Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Doña Ana County)

C. A demonstration xeriscape garden has for several years been a very visible and effective means of landscape water conservation. It has been highly regarded locally and nationally. In 2009 the Sandoval County Master Gardeners received the 2009 Search for Excellence Award at the International Master Gardeners Conference in Las Vegas, NV for this demonstration xeriscape garden they have maintained for many years . The demonstration garden was also featured on the “Gardening by the Yard” television program hosted by Paul James and broadcast nationally by the Home and Gardening Network.

Long-term successes
A. In a conversation with Jim Brooks, proprietor of Soilutions (a composting and landscape waste recycling firm in Albuquerque), I was told that his $ ¾ million business was the result of Extension an NMSU Extension project begun in the early 1990’s. In response to a request from the City of Albuquerque Waste Management Department, as Bernalillo County Extension Horticulture Agent I began a Master Composter Program attended by Jim Brooks. Although he was already composting, the course taught by NMSU Specialists, local experts, and me provided new information at a depth that improved his knowledge of composting. In addition to knowledge he gained in the classes, he told me that a person to whom I introduced him became his partner in the formation of Soilutions. In addition to the direct economic benefits of job creation and income to the company, the company economically and environmentally benefits the City of Albuquerque by recycling landscape wastes (under contract to the City). These waste materials are used to produce valuable soil amendment rather than contributing to the filling and eventual moving of the municipal landfill to a location farther from the city (increasing costs to city taxpayers and rate payers). These citizens have access to an economical soil amendment to improve their garden soil and reduce irrigation needs. Jim Brooks continues to be a local resource teaching composting and other environmentally wise activities to people in the Albuquerque area and all New Mexico, to work with state and municipal agencies. This continuation of information dissemination was the reason Master Composters were formed. Jim still remembers and discusses the importance of NMSU Extension Programs in this area. (Master Composter education has been incorporated into Master Gardener training since I left Bernalillo County, but in the past year there has been a citizen based effort to reestablish the program and Bernalillo County Extension has been a partner in this process.)

B. John Bulton, director of East Central Ministries (a non-profit faith-based organization), recently told me that the olla production facility that his ministry operates supports 1/3 of his ministry to a disadvantaged community within Albuquerque. This ministry was established in a multi-cultural community with gang violence, drug problems, and chronic unemployment/underemployment. John established the ministry and olla production facility to teach employment skills, provide food support (food pantry) and a clothing closet for the community. This has grown to include a low cost apartment living facility in which life skills are taught, a community garden, an affordable middle school, and a health clinic. All this is supported by donations and the olla production facility. A related consequence is that the production of ollas has improved landscape water use efficiency in numerous residential landscapes in New Mexico and many other state in which East Central Ministry sells ollas. To date I am not aware of any other major producers of ollas, although I have spoken to people who expressed an interest in starting production.

The community and school gardens started this past year continue to be utilized by their organizations. Both Agent and Master Gardener help is being utilized to help sustain these programs. Work on the plant data base continues. The addition of a new camcorder has made recording of the MG Classes possible. These classes are currently being used to refresh current MG trainings. Eventually, DVD’s of the MG Classes will be made available to counties not offering a MG program, but in need of training materials for their clientele

The agent is making progress towards development of a plant data base. Master Gardener computer expertise is being utilized to develop an easy to use system. This project may require several years to gather information, compile data sheets, secure photos and have the data reviewed. The agent’s Master Gardener program continues to improve. MG’s are being directed in development of brochures, Dona Ana County MG Newsletter, the plant data base and other projects. The agent received over 1,400 phone inquiries for agriculture, with over one half of these directed solely at urban horticultural issues. The agent has seen in the past year an increase in school and community gardens. Some of these programs such as the Chaparral Community Garden have spun off into development of similar gardens at Vado, and Anthony, NM. The agents work with gardens like the Community of Hope’s Fairlight Gardens has blossomed into a ‘stand alone’ organization that now has their own garden outreach programs. School gardens have been organized at Conlee Elementary, Hatch Elementary, Mesquite Elementary, and Vado Elementary Schools. These gardens are designed to teach and encourage children to grow their own gardens.

Horticulture in Dona Ana County continues to increase with the population. According to census figures from Dona Ana County (2008), the population for the county now resides at over 201,000. New residents arriving to the area are often puzzled as to what they can grow in this desert climate. Local residents as well are not familiar with adaptable plant species. The agent is developing programs to meet the needs of decreased water availability and water restrictions. The agent has been sought after for advice by the Quay County Agent, City of Las Cruces Parks Department, Lush and Lean Landscaping for Las Cruces, and residents of Dona Ana County for help in these areas. The Las Cruces Lush and Lean Landscape Coordinator in fact has decided to enroll in our Master Gardener Class in order to better educate herself in Horticultural principles. The agent is currently developing a plant data base to be used by the public to make better landscape choices. The agent is investigating drought hardy plant materials that may be adapted to the agent’s clientele needs. One of the prime areas to search for drought hardy plant materials is the Tucson area. Arizona has been dealing with water restrictions for many years now, and the University of Arizona along with local growers have demonstrated selected plant materials that are drought resistant. The agent of Dona Ana County is looking at whether many of these species of plants may be adaptable to our colder winters. The agent has been providing outreach programming through venues such as; the Las Cruces Home and Garden Show, Public Library Lecture, and the Master Gardener Program. Each year a Master Gardener Class is offered to the public to educate volunteers in Horticulture. The people who participate in this class go on to disperse this knowledge to the public through; helping at events, working on a ‘Hot Line’ (informative answers given over the phone), conducting gardening seminars, and education in the schools. Without the MG volunteers the agent would be limited in his job capacity. MG’s allow the agent to expand programming, and utilize volunteer talents to create new methods of information delivery. Through this last year the agent was able to answer his clientele’s questions with a 99.9% success.