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Impact Report

For plan Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Chaves County)
Date October 31, 2011, 8:37 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report 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. The agent, various specialists, and other individuals taught the programs. Twenty-three new enrollees attended the programs to gain knowledge of southwestern gardening, for a total of 317 contacts during the classes. Twelve of the 23 individuals agreed to donate volunteer hours to assist the Extension Office after the gardening classes were finished. To illustrate knowledge gained from the classes, one student commented “I ‘see’ now. I walk in the park during the week. I saw an old cottonwood on the waterway. Its roots have girdled it. I mentally picture where trees need to be pruned. Thank you!” 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 50 people. The agent coordinated another gardening information table which was displayed at a health fair organized by a local grocery store. Master Gardeners and the agent spent the day distributing gardening literature and visiting with the public about local practices and gardening issues. Thirty-eight persons visited the booth and gained information about how to be a more successful gardener in New Mexico. Master Gardeners also assisted in the care of the ornamental garden at the Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society Museum in Roswell. Volunteers were able to put to work the knowledge that they gained while participating in the Master Gardener classes earlier in the year. The museum’s garden needed much help after the hard freeze in February dealt a blow to many of the plants and the hot temperatures later were unrelenting to those left. The volunteers met each Tuesday morning throughout the summer months to weed, prune, mulch, identify plants, and assist the museum board with overall care and maintenance of the grounds. The agent worked with Master Gardeners to display an educational booth on “Survival of the Fittest” for the Eastern New Mexico State Fair. The main focus of the booth was the use of xeriscape and native plants to result in more successful gardening in the Pecos Valley. Master Gardener volunteers were organized to “man” the booth over a six day period to answer questions and distribute written literature to the public. Approximately 250 persons took advantage of written literature and information from the Master Gardeners. Participants of the Master Gardener Program are more knowledgeable about gardening in the Pecos Valley and are more successful, saving time and dollars. The Master Gardener volunteers have been instrumental in disseminating research-based gardening information throughout the community, as well.