Registration is open for the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener online spring 2026 course. The 15-week class runs Jan. 2-April 27. The online core training course is designed to provide in-depth horticultural knowledge, says MU Extension Master Gardener state coordinator Debi Kelly. The course includes presentations and weekly discussion forums. To become an Extension Master Gardener, participants must complete the training and volunteer at least 30 hours in the first year and 20 hours per year afterward through MU Extension. Gardening is an activity with many rewards, Kelly says. “One of those rewards is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others.” The Extension Master Gardener program provides in-depth horticultural training to individuals who then help others learn about gardening and the environment, she says. “The program’s motto, ‘helping others learn to grow,’ emphasizes service to others as the program’s main objective,” Kelly says. …