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Impact Report

For plan Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Sandoval County)
Date September 28, 2007, 4:51 pm
For Objective Long-term Show long-term objectives
Impact Report WHAT HAS BEEN DONE - MASTER GARDENERS For the past ten years, Sandoval County has trained Master Gardener volunteers. An average of 25 students take the classes and about 18 is the average retention as some take classes for business purposes or belong to city, county or state government. We have approximately 100 volunteers on average at the end of the season. MASTER GARDENER - IMPACT In 2006-2007, 100 Sandoval County Master Gardeners contributed over 6000 hours of volunteer time in Sandoval County educating residents on plant science, demo gardens, farmers markets, etc. This is equivalent of 3 full time employees. They have logged over 8000 contacts of which 3000 were children at Water Festivals, Heritage Days, Harvest Festivals and school demonstration gardens. DEMONSTRATION GARDENS Sandoval County Master Gardeners assist or help design and maintain four gardens in the county. Why three or four? We have 3 different soil types, altitudes and water tables all within a 20 mile radius. Our smallest garden is at a church and these plants are all high altitude with a small number of master gardeners assisting. Funding for plants comes from the church. The other garden is at the Village of Corrales with Master Gardeners designing the garden and upkeep with pruning and weeding only. Intel provided volunteer workers and funding of $5,000 to the Village. Village employees provide labor and materials as needed. The soil in the Village is great with lots of water available. Our completed project was designed by 3 Master Gardeners at a middle school two years ago. Over 300 students learned about plants as talks on xeriscape were provided to each class and students assisted in planting. The school received beautification grants and removed over 4000 square foot of sod which saved them a sizeable amount of water and noise. Workers would mow when the school was in session causing a disruption to the learning process. The largest and most active project is in the desert setting in Rio Rancho. The "Water Wise" Garden is located on city property. In reality, there are several gardens in one: Mediterreanean Garden, Rock and Tree Garden, Xeric Garden, DWI Memorial Garden and Veterans Memorial Garden. A total of 2370 volunteer hours were donated this year alone. Sandoval County Master Gardeners contributed 1050 hours, aqua volunteers 640 hours and Rio Rancho employees 680 hours. Funding sources were Intel, Rio Grande Basin Initiative, Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful, Sandoval County, and the City of Rio Rancho - with total funding of $21,320. The Water Wise garden hosted seven tours to senior citizens, extension specialists, legislators, garden clubs, etc. The city, in gratitude hosted a garden party for aqua ambassadors, Master Gardeners and the Sandoval County Extension Director/Agent. Certificates were handed out. The Water Wise Garden pictures were printed in the 2007 year calender by the City of Rio Rancho featuring different seasons. The City also has a van that is painted with pictures of the Water Wise garden. The Garden has been featured twice in the New Mexico Magazine. There are an average of 20 Master Gardeners that volunteer in the garden doing general upkeep and answering questions from the public. Plants are identified with markers so the public can take a self guided tour and write down what they like. THE FARMERS MARKETS On average, we have 5 Master Gardeners at two Farmers Markets. They pass out an average of 100 bulletins plus answer an average of 20 questions on trees, insects, watering and plant selection for both ornamental and vegetable clients. This is a great service as they are recognized by market managers as a great resource and keep the NMSU Sandoval County Extension in the public arena as many residents go to the markets. This was evidenced at the College of Agriculture Town Hall Meeting in Albuquerque when the Corrales Market Manager and also the Village Counsilor mentioned that it was great to have Master Gardeners there but wished we could get 4-H and Nutrition educators there as well. Due to the popularity of the Sandoval County Master Gardener program, there is currently a waiting list for the 2007-2008 garden season.