Posts Tagged: volunteer

National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 2)

In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.

Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart, who are harvest helpers who empower their community to grow food at home, in school and community gardens—connecting gardeners with resources, knowledge, and support to have a successful food garden harvest and improved access to nutritious fresh produce.

Becky Bednar presenting the program’s first Victory Garden workshop series at a community garden in San Luis Obispo County. Photo: Jacqueline Shubitowsky.

“Becky Bednar is an example of a UC Master Gardener who fully embraces the program's mission, teaching others how to grow their own food,” says Maria Murrieta, program coordinator in San Luis Obispo. “She continually encourages others to go out to the community – to meet people where they are – to provide gardening information.”

Becky transferred to the UC Master Gardener Program of San Luis Obispo County from Los Angeles, where she was introduced to the ‘Grow LA Vegetable Garden Initiative' training. As a beginning gardener, she participated in the workshops, which inspired her to join the program and start teaching food gardening workshops.

Realizing there was a need in her new county, Becky led the effort to start a Victory Garden project in San Luis Obispo County. “The Victory Garden project is a way of bringing gardening to the community. I enjoy helping beginning gardeners learn the basics of edible gardening using hands-on methods. With a little encouragement and hand-holding, the Victory Gardeners become enthusiastic gardeners, hungry for more gardening knowledge,” explains Becky. “I enjoy hearing about their gardening projects and seeing their progress. We encourage participants to continue to work together informally by volunteering at the Victory Garden and donating harvest to the local food bank. We also hold monthly workshops with featured topics of the month as a way of staying in touch.”

After great success with the first Victory Garden location, Becky identified a second location in the town of Oceano to offer food gardening classes where the program had not previously had a presence. Thanks to Becky Bednar's positive energy and initiative, the UC Master Gardener Program has had an opportunity to improve and expand outreach to make resources accessible to more county residents.

UC Master Gardener volunteer Christy Gray

Christy Gray

Christy Gray joined the UC Master Gardener Program eager to learn more about gardening and make a difference in her community. Over the past five years, Christy has been involved in many important projects in San Bernardino County. “She was instrumental in establishing our Seed Library program,” says program coordinator Maggie O'Neill, “which has a major focus on education around growing food from seed and learning all about seed saving.” Since then, she has continued to support fellow UC Master Gardener volunteers and projects across the county, taking on a leadership role at many of the program's community gardens. Christy has long been a community garden advocate and supported several community gardens in the inner city San Bernardino area.

In addition to being a UC Master Gardener, Christy completed a farmer-training program run by a local community garden. She wants to take what she has learned to help the county residents address food insecurity by working with several community gardens to help expand their outreach and grow food on a larger scale that can be shared with people in need.

Christy has a passion for helping elevate others and is dedicated to helping teach people about growing their own food at home and in community gardens. She is amazing at highlighting not just the food growing aspects but also the mental health aspects of growing food and how places like community gardens can be a hub where building and collaboration can happen.

Tobi Brown holding her bug-eating secret weapon chicken for sustainable food gardening.

Tobi Brown

moved to Sonoma County after teaching in elementary and middle schools in Gilroy, Calif. for 30 years. She lives with her husband on a property in unincorporated Santa Rosa that the family lovingly calls ‘The Farmstead' where they grow vegetables, fruit trees and berries with their 12 laying hens and a border collie.

Tobi Brown joined the UC Master Gardener Program and quickly got involved in the leadership of its food gardening specialists project. Food gardening specialists provide advanced training in sustainable food gardening to UC Master Gardeners, host public education at several demonstration gardens, conduct workshops, and offer consultations to schools and community groups interested in food gardens across Sonoma County. The food gardening specialist group created a monthly Zoom event called ‘Veggie Happenings through Tobi's leadership.' Each installment is a one-hour video packed with useful, science-based, and timely information with demonstrations on current food gardening topics, all oriented around the seasons.

In her other role, Tobi collaborates with community partner Harvest for the Hungry, a non-profit that provides food for food pantries. “Tobi's knowledge and her eagerness to reach out and teach Sonoma gardeners to grow food is epic,” says UC Master Gardener Anne Haddix. “Her friendly guidance is always focused on the best sustainability practices.” We're grateful for the passion Tobi brings to all of her UC Master Gardener volunteer efforts. Her energy is infectious and results in new food gardeners far beyond Sonoma County!

A seed share space located at the UC Master Gardener demonstration garden at Martial Cottle County Park. UC Master Gardener Hillie Salo (not pictured) was instrumental in bringing the community together to grow food and share seeds.

Hillie Salo

Hillie Salo encourages every gardener she meets to “plant seed, save seed, share seed.” Hillie has focused her volunteer efforts with the UC Master Gardener Program in Santa Clara County on helping people learn how to grow their own food and save seeds. When the pandemic broke out, access to plants, seeds and gardening supplies became challenging to find. Inspired to help her neighbors, Hillie gathered seeds and put them in a box on her street to share. A neighbor's letter expressing their gratitude motivated Hillie to bring the idea of a more permanent seed share to Martial Cottle Park, a public park dedicated to showcasing local agriculture.

A Seed Share is a centralized location or place where the community can share seeds and gardening knowledge. In early 2021, UC Master Gardeners partnered with the Santa Clara County Parks, Slow Food South Bay, and the Boy Scouts of America to bring a Seed Share to Martial Cottle Park. Hilo shepherded the project for almost a year, seeking approval from the program's steering committee and Martial Cottle Park. “Sharing seeds is a wonderful opportunity for a community to build resilience around growing and sharing food. Sharing seeds builds diversity and adaptability into local seeds; strengths needed in the face of climate change,” says Hilo. “Seed Shares bring a risk-free opportunity to new and low-income gardeners.” With the success of the Seed Share in Martial Cottle Park, the goal now is to build a network of Seed Shares at all of the program's demonstration gardens.

It has been a year now since the Martial Cottle Park Seed Share has found a home greeting its visitors as they enter the UC Master Gardener Demonstration Garden. Halo is looking forward to repeat customers at the seed share, where those who had success last year are returning to both contribute and acquire something new. “More often than not in the modern garden, plants we grow are harvested at maturity and people never see the full life cycle of a

plant,” explains Hillie, “What does a plant that has gone to seed look like? You might be surprised. Seeds grown in the Full Life Cycle Garden find their way into the Seed Share and quarterly seed swaps, creating new opportunities.”

About National Volunteer Month and Gardeners with Heart

During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its 6,216 incredible UC Master Gardener volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Throughout the month, we will feature stories of special volunteers or Gardeners with Heart from across the state who use their skills to improve program delivery. Gardeners with Heart are volunteers nominated by their local county leadership as community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for National Volunteer Month and Week!

Special appreciation to UC Master Gardener Program coordinators Maria Murrieta(San Luis Obispo) and Maggie O'Neill (San Bernardino) and volunteer leader Hillie Salo (Santa Clara) for their contributions to this story.

To see additional Gardeners with Heart - Harvest Helpers, view blog post: National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 1)

National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 1)

In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California's communities. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.

Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart, who are harvest helpers who empower their community to grow food at home, in schools and in community gardens. Connecting gardeners with resources, knowledge, and the support they need to have a successful food garden harvest and improved access to nutritious fresh produce.

La’ Toya Taylor-Berthil enjoying the scent of citrus blossoms in San Bernadino County.

Barbara Searles harvesting onion at Mill Valley Community Garden in Marin County.

 

Barbara Searles

As a UC Master Gardener, Barbara Searles is most deeply involved as the co-chair of the School & Community project team and is on the Help Desk steering committee for Marin County. Barbara shares her gardening knowledge and enthusiasm for growing plants as a garden committee leader at the Mill Valley Community Garden, connecting with gardeners of all ages. In addition to her work with community gardens throughout Marin, she shares valuable resources and expertise with a growing number of senior residential community gardens. Recently, the Cities of San Rafael and San Anselmo received insight from Barbara on best practices for community gardens.

Pat Hitchcock (right), UC Master Gardener of Napa County, demonstrates how to plant a lettuce seedling at a recent Ole Health Garden planting event on March 19, 2022.

About National Volunteer Month and Gardeners with Heart

During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its 6,216 incredible UC Master Gardener volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Throughout the month, we will feature stories of special volunteers or Gardeners with Heart from across the state who use their skills to improve program delivery. Gardeners with Heart are volunteers nominated by their local county leadership as community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for National Volunteer Month and Week!

Special appreciation to UC Master Gardener Program coordinators Maggie O'Neil (San Bernardino) Yvonne Rasmussen (Napa) and volunteer leader Jeannette Perez (Marin) for their contributions to this story.

To see additional Gardeners with Heart - Harvest Helpers, view the blog post: National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 2)

National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Environmental Stewardship

In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California communities. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.

Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart, who are true environmental stewards, developing and delivering educational programming that addresses environmental and climate change-related issues in California so that our communities are informed and resilient when facing wildfire, drought, invasive pests, and other challenges.

Linda Haque volunteering at the UC Master Gardener booth at the Fruit Festival, where she shared information about ACP/HLB with residents.

Linda Haque

For more than a decade, UC Master Gardener Linda Haque has dedicated herself to helping save California's citrus from the threat of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and the devastating disease it vectors, Huanglongbing. Shortly after becoming a UC Master Gardener in 2010, Linda Haque pioneered the Ventura County Invasive Pest Outreach Group (IPOG), where she works closely with the Farm Bureau, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and UC ANR to support outreach that increases awareness of ACP across the state, and encourage communities to monitor and report pests.

“There are several motivations for me to work on what began as the 'ACP Committee' back in 2010 as a new UC Master Gardener trainee,” says Haque. “First, the challenge of learning something new was reinforced by interacting with and learning from so many knowledgeable, dedicated people who were also working on this challenge. These people ranged from other UC Master Gardener volunteers, UCCE advisors, people in the farming community, researchers from a variety of institutions […] as well as interact with dedicated, hardworking staff at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. It is gratifying to see how many people care about the value of citrus to our everyday quality of life. As a motto for UCLA Extension notes, 'if you're not learning, you're not living.' Agree!” exclaims Haque.

Today, Linda is well known for her work and has been an integral player in the statewide effort to slow and stop the spread of ACP. Linda's educational efforts have contributed to the well-being of California's citrus industry and we are proud to celebrate her environmental stewardship.

Leslie Hart at a recent UC Master Gardener training class, April 2022

Leslie Hart

Leslie Hart's leadership in guiding the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County's Garden Sense team has sustained the program through the challenges of the pandemic and has brought Garden Sense to new levels of achievement with her creative and exceptional program management. Hart and the team of Garden Sense consultants made a direct impact on landscape water savings during an exceptional drought period. “We estimate that as a result of the Garden Sense program with the square footage of lawn removed by clientele after a visit, we helped Sonoma County save 10.67acre-feet of water in 2022 (one acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons)!” says program manager Mimi Enright. “They did this through a record number of visits in a year: 289!”

We're celebrating Leslie as a Gardener with Heart, for her leadership with this impactful project. While we celebrate her, we also recognize and applaud the entire dedicated team of 41 UC Master Gardener volunteers who serve as Garden Sense consultants. This incredible and dedicated team are inspiring transformed landscapes county-wide. In an impact survey, a client shared, “the women who came out were absolutely fabulous. It is true that I could not have started my project without them. They could see things that I just couldn't see, and left me with some very helpful information. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Fay Mark, UC Master Gardener volunteer and Gardener with Heart in Marin County, a key member of the Marin County’s Fire-Smart Landscaping (FSL) committee.

Fay Mark

In the wake of a series of devastating fires across California, Fay Mark used her horticultural knowledge as a UC Master Gardener to organize a movement in Marin County. Her goal was to educate fire officials and residents to look at their landscapes in a new way. She sought to reverse the existing policy of un-constrained defoliation to mitigate wildfire risk, which damages the environment. Fay advocated using best horticultural practices to create defensible space. “I have enjoyed using my horticultural knowledge and leadership skills to educate fire officials and residents to look at landscapes in a new way. Mitigating wildfire risk must be done in a manner that combines the creation of defensible space while continuing to support the environment using horticultural best practices,” says Mark.

The guiding principle for residents was that defensible space and a reduction in fuel could be created with proper plant placement and landscape maintenance while preserving the ecological well-being of the environment. Fay coined the phrase “healthy landscapes are fire-smart landscapes” and the UC Master Gardener Program of Marin County's Fire-Smart Landscaping (FSL) committee spread the adoption of the term Fire-Smart Landscaping.

Recruiting and leading the FSL Committee members, Fay established a demand for UC Master Gardener educational materials among a broad array of agencies. Each became a channel of communication for the Fire-Smart Landscaping message, through the use of videos, print publications, webinars, landscaping tips, news articles, and social media blurbs. Agencies included FireSafe Marin, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, the Ecologically Sound Practices Partnership, FireWise communities, public library programs, and individual City Councils.

“Fay paved the way for the UCCE Marin Master Gardeners to receive a meaningful grant from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority to enable the UC Master Gardener Program of Marin County to hire a Fire-Smart Landscape Science Coordinator late last year. This person is continuing Fay's excellent and impactful work,” says fellow volunteer Julie McMillon.

UC Master Gardener Tim Coyne provided leadership to develop a Climate Forward Trees list to empower a city with smart planting choices.

In the spring of 2021, the City of Santa Rosa, a long-established leader in environmental sustainability and an advocate for stable, healthy and functional landscapes, reached out to the UC Master Gardener Program in Sonoma County with an interest in developing a list of low-water, climate smart trees suitable for streetscapes and landscapes throughout the city.

Tim Coyne, a recent UC Master Gardener transfer from Ventura County, led the team of volunteers who developed the Climate Forward Trees list for the City of Santa Rosa. Tim brought 35 years of corporate experience in project management to this innovative project. The Climate Forward team used available research to develop a set of criteria and a scoring system to evaluate potential tree species. They selected another California city with a current climate similar to that projected for Santa Rosa in 50 years to select potential trees for evaluation. After an exhaustive evaluation process, the team developed a final list of 29 ‘Climate Forward' tree species. The list is of tree species that are expected to adapt and thrive over the next 50 years despite changing climate conditions. “Without Tim's leadership, the Climate Forward trees project would not have been the success that it is,” says UC Master Gardener Anne Haddix.

The Climate Forward team (Linda King, Kim Pearson, Bill Klausing, Roger Bucholz, Kim Roberts and Rosemary MacReary) will now use their methodology to evaluate the trees that UC Master Gardeners currently recommend for home gardens in Sonoma County to determine if some should be added or dropped from the list given changing climate conditions, especially drought. “This project shows that we can tackle climate change through partnership, science, and community volunteerism. And the process can be rewarding for all involved,” explained Haddix.

Daveta Cooper leading a composting workshop at the Hansen Research and Extension Center.

Daveta Cooper

About National Volunteer Month and Gardeners with Heart

Please Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support the UC San Bernardino Master Gardener Program

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation on Friday, June 4 ("Big Dig Day" or anytime!) to support the efforts of our 220 UC Cooperative Extension San Bernardino County Master Gardener volunteers.These highly trained, dedicated, and passionate volunteers help over 35,000 county residents each year grow food in home, school, and community gardens; cool urban heat islands through the proper selection and care of drought-efficient landscape plants; and, enhance their quality of life through participating in outdoor activities. Even during COVID, the Master Gardener volunteers provided education at more than 150 educational activities, adapting in-person training to online opportunities. These volunteers provide over $260,000 of services free each year!     

Options for 'on the spot' donating include making a one-time gift, a recurring (monthly gift) or cherishing the memory of a loved one through a tribute gift. 

Other ways to give: (information provided by Kelly Scott, major gifts officer, UC ANR)

There are a variety of planned gift options that will allow you to meet your philanthropic and financial goals.  You can make a significant impact by supporting the UC Master Gardener Program through your estate plans, for instance by making a bequest. Donors may also establish income-producing gifts such as charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts, which benefit them during their lifetimes with up-front income tax savings and often at a higher return. (Please contact Kelly Scott at kdscott@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1307 for more information on this option.)

Stock and Appreciated Securities

Avoid capital gains tax and claim a federal tax charitable deduction for the full appreciated value of long-term (held more than 1 year) securities (stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares). In order to qualify, gifts must be transferred directly from your brokerage account to the Regents of the University of California. (Please contact Kelly Scott at kdscott@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1307 for more information on this option.)

 Real Estate/Personal Property

 Gifts of tangible property or other assets that represent value may offer you tax benefits while also enabling you to support our program. Examples include real estate, equipment, collections, and artwork. If you have a gift of this kind. (Please contact Kelly Scott at kdscott@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1307 for more information on this option.)

Please help us spread the word and share this blog with others who have benefited from the help of a Master Gardener volunteer.

We hope you will join us on June 4!

Thank you in advance for your generosity. 

Announcing the 40th Anniversary UC Master Gardener Photo Contest Winners!!

The UC Master Gardener Program is pleased to announce the winners of the 40^th Anniversary UC Master Gardener Photo Contest.  Thank you for helping tell our story by submitting over 480 photos and to all the people who voted.

 “People's Choice”  Winners
1^st - “Lettuce Grow”, My Thanh Kim, San Diego County

2^nd - “Early Head Start Students”, Marti Lindsey, Los Angeles County

3^rd - “Stairway to a Heavenly Garden”, Leora Worthington, Monterey County

Prizes
First, Second and Third place winners were notified by email and will receive prizes and be showcased on the statewide UC Master Gardener Program website, UC ANR Repository, UC Master Gardener social media channels, program marketing materials and the 2019 annual report. Winners will also be recognized by having their photo displayed in a gallery at the 2020 UC Master Gardener Program statewide conference. 

Thank You for your Support
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Photo Contest! The gallery of submitted photos represents what it means to be a UC Master Gardener. The photos will be used to communicate our impact, message and mission through the use of imagery. 

Together we are making a difference!

Honorable Mention
4^th - “Kids+tools= Cool School Garden”, My Thanh Kim, San Diego County

5^th - “Drip Irrigation or Dripping in Paint”, My Thanh Kim, San Diego County

6^th - “Queen Bee surrounded by her Entourage at the Master Gardener booth, Amador County Fair”, Betty Olson-Jones, Amador County

7^th - “Master Gardener Butterfly Garden (Alice Keck Memorial Garden Santa Barbara)”, Karen Twibell, Santa Barbara County

8^th - “MG Coordinator, Maggie O'Neill is also a cake decorator! Celebrating Volunteers”, Robin Rowe, San Bernardino County

9^th - “Future UC Master Gardener!”, Lauren Snowden, Yuba-Sutter Counties

10^th - “Working Together for better gardens”, Julie Enberg

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