We are excited about the growing interest in home horticulture among Ector County residents!

To encourage the great local interest in environmental stewardship and home gardening, AgriLife Extension hosts workshops and events throughout the Odessa area, offers a wide spectrum of literature and practical resources, and coordinates the Permian Basin Master Gardener volunteer program.

Master Gardener volunteers are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. What really sets Master Gardener volunteers apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, these AgriLife volunteers give back to the community, working under the direction of the Horticulture agent, to provide horticultural-related information to their communities. Master Gardeners complete 60 hours of intensive training and a year-long internship to offer research-based horticultural information and advice to the West Texas community.