Master gardeners, are you looking for opportunities to earn service hours toward re-certification? Some may include digging in the dirt, while others are purely administrative. Fill out the form for whatever interests you. Click here to go to the form.

Established in 2004, the Teaching Garden serves as an outdoor classroom for training new Master Gardeners and as an educational resource for the public. The garden features 12 distinct garden areas, each with its own plant palette, organized into two macro teams: Natives and Ornamentals.

The garden beds are maintained by Dane County Extension Horticulture Volunteers under the guidance of the Dane County Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist. The Teaching Garden surrounds the Dane County Extension Office at 5201 Fen Oak Drive in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 2016, the Adopt-a-Garden Program was created to organize volunteers into teams responsible for maintaining individual garden beds. Through this program, new volunteers work alongside experienced Extension Horticulture Volunteers, gaining hands-on experience and practical knowledge while putting their Master Gardener training into action.

Volunteers also have opportunities to support other garden areas within their macro team throughout the season. For example, Master Gardeners who volunteer in the Pollinator Garden may also assist with other Natives gardens, such as the Prairie, Rain Garden, Oak Savanna, and Naturalistic Garden.

Master Gardeners interested in becoming Dane County Extension Horticulture Volunteers and serving on a garden team are encouraged to email Karen Allenstein. Additional information about the Teaching Garden can be found here.

Low-Impact Volunteer Opportunities for Early 2026

At MAMGA, we know that our love of gardening and our desire to give back to the community don’t fade as we get older—but our bodies sometimes need a gentler touch. That’s why we’re highlighting volunteer opportunities that are perfect for members who prefer lighter, low-impact activities.

Whether it’s sharing your gardening wisdom, helping with communications, organizing supplies, or assisting behind the scenes, there are meaningful ways to contribute without overexerting yourself. Every bit of time and talent you share makes a real difference in our gardens and for the people we serve.

February-April 2026

• Cutting blinds to make plant labels and writing labels for seed starting annual flowers in the greenhouse (can be done at home)

• Creating plant signs for plants offered in the 2026 Plant Sale using new template created in Canva (will train, can be done at home)

• Extension Horticulture Volunteer (EHV) Activities:

• • Sorting recently donated seed packets which will be distributed to community gardens (can be done at home)

  • Seed starting in the greenhouse, working on a stool (March and April)

Email kallenstein@charter.net if you are interested in any of the projects that do not involve EHV status.

Email Lisa Johnson johnson.lisa@dancounty.gov if you are interested in any of the EHV activities.

Your participation—whatever form it takes—supports the success of our programs. Thank you.

Adopt-A-Garden program

Where: UW West Ag Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Road, Verona, Wisconsin (near West Towne Mall)
When: Throughout the growing season
Time Commitment: 3 hrs per month minimum for Adopt-a-Garden program;  10 to 25hrs for the growing season

Ready to volunteer? Contact Janet Hedtcke

For more info visit their website.

UW-Extension is in the process of building a volunteer portal. It is accessible through the Online Reporting System (ORS). Organizations in need post details about opportunities and who to contact. It is not fully populated yet, but this should be an excellent source in the future.

When you log into ORS, scroll down the left hand column to Volunteer Opportunities. Enter your county and hit “Apply”. All the open volunteer opportunities will display.