Who We Are

A Brief History — 

The first Master Gardener (MG) program in the State of Washington was initiated in 1973 with the express purpose, after a suitable period of training, of assisting Washington State University (WSU) Extension personnel in providing education and information to the gardening public. In Clallam County, the program was established in 1981.

In the mid-1980s, the Clallam County Master Gardeners wanted to maintain a garden where they could demonstrate gardening practices suitable for the Olympic Peninsula and test different types of plants and gardening techniques. After considerable research, discussions, and visits to many MG demonstration gardens in the Puget Sound area, they concluded that it was preferable to have their own garden rather than one in a county or city park. They then leased a 2.47-acre parcel at 2711 Woodcock Road for their garden. Before they could lease this property, however, they had to create a legal entity that could sign a lease agreement . . . the Master Gardener Foundation of the Olympic Peninsula.

In 1987, the Foundation was registered as a non-profit corporation in the state of Washington. Over the next few years, the land was improved and the garden began to take shape. In addition to demonstrations of gardening techniques, the Foundation donated considerable produce to the local food bank. Then, in 1990, the property owners decided to sell their land. The Foundation did not have the funds to purchase their parcel and were about to lose the garden they had worked so hard to develop. After reading about their plight in the newspaper, an anonymous donor provided the funds to purchase the garden. In 1992, the Foundation became the legal owner of the garden on Woodcock Road.

With ownership came responsibility . . . the Foundation would have to cover all the expenses and improvements to the property. After attempting to partner with other organizations to support the garden, the Foundation decided to hold the property itself and raise the funds to care for it. It also applied for and was granted 501(c)(3) charitable organization status. In the years since 1992, the Foundation has developed into a successful fundraising entity. It has been able to fund many improvements to the property (a building, pavilion, well, irrigation system, etc.) and to provide financial support for many aspects of the MG program working closely with the WSU Extension office. In 2010, the registered name of the Foundation was changed from Master Gardener Foundation of the Olympic Peninsula to Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County. Membership in the Foundation is open to Master Gardeners certified in Clallam County.

 Each year several members are selected for special recognition with the Golden Trowel Award and a Master Gardener and Intern are recognized for their efforts in the previous year.