Welcome to the Master Gardener Foundation of King County
The Master Gardener Foundation of King County (MGFKC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds for the King County Master Gardener Program. MGFKC is a member of the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State .The money raised supports a variety of educational programs for residents all over the county.
Please donate to the Foundation today to support our Master Gardener volunteers.
Master Gardener Foundation 2024 Annual Meeting
If you are curious about the Master Gardeners 2023 financial performance, please see the Annual Meeting highlights and materials:
2025 Fall Appeal: Growing Together
Will you help us continue funding Program activities by donating to the Foundation today? Here is what your generous donation could support:
- A gift of $100 can support 2 educational seminar classes, including those that help address food security
- A gift of $500 can support 10% of our annual technology expenses
- A gift of $1000 can support 50% of the cost of one Demonstration Garden
Our 2025 Master Gardeners: Growing Together Fall Appeal is seeking to raise $40,000 by year-end. We have 100% participation by active members of your Board of Directors, who have already collectively pledged $5,118 toward our goal.
So far we have raised $23,974 towards our $40,000 fundraising target!
What’s Happening Now?
- Registration opened December 31st for the new PNW Garden Savvy classes and series subscription!
- Registration opened December 1st for the new 2026 Growing Groceries: The Basics and Beyond series subscriptions!
- From the Master Gardener Foundation of WA, here are some great stocking stuffer ideas for your favorite gardener. And all for a great cause – the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program!
- Interested in becoming a King County WSU Extension Master Gardener? Check out how to Become a Master Gardener by enrolling in the Washington Green School.
- King County Extension Master Gardener Sue Melgaard was interviewed recently for the lifestyle show Seattle Refined (airs on KOMO, channel 4, with an associated online newsletter). Journalist Lisa Jaffe conducted an in-depth discussion with Sue about pollinators, a topic she knows very well. Laura Matter, of Tilth Alliance, also contributed her expertise. You can read the interview here: Bee the Change: How to attract pollinators to your PNW garden.
- Follow us on the Master Gardener Foundation of King County Facebook page. Or connect via Instagram @kcmastergardeners.
- Do you have a plant problem? Just Ask a Master Gardener for help anytime.
2026 Educational Classes and Workshops
2026 Growing Groceries: The Basics and Beyond
The Master Gardeners of King County present 2026 Growing Groceries: The Basics and Beyond series subscriptions. Classes are dvided into two separate series that provide six (6) basic and four (4) more advanced presentations. You can sign up for one or both Series!
The Basics series is pre-recorded with six (6) video links delivered immediately upon registration to allow for self-paced viewing. Topics include: Container Gardening; Backyard Fruit Trees; Hearty Greens, Peas and Carrots; Cole Crops; Tomatoes; Beans and Squash.
The Beyond the Basics series is designed for the ‘seasoned gardener’. Topics include: Seed Starting; Evaluating Soil, Soil Testing and Interpreting Results; Advanced Integrated Pest Management; All About Seed Saving. These classes complement the Growing Groceries: The Basics series and held ‘live on Zoom’ on selected Webnesdays between January and July 2026.
2026 PNW Garden Savvy
PNW Garden Savvy has a new lineup of classes starting in 2026. You can register for the entire series or one class at a time.
The first series of six classes starts on January 10 and ends on March 21. Topics include: More Resilient Garden; Principles of Gardening; Growing Flowers and Vegetables from Seed; Native PNW Bulbs; Introduction to Pruning.
The second series of classes starts on April 11 and ends on June 6. You can register for the entire series or one class at a time. Topics include: Natural Lawn Care; Basics of Composting; The Beauty of Weeds; Attracting Hummingbirds; Soil Fertility & Fertilizers for King County; Dahlias, 101, 102 & 103.
The third series of classes starts on September 12 and ends on November 7. Topics include: Growing Unusual Edible Plants; Habitat Gardening for Pollinators; Choosing the Right Bulbs; All Season Grass Garden; Resilient Landscapes; Seed Snails and Winter Sowing.
Class & Event Calendar
Making a Difference
In 2024, we served our King County gardening community in 39 Plant Answer Clinics and 12 demonstration and outreach gardens, through online classes and workshops, serving over 16,663 clients at clinic events in 2024. Our 611 WSU Extension Master Gardeners spent over 31,652 hours in service.
We have demonstration gardens throughout King County. We help fund capital expenditures to improve the productivity of our demonstration and outreach gardens. Last year, we donated over 4,477 pounds of produce to local food banks in King County to help address food insecurity.
We have gardening events in our youth gardens at Magnuson Childrens Garden, Tribal Life Trail, Bellevue Demo Garden childrens garden, and Shorewood High School. This education serves to connect young people with the world around them and teach how plants grow and thrive.
We connect with home gardeners in urban, suburban, and rural areas. We offer free advice through our Plant Answer Clinics at farmers’ markets and stores and our online email clinic.
Your contributions help our program. Please support us.
Washington State University Extension
The King County Master Gardener Program has a broad reach into the community.
WSU Extension Master Gardeners serve thousands of clients at ‘Ask-a-Master Gardener’ clinics located at farmers markets, hardware stores and nurseries throughout King County.
Our 10 Demonstration Gardens, donate thousands of pounds of fresh organic produce each year and provide opportunites for county youth to learn and practice good gardening skills.
The King County Master Gardener Program provides educational opportunities for residents who want to better serve their local communities.
Interested in becoming a Master Gardener?
If you love gardening and want to support environmental education opportunities in your neighborhood, consider becoming a WSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer in King County. Our Master Gardener volunteers empower and sustain diverse communities by sharing relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education. We become part of a special community, building lifelong friendships, and enjoying meaningful experiences while learning and teaching fellow gardeners.