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Impact Report

For plan Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (San Juan County)
Date October 22, 2010, 9:17 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report The agent oversees and coordinates the San Juan County Master Gardener Program. There are currently 15 active members that provided over 400 hours of community involvement this year. -Booths that provide Extension publications and the opportunity for the general public to ask basic gardening and landscape questions of Master Gardeners were conducted at the following events: Aztec Ruins National Monument Earth Day Celebration, San Juan County Employee Health Fair, San Juan County Fair, and the Farmington Farmers’ Market. - Master Gardeners were able to enhance their personal expertise by networking with other Master Gardeners and the County Extension Agent at monthly meetings. Advanced training opportunities were also arranged in the areas of composting (Curtis Smith) and entomology (Carol Sutherland). -The San Juan County Master Gardeners conducted a Master Seed Program. All 4th grade teachers in the county received an invitation to participate. A Master Gardener was assigned to each teacher that responded to the invitation. The 4th grade students that participated learned how plants grow, what is necessary to have a successful garden, and some health and economic benefits associated with spending time outside working in a garden. To conclude the lesson each child received a pot, a seed and assistance in starting a plant of their own. A total of 1,139 4th grade students participated in the program. -A program was conducted for the benefit of the residents of Navajo United Methodist Center. The center serves as a home for single mothers who require a safe place to rebuild their lives after them, or their children, have been the victims for domestic violence, drug issues, and/or have become homeless. The 9 families were given the required materials and taught how to grow salsa gardens in containers outside their homes. Our hope is these women can take the skill of growing their own food with them when they return to life on their own. Many will return to very remote locations on the Navajo Reservation. A workshop for farmers’ market vendors (55 people attended) was held in conjunction with Michael Patrick, Extension CRED Specialist. The agenda was compressive in nature and covered a wide variety of areas that must be addressed to minimize risk and increase the profitability of small farmers and backyard market gardeners. Session 1 addressed crop diversification and season extension methods and strategies for growing products typically in short supply at our local markets such as spinach, lettuce, carrots, garlic, and berry crops. The second session was an introduction to a variety of marketing concepts that can be utilized in farmers’ market setting. Value-Added Products was the topic of the third session which included a very timely update of recent regulation changes from the New Mexico Department of Health. Session 4 introduced vendors to business planning and cost/return analysis of a variety of market garden crops. The day rounded out with a session on pest control in a small farm/market garden scenario. It became evident that many people where interested in more in-depth information about berry production. As a result a follow-up workshop was held where producers had a hands on demonstration of raspberry and black berry production. 25 people attend the follow-up “Berries for Profit” workshop. The agent was responsible for developing the agenda of both events in conjunction with Michael Patrick, Extension CRED Specialist, and the local Farmers’ Market Managers. The agent was responsible for securing facilities, coordinating and collecting registration, soliciting sponsors, contracting a caterer, contacting speakers, and served as the moderator on the day of the event.