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Impact Report
| For plan | Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Chaves County) |
| Date | November 2, 2010, 3:03 pm |
| For Objective | Short-term Show short-term objectives |
| Impact Report | Chaves County Master Gardener’s Program In New Mexico, most urban residents are increasingly interested in home gardening and landscape gardening, but have few opportunities to gain research-based information in these areas. To assist in meeting this need, the Chaves County Master Gardener Program was coordinated by the agent. The thirteen- week-long program met three hours each week to address pertinent topics for the Chaves County area. Various specialists, agents, and local individuals taught the programs. Nineteen new enrollees, including personnel from the Roswell Parks and Recreation Department, attended the programs to gain knowledge of southwestern gardening, for a total of 245 contacts during classes. Nine of the 19 individuals agreed to donate volunteer hours to assist the Extension Office after the gardening classes were finished. Master Gardeners assisted the agent in disseminating NMSU Cooperative Extension Service publications on horticulture and related topics and answering questions at Roswell Parks and Recreation Department’s Arbor Day Celebration, reaching approximately 80 people. Master Gardeners also assisted the agent with an informational booth displayed at the Enchanted Living Home and Garden Show which was held at the Roswell Convention Center. The three-day event was open to the public. The booth consisted of printed literature from NMSU and other reliable sources, plus the agent and master gardeners answered questions from the public. A Master Gardener donated 300 tomato seedlings that were given away at the booth. Master Gardeners also assisted the agent in organizing gardening books that were donated to the Extension Office so that others may check the books out for their use. The project was finally completed and the library listings are ready to be publicized for Master Gardener use. The agent prepared an educational booth on “Tree Planting and Care” for the Eastern New Mexico State Fair. Master Gardener volunteers were organized to “man” the booth over a six day period to answer questions and distribute written literature to the public. Participants of the Master Gardener Program are more knowledgeable about gardening in the Pecos Valley and are more successful, saving time and dollars. The community has gained gardening information from the Master Gardener volunteers, as well. |