Master Gardeners is International

The Master Gardener concept was originally created in Washington State (USA) in 1972. The concept began in Canada in 1985 as a program of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Ontario's first pilot sites began in Brigden, Englehart and London with 39 participants. The next year, Brantford, Stratford, Ottawa, Windsor, Algoma West, Burlington and St. Catharines joined and brought with them another 154 volunteers. Simcoe County Master Gardeners began in 1987.

By the end of 1989,OMAFRA was funding 19 groups with 337 active volunteers. In 1996, funding was discontinued and Master Gardeners of Ontario, Inc.(MGOI) was incorporated as an independent organization governing Master Gardener groups across Ontario.

There are now 41 groups of Master Gardeners in Ontario with over 800 members. The organization is divided into 11 zones. Simcoe County Master Gardeners are part of Zone 11 along with Muskoka/Parry Sound Master Gardeners and Haliburton Highlands Master Gardeners.

Master Gardener Groups in Ontario

.As stated above, there are 41 Master Gardener groups in Ontario. To find information about the group closest to you, contact the Provincial Administrator:

Charlotte Vorstermans, 705-466-2458 or email Charlotte

Zone 1: Thunder Bay

Zone 2: Algoma, North Bay, Sudbury

Zone 3: Elgin County, West Elgin, Essex-Windsor, London-Middlesex, Sarnia-Lambton

Zone 4: Cambridge, Guelph & Wellington County, Huron, Kitchener, Oxford, Stratford

Zone 5: Brantford, Halton, Dunnville-Haldiman, Niagara, Norfolk County

Zone 6: Lake Simcoe South, Mississauga, Oakville, Toronto, Etobicoke

Zone 7: Prince Edward County, Quinte-Tweed, Rideau 1000 Islands

Zone 8: Lanark County, Ottawa-Carleton, Renfrew County, United Counties

Zone 9: Durham Region, Lindsay & District, Northumberland, Peterborough

Zone 10: Bruce South, Grey

Zone 11: Haliburton Highlands, Muskoka-Parry Sound, Simcoe