Welcome to MGFTC

Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Washington State University Extension to provide science-based information to home gardeners about best gardening practices.

Our Foundation supports the Master Gardener Program through fundraising, organizing educational events, managing demonstration gardens and more. Learn more about the Foundation by visiting the Get to Know Us page.

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener or Master Composter, please visit WSU’s Thurston County Master Gardener Program website.

50th Anniversary
National Master Gardeners
Program Celebration

April 8, 2023
1-4pm
Puyallup, WA


Foundation Membership

Membership in MGFTC is only $10/year!

Join today and help support the Master Gardener program and the Foundation’s educational efforts to provide our community members on the benefits of water-wise gardening, growing food, low-impact landscaping, diagnosing plant diseases and pests, and recycling and composting.

You don’t need to be a Master Gardener or Master Composter to join the Foundation and support these programs and volunteers.

Ask a Master Gardener!

Visit the WSU Thurston County Extension website to get your questions answered by an certified Washington State University (WSU) Master Gardener volunteer.

This service is FREE for Thurston County residents.

Foundation Events

  • 50th Anniversary Master Garden Program
    April 8, 2023 from 1pm to 4pm Please join us as we celebrate 50 years of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program around Washington State! Master Gardener Program 50th Anniversary
  • March 16 Membership Meeting
    Thursday, February 16 6:30 PM – Membership Meeting 7:00 PM – Topic: Healthy Soil in a Changing Climate
  • Foundation Meeting: Native by Design – Virtual
    Gardening to Invite and Support Biodiversity Thursday, June 16 6:30 PM – Membership Meeting 7:00 PM – Guest Speaker, Eileen Stark Virtual Presentation via Zoom Learn how to garden with an ecologic focus by utilizing the basic design elements of native gardening and maintaining your garden with wildlife-friendly techniques.

Master Gardener/Composter
Program Events

  • 2023 WSU Master Gardener Training
    January 27 – June 9, 2023 Don’t delay… Apply TODAY! The training class does have a cap and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. If there is still room, the very last date to submit your volunteer application is 5pm on Friday, December 9, 2022.
  • Master Recycler Composter Volunteer Training
    Apply Today! Deadline to apply is 5pm on September 1, 2022 Are you passionate about reducing, re-using, recycling, and composting in our community? If you are, then join the Thurston County Master Recycler Composter volunteer program!

FOUNDATION PLANT SALES!

Starting in April and going till October, every second Wednesday of the month, from 10am to 1pm, at our Dirt Works Demonstration Garden in West Olympia. Come talk to Volunteers about your plant needs and browse all the varieties of plants at the plant sale, with all proceeds supporting community gardening!
Learn More About Our Plant Sales

HANDICRAFT SALES – Online!

Handicrafts created by Foundation members are available for purchase online on the Foundation’s Cheddar Up shop. Or come visit a plant sale where many of the handicraft items are for sale as well, all proceeds support the Foundation’s mission.
Learn More About Foundation Handicraft Sales


Master Gardener Program Demonstration Gardens



With financial support from the Foundation, the WSU Master Gardeners Program of Thurston County has three demonstration gardens that have hours available to the public as well as workshops and trainings, which can be found on their Events listing page.


Some highlights in recent years are a new shed at Closed Loop with funds received from our community partners the Nisqually Indian Tribe (thank you!) And we will soon be soliciting funding for new irrigation systems at all three of our gardens, if you are able to contribute we are very grateful.


Olympia’s Farmer’s Market

Olympia Farmers’ Market
Demonstration Garden
(downtown Olympia)

Dirt Works

Dirt Works
Demonstration Garden
(West Olympia)

Closed Loop

Closed Loop
Demonstration Garden
(Lacey)