If You Build It, Will They Come? Examining Motivations of Extension Master Gardener Volunteers

Abstract

Gardening activities are considered an outcome of environmental stewardship at many scales, including wildlands, urban areas, and public and private lands. Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers are recruited to assist Extension with the public dissemination of consumer horticulture research. This study probed the motivations of EMG volunteers by applying the Volunteer Functions Inventory to examine differences between demographic subgroups and to connect motivations to program tenure, with the intent to better support future engagement of a diverse array of program participants. Theoretical motivations were apparent and distinct in this sample, with a modified function (Learning) reported most important. Though the Social function was not an important initial motivator, it displayed importance in every subgroup comparison, and both Learning and Career functions were correlated with tenure. It is possible that Social functions are not distinct in initial motivations of EMG volunteers because Social functions are entwined with their Values.

Keywords:

• Consumer horticulture
• environmental stewardship
• persistence
• program managers
• rural
• social
• tenure
• urban
• volunteer functions inventory

Acknowledgments

Great appreciation is expressed to the many EMG coordinators and EMG volunteers who have assisted with the study. Thank you to Denny Schrock and Cynthia Haynes, Iowa State University, for their contributions.