Master Gardener Association of San Diego

What Master Gardener Association of San Diego does

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the UC Master Gardener Program in San Diego County. Founded circa 1983 and celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, the organization distributes University of California research-based horticulture and pest management information to San Diego County residents through a volunteer-staffed 24/7 Ask a Master Gardener Hotline (phone and email), monthly newsletters, a long-running blog, a San Diego Union-Tribune column, and free community workshops. It operates no proprietary technology; its platform is the trained and certified volunteer workforce, backed by UC Cooperative Extension curriculum and continuing education. Programs span School Gardens, Community Gardens, Earth Friendly Gardens, Beginning Vegetable Gardening, Friendly Inclusive Gardening (FIG), Reminiscence Gardening, and Global Culinary, plus specialized work with memory-care residences, the Youth Transition Campus, and the East Mesa Re-entry Facility.

The organization's product surface consists entirely of free educational services and community programs rather than commercial products. Revenue is generated through member activities, donations, sponsorships (Husqvarna, Walter Andersen Nursery, Kellogg Garden Products, RCP Block & Supply), and quarterly plant sale events featuring thousands of affordably priced plants. Plant sales and educational expos (Spring Garden Expo, Balboa Park sales, Fall Garden Tour, Community Garden Leaders Day) function as both fundraising mechanisms and engagement touchpoints. There are no paid customer accounts, no fees, and no disclosed financial figures. The business model is best characterized as a community-funded knowledge-distribution nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise.

Strategically, the association is anchored to two core relationships: the UC Cooperative Extension, which provides scientific framework and training, and the County of San Diego, which provides facilities and regulatory collaboration (e.g., the Plant Safely website). Six-month certified training cycles, ongoing continuing education for active Master Gardeners, and selective admission (fewer than half of applicants accepted) sustain the credentialed volunteer base. Geographic scope is exclusively San Diego County; there is no product, pricing, or expansion into adjacent markets, and no M&A, funding, or acquisition activity has occurred.

Name

Master Gardener Association of San Diego

Legal name

Master Gardener Association of San Diego County

Website

https://mastergardenersd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the UC Master Gardener Program, distributing research-based horticulture and pest management education to San Diego County residents through volunteer-staffed hotlines, workshops, and free community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horticultural Education Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (56173), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Native & Pollinator Garden Design/Install (HSAIABAG), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Garden Bed Design, Layout & Planting Plans (HSAIAFAA), Tree & Shrub Fertilization & Plant Health Care (PHC) (HSAIAGAG)

Keywords

• Home gardening education
• Horticulture training
• Pest management advice
• Community garden programs
• Master gardener certification

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization that supports the UC Master Gardener Program in San Diego County. It delivers free research-based home horticulture and pest management advice through a 24/7 hotline, a six-month volunteer training and certification program, community and school garden support, plant sales, and published educational resources (Pest Notes, Growing Guides, Vegetable Planting Guide, monthly newsletter).

Product overview

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization that supports the UC Master Gardener Program of San Diego County. Rather than a technology product company, it operates educational and community programs including a Master Gardener Hotline for gardening advice, a six-month training certification program, and various community initiatives such as School Gardens, Community Gardens, Earth Friendly Gardens, Beginning Vegetable Gardening, Friendly Inclusive Gardening (FIG), Reminiscence Gardening, and Global Culinary programs. The organization also conducts seasonal Plant Sale events, publishes a monthly newsletter ('Dig It!'), and provides educational resources including Pest Notes, Vegetable Planting Guides, and Growing Guides. These programs work together to deliver research-based horticulture and pest management education to San Diego County residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UC Master Gardener Hotline A free hotline service where trained Master Gardeners provide research-based gardening advice to San Diego County residents via phone (858) 822-6910 and email [email protected], available 24/7.
• Master Gardener Training Program A six-month training program (January to June) that teaches horticulture and pest management; trainees become certified UCCE Master Gardeners after completing the course and passing a final exam. Conducted every two years with limited spots.
• School Gardens Program Program advising schools on establishing and maintaining educational gardens for students, including school grant support.
• Community Gardens Program Program that advises community gardens and helps transform empty lots into green areas for residents to grow produce.
• Earth Friendly Gardens Program Program promoting sustainable and earth-friendly gardening practices including water conservation, native plants, and integrated pest management.
• Beginning Vegetable Gardening Program Educational resources and workshops teaching new gardeners how to grow vegetables successfully in San Diego's climate.
• Friendly Inclusive Gardening (FIG) An inclusive gardening approach using Universal Design principles to create accessible garden spaces with features like raised beds and modified tools for disabled gardeners.
• Reminiscence Gardening Horticultural therapy program designed for memory-care facilities and individuals with dementia.
• Global Culinary Program Program exploring edible plants from various cultural traditions suitable for San Diego's climate.
• Plant Sale Events Seasonal plant sales featuring thousands of affordably priced plants including vegetables, natives, drought-tolerant plants, and houseplants, along with educational exhibits and demonstrations; held multiple times per year.
• Pest Notes Knowledge Resource Research-based information sheets helping gardeners identify and manage plant pests using integrated pest management approaches.
• Vegetable Planting Guide Seasonal planting guide for vegetables adapted to San Diego's climate zones.
• Growing Guides Collection of informational guides covering various plants, gardening techniques, and horticultural topics.
• Dig It! Newsletter Monthly digital newsletter 'Dig It!' providing gardening tips, event announcements, and educational articles for members.
• Garden Tool Care Workshops Educational resources and workshops teaching proper garden tool maintenance including cleaning, sharpening, and sanitizing techniques.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RCP Block & SupplyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. RCP (RCP Block & Supply) is a local block and supply company that supports the organization through sponsorship, appearing in the sponsors section of the organization's events and website.
• Walter Andersen NurseryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. Walter Andersen Nursery is a long-established San Diego-area nursery that supports the organization through sponsorship, appearing in the sponsors section at events and on the website.
• Kellogg Garden ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. Kellogg Garden Products provides soil and fertilizer products and supports the organization through sponsorship, appearing at plant sale events and as a sponsor logo on the website.
• HusqvarnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor and partner of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. Husqvarna is a manufacturer of outdoor power products that supports the organization as a sponsor, appearing in the sponsors section. The organization is listed on the Husqvarna Water website as a partner.
• UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Master Gardener Program of San Diego County is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension. The Master Gardener Association provides organizational and financial support to the UCCE program. UCCE provides the scientific framework, training curriculum, and research-based information that Master Gardeners distribute to the public.
• County of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UC Master Gardener Program of San Diego County operates in partnership with the County of San Diego. The County Operations Center provides classroom facilities for the training program, and the organization cooperates with county departments on initiatives including the Plant Safely website for identifying toxic drought-tolerant plants.
• San Diego Epiphyllum SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization with a close relationship. The San Diego Epiphyllum Society holds its annual plant sale in Balboa Park every Mother's Day weekend. Information on epiphyllum hybrid cultivation is featured on the Master Gardener website, and the societies share audiences and educational missions.
• UC Master Food PreserversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner program. Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers frequently co-present workshops and educational events, such as the Spring Gardening Event where they jointly teach food preservation classes (e.g., blueberry jam making, lemon preserving basics, herb preservation).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UC Master Gardener Program of Orange County: County-level UC Master Gardener chapter in Orange County operating under the same UC Cooperative Extension framework and delivering comparable hotline, workshop, and community garden programming to home gardeners.
• UC Master Gardener Program of Los Angeles County: Another Southern California UC Master Gardener chapter under UCCE, delivering essentially identical research-based horticultural education, certification training, and community programs in an adjacent county.
• University of Florida IFAS Extension Master Gardener Program: A university-affiliated Master Gardener volunteer network delivering research-based horticulture education through county-level chapters; structurally and functionally analogous to the San Diego program.
• San Diego Horticultural Society: A San Diego-based membership horticultural society offering educational meetings, garden tours, and plant expertise to local residents; closely comparable mission of advancing regional gardening knowledge and community.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program: A land-grant university extension Master Gardener program in New York that trains and certifies volunteers to deliver research-based horticultural education to local residents under a near-identical cooperative extension model.

Broad incumbents

• American Horticultural Society: A national nonprofit horticultural organization delivering gardening education, publications, and member programming across the United States; comparable mission at a broader geographic scale.
• National Gardening Association: A national nonprofit providing gardening education, plant databases, and community resources; broader scope than a single county chapter but overlapping consumer-facing horticultural education and community engagement mission.
• The Garden Club of America: A national membership organization promoting horticulture, conservation, and gardening education through lectures, scholarships, and community projects; overlapping educational and community-gardening mission at a national scale.

Regional players

• San Diego Botanic Garden: A 37-acre botanical garden in Encinitas operating demonstration gardens, educational programming, and community horticulture events in the same San Diego region with overlapping plant-collection and educational missions.
• Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program: Another land-grant extension Master Gardener network operating a similar volunteer-trained, hotline- and workshop-driven horticultural education model but serving Oregon rather than Southern California.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Master Gardener Association of San Diego