Iowa Master Gardener Program Opens Fall 2026 Applications

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach announced that applications are now open for the Fall 2026 Garden Academy, the required training for the Iowa Master Gardener program. Interested participants must apply by August 14, and classes begin on August 31. The training will be offered across 34 Iowa counties.

The program combines an online Garden Academy course, a county‑level volunteer orientation, and a 40‑hour internship where volunteers apply horticultural knowledge through community projects such as garden maintenance, food‑pantry produce growing, and public education. The Iowa Master Gardener program has been operating for more than four decades, engaging thousands of volunteers to promote research‑based gardening practices throughout the state.