The Colorado Master Gardener Program: Planting Gardens, Growing People


The Colorado Master Gardener Program
in Weld County


In Weld County, the Colorado Master Gardener volunteers are a dedicated group of 30 volunteers that provide gardening information to the Weld County community through activities and outreach.

CMG Outreach

CMGs at Greeley Farmer's MarketGarden Line Telephone Bank - Weld County residents may leave messages with questions regarding home gardening on the Weld County Master Gardener voicemail at 970-604-6535 from mid-April through October.  CMG volunteers will promptly return each call with an educated response and/or with additional information provided through email.

Farmer’s Market Booth - On Saturday’s from the middle of June through September, the Weld County CMGs have an informational booth at the Greeley Farmers' Market.  Weld County residents can bring gardening questions, samples for identification, and samples for diagnostics to the CMGs for help.

CMGs leading garden tourTreasure Island Demonstration Garden - This plant demonstration garden located in Windsor, CO, was started in 2008 as a cooperative effort between the Town of Windsor and the CMGs of Weld County.  This demonstration garden was developed using virtually no money on land donated-for-use by the Town of Windsor.  Since the garden is located along the Poudre River Trail, hundreds of people pass by every week, which has provided an excellent way to show a variety of plants and their uses.  The vegetable portion of the garden provides the Windsor Community with ideas on what vegetable varieties will grow best in the area, while proving the Windsor Food Pantry with around 600 pounds of fresh vegetables every summer.

Additional outreach

  • Monthly Newspaper articles in the Greeley Tribune
  • Speaker’s Bureau
  • Informational Booths throughout the community
  • The Weld County Fair through the Open-Class Vegetable category
  • Mentoring community gardens and school gardens

CMG assisting at Weld Ccounty FairEducation for CMG Volunteers


  • CMG Basic Training is offered by a multi-county partnership with Boulder, Adams, Larimer and Weld Counties.
  • The daytime course is held on Fridays, January through March at The Ranch (Larimer County Fairgrounds in Loveland)
  • The evening course is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, September to December in Boulder.
  • Weld County Extension offers CMG volunteers a variety of continuing education opportunities.
  • Special diagnostic training.
  • Local classes and tours.
  • Multi-county and regional educational opportunities include CMG Plus Classes, ProGreen, CSU Short Course and CSU Field Days.

community gardenSummary


  • CMG volunteers: 30
  • Annual volunteer hours: 1,600
  • Annual value of volunteer time: $34,400

Contact Us

CSU Extension, Weld County Office
     525 North 15th Avenue
     Greeley, CO 80631-2049
     Phone: (970) 304-6535
     Fax: (970) 351-0415
     CMG Garden Line: 970-604-6535

CMG Staff

  • Carrie Shimada, Horticulture Program Assistant at (970) 304-6535 x2081