20 members.  

Some of the early projects were :

• Workshops at the local farmers market 
• Working in the Cooperative Extension Office to answer gardening call-in questions
• School programs such as “Teaching Children About Plants”
• Butterfly and wildflower gardens at Waid Park
• Garden Planning Guide was published in 2000
• Grants of $250 were awarded to local schools for implementing teaching gardens

Although they used less electronic communication and more “old fashioned” typing and mailing, the love of gardening was clear, as well as the desire to share that love with others.

The Franklin County Virginia Master Gardeners Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization soliciting tax deductible private contributions for the benefit of FCVMGA. The FCVMGA is registered or is in the process of registering to solicit charitable contributions with the appropriate governing authorities in all states requiring registration.

In order to obtain information about our registration or a copy of the current financial statement, please contact: Franklin County Virginia Cooperative Extension, 30 East Court Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 / Phone 540-483-5161.

Franklin County Virginia Master Gardeners are dedicated to educating the public about home horticulture.  They work in a variety of settings and can choose to volunteer on projects where they literally get their hands dirty or on other, less dirty, projects in which they are educating the community about horticulture and environmentally responsible landscape practices.  These projects include educational and community service efforts such as:  the “Giving Garden”, supplying fresh vegetables to a local food bank; the “Food and Garden Guide”, a directory of local farms and gardens in the Franklin County area; the demonstration “Buffer Garden” designed to educate the community about sustainable and environmentally friendly landscaping practices or the VCE Help Line, in which FCMGs answer residents’ gardening related questions.  For a more complete description of all our projects and programs please go to our PROJECTS page.

Toward our mission of “sharing knowledge and enhancing the environment”, VA Cooperative Extension and the Franklin County Master Gardeners work with numerous public and private community organizations such as:  The Smith Mountain Lake Association, Ferrum College, Booker T Washington National Monument, the Skelton 4H Center and the Smith Mountain Lake Rotary Club.

You can make a difference! Call the Franklin County Extension Office in Rocky Mount and sign up to be in the next Master Gardener Training Class 540-483-5161.

Flowchart from gardenlady.com