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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Chaves County)
Plan Goals
Increase, enhance, and sustain New Mexico urban and rural lifestyles by teaching proper landscape plant selection, management, and efficient water use.
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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture
Impact Reports
Educational Programs for Civic and Other Organizations
The following educational programs were presented by the agriculture agent to specific audiences and the general public:
“What is Extension ?” – Sunrise Optimist Club, 10 persons in attendance.
“Backyard Gardening” - Community Coalition Backyard Watch group, 17 persons in attendance
“Master Gardening Program and Gardening Tips” – PEO Chapter B, 22 persons in attendance
“Recycled Containers” – Home Garden Club, 26 persons in attendance
“What is Extension?” – Kiwanis Club, 15 persons in attendance
"Rainwater Harvesting" - Morning Garden Club, 17 persons in attendance.
All persons gained information that will assist them in being more successfull at gardening or they gained information about the Extension Service which can be utilized to better their lives.
The following educational programs were presented by the agriculture agent to specific audiences and the general public:
“What is Extension ?” – Sunrise Optimist Club, 10 persons in attendance.
“Backyard Gardening” - Community Coalition Backyard Watch group, 17 persons in attendance
“Master Gardening Program and Gardening Tips” – PEO Chapter B, 22 persons in attendance
“Recycled Containers” – Home Garden Club, 26 persons in attendance
“What is Extension?” – Kiwanis Club, 15 persons in attendance
"Rainwater Harvesting" - Morning Garden Club, 17 persons in attendance.
All persons gained information that will assist them in being more successfull at gardening or they gained information about the Extension Service which can be utilized to better their lives.
Xeriscape Garden
With guidance and assistance from the agriculture agent, the Chaves County Master Gardeners planted a demonstration xeriscape garden at the Spring River Park and Zoo in Roswell in September 2009. The purpose of the garden is the show the public the attractiveness of certain native and low-water use plants and to encourage the use of those plants in home and business gardens. The agent worked with NMSU’s horticulture specialist to secure plants from the NRCS Plant Materials Center in Los Lunas and to design the garden. The xeriscape garden had water problems throughout the summer due to equipment. Because of the extreme heat and lack of water, some of the plants died. The agent has worked with zoo officials and the water valves were replaced with a manual valve. The agent also worked with a Master Gardener that is a zoo employee and replaced all of the emitters on the drip system of the garden to allow the plants to receive more water. A trip was made to the NRCS Plant Materials Center to get plants to replace the ones that died. Dead plants were replaced in the garden with live plants. When the temperatures cooled off in the fall, most of those “dead” plants started to grow from the roots. Hopefully the garden will look much better next summer since the water problems have been corrected. This is a definite testimony to the hardiness of the xeriscape plants, which is the purpose of the garden.
With guidance and assistance from the agriculture agent, the Chaves County Master Gardeners planted a demonstration xeriscape garden at the Spring River Park and Zoo in Roswell in September 2009. The purpose of the garden is the show the public the attractiveness of certain native and low-water use plants and to encourage the use of those plants in home and business gardens. The agent worked with NMSU’s horticulture specialist to secure plants from the NRCS Plant Materials Center in Los Lunas and to design the garden. The xeriscape garden had water problems throughout the summer due to equipment. Because of the extreme heat and lack of water, some of the plants died. The agent has worked with zoo officials and the water valves were replaced with a manual valve. The agent also worked with a Master Gardener that is a zoo employee and replaced all of the emitters on the drip system of the garden to allow the plants to receive more water. A trip was made to the NRCS Plant Materials Center to get plants to replace the ones that died. Dead plants were replaced in the garden with live plants. When the temperatures cooled off in the fall, most of those “dead” plants started to grow from the roots. Hopefully the garden will look much better next summer since the water problems have been corrected. This is a definite testimony to the hardiness of the xeriscape plants, which is the purpose of the garden.
Pecos School Garden
The agent again worked with teachers and the administration at Pecos Elementary School in Roswell to conduct a gardening program at the school. Raised beds were built at the school by Chaves County Master Gardeners three years ago to enable the students to learn about gardening and where their food originates. The agent planted seeds with the second and third grade students in April. Crops planted included snap green beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, okra, sunflowers, and chile. The plants were transplanted into the garden beds on the school playgrounds in May. This year, there was no summer school, so the students did not have the benefits of the garden throughout the summer months unless they visit the school individually. A total of 131 students participated in this program to learn about planting seeds and garden care.
The agent again worked with teachers and the administration at Pecos Elementary School in Roswell to conduct a gardening program at the school. Raised beds were built at the school by Chaves County Master Gardeners three years ago to enable the students to learn about gardening and where their food originates. The agent planted seeds with the second and third grade students in April. Crops planted included snap green beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, okra, sunflowers, and chile. The plants were transplanted into the garden beds on the school playgrounds in May. This year, there was no summer school, so the students did not have the benefits of the garden throughout the summer months unless they visit the school individually. A total of 131 students participated in this program to learn about planting seeds and garden care.
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.
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.
Urban Horticulture
The majority of Chaves County's residents are urban. There is a high demand for information on planting trees and other ornamental gardening, safe and efficient home vegetable gardening, reducing water use, insect identification and management, and environmental safety. County residents are in need of scientific-based research in all of these areas. The agent assisted over 190 people on an individual basis with urban horticulture problems, insect control, wildlife damage control, and soil analysis. Persons were assisted by telephone contact, office visits, site visits, and e-mail and gained information that allowed them to be more successful in growing and maintaining home gardens and landscapes around their businesses and homes.
The majority of Chaves County's residents are urban. There is a high demand for information on planting trees and other ornamental gardening, safe and efficient home vegetable gardening, reducing water use, insect identification and management, and environmental safety. County residents are in need of scientific-based research in all of these areas. The agent assisted over 190 people on an individual basis with urban horticulture problems, insect control, wildlife damage control, and soil analysis. Persons were assisted by telephone contact, office visits, site visits, and e-mail and gained information that allowed them to be more successful in growing and maintaining home gardens and landscapes around their businesses and homes.