Get Involved

Ask-a-Master Gardener/Plant Clinic Committee (AAMG)

The Ask a Master Gardener/Plant Clinic Committee supports the UME AAMG program, providing information and answering questions from home gardeners at farmers markets, libraries, and events throughout Baltimore city. A few of our regular locations are the Baltimore Farmer’s Market (JFX), Waverly Farmers Market, Mt. Washington Farmer’s Market, and Rawlings Conservatory.  Find a contact person here.

Bay-Wise Committee

The Bay-Wise Committee supports the UME Bay-Wise Program by helping gardeners in Baltimore City communities create and maintain environmentally-sound yards and gardens through education on simple, sustainable gardening practices that promote water and soil quality.

Baltimore City residents can schedule a Bay-Wise garden certification or a garden consultation to learn how to achieve certification, by contacting the Bay-Wise committee using this link to the contact form.
Learn more about garden certification and consultation from these brochures:        for Landscapes           for Food Gardens          for Urban Spaces

Find a contact person here.

Community Outreach Committee

The Community Outreach Committee develops and shares information with the UME Baltimore City Master Gardener Board of Advisors on potential collaborations with organizations that serve to promote the UME Master Gardener Program. The committee also disseminates information on UME BCMG events to organizations across Baltimore to increase participation and extend the reach of our work. Find a contact person here.

Compost Committee

The Compost Committee supports the UME Compost Program, educating Baltimore City residents about backyard and community compost options; soil testing and improvement; and fertilizer use through presentations and hands-on instruction. Find a contact person here.

Demonstration Gardens Committee

BCMGs plan and maintain demonstration gardens to teach Baltimore City home gardeners and fellow Master Gardeners sustainable gardening techniques and to highlight plant varieties that thrive in local gardens.  We emphasize environmental stewardship, using integrated pest management, not pesticides, and installing plants that favor nature’s pollinators.

BCMG-affiliated demonstration gardens are:

·         The UME Master Gardener Demonstration Intern Garden (DIG) located at Cylburn Arboretum

·         The UME Master Gardener Learning Garden (in conjunction with Baltimore County Master Gardeners) located at the Maryland State Fairgrounds 

·         Gertrude’s Garden located at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Find a contact person here.

Grow It, Eat it Committee (GIEI)

The Grow It, Eat It committee supports the UME GIEI program, helping Baltimore City residents to grow their own food. We provide presentations and demonstrations at libraries, schools, and other community sites and help plan new and revitalized gardens. Some of the topics available for presentations are starting vegetable gardens, container gardens, drip irrigation, composting, and seed starting. New committee members receive assistance with delivering these talks. Find a contact person here.

Pollinator Committee (POLIN)

The Pollinator Committee supports the UME Pollinator Program by helping residents and community groups design and plant pollinator gardens; by providing learning sessions for community groups on pollinator issues and pollinator gardens, and by collecting and propagating native seeds and distributing native plants to city pollinator gardens established by BCMGs and others.

POLIN Garden Consultations - Baltimore City residents can schedule a one-hour POLIN consultation to learn more about starting a pollinator garden at home. Find a contact person here.

Seed Starting Committee

With special permission from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, the Seed Starters Committee grows vegetable and herb plants in the greenhouse at Cylburn Arboretum, Seedlings are used in the Demonstration Intern Garden (DIG) at Cylburn, a public garden, and are for sale on Cylburn Market Day, held in May each year. Find a contact person here.

Special Events Committee

The Special Events Committee coordinates UME BCMG internal events, such as the Recognition Event, as well as public events, providing volunteers and educational material.  The public events include GROW Center (Green Resources & Outreach for Watersheds) pop-ups, Flower Mart in Mt. Vernon, Cylburn Market Day, and the Baltimore Herb Festival in Leakin Park as well as others. Find a contact person here.

Therapeutic Horticulture Committee

The Therapeutic Horticulture Committee partners with assisted living facilities, hospitals, schools, public gardens, nonprofits, or other similar local organizations and programs to offer help in creating and maintaining accessible gardens, to provide educational materials, and to teach accessible gardening principles. Find a contact person here.

Youth and Schools Committee

The Youth & Schools Committee implements youth education programming, often in local schools. These activities may include classrooms lessons, on-site programs in UME BCMG demonstration gardens and creating materials for a youth audience. We also partner with local organizations such as the Junior Master Gardener Program, 4-H Youth, Scouts, and others, to conduct local activities promoting the UME Master Gardener Program. Find a contact person here.