Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Los Alamos County)
Plan Goals
Communicate knowledge about the principles and practices of urban horticulture to a broad audience, with an emphasis on promoting sustainable practices that protect resources and enhance ecosystems.
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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture
Impact Reports
Ollas
For several years I have taught use of ollas (buried, unglazed clay jars) as means of efficient irrigation and adding interest to landscapes. This information was presented in newspaper articles, news releases, and various publications, presentations to county agents, Master Gardeners, and various gardening/civic groups. The result has been the development of a new small industry in a disadvantaged sector of Albuquerque society.
East Central Ministry in Southeast Albuquerque has developed a growing market for ollas, providing employment and work-skills training to low income and underemployed residents of the area of Albuquerque known as the “war zone”. John Bulten, director of East Central Ministries, told me that this project provides 4 part-time jobs in which workers are trained to hold jobs. The ollas are being sold in California, Colorado, and by several New Mexico Nurseries (many are then shipped out of state), and Whole Foods is negotiating to sell the ollas in 20 stores.
The concept was taken by a friend on a trip to South Africa. Her purpose on this trip was to plant gardens and teaches gardening in poor villages of South Africa. She took information I had written about ollas. Later additional information was requested by organizers of the project for expanded implementation in arid regions of Africa.
John Bulten said that another person has taken ollas to teach container gardening to low income people in Mexico.
In addition to newspaper articles and news releases, this information was published in the Proceeding of the Desert Green Conference and in a quarterly publication of the Colorado Xeriscape organization.
I continue to receive requests for olla information and for public presentations to teach use of ollas in landscape water conservation.
Gardening public and Professionals
When I overheard my name mentioned during a break at the Eddy County Master Gardener classes, I asked what was being discussed. A man, now seeking to be a Master Gardener, said that he had previously attended a xeriscape workshop that I presented. As a result, he xeriscaped his front yard and was now expending the xeriscape to his back yard. He attributed his change in gardening practices and resulting great savings in water (over $100 each month in the growing season) to the earlier xeriscape workshop. He also said that he was now growing plants more successfully as a result of selecting appropriate plants as recommended in the workshop.
A Valencia County apple grower, beekeeper, Master Gardener, community leader, president of the NM Beekeepers Association, president of a local Growers Market annually hosts a tree care workshop because “Extension programs have improved everything I do and I want my neighbors to share in this information.” (Quote from Ken Hays, Bosque Farms, NM)
Master Gardener Program.
In 1995 (when I assumed responsibilities as Horticulture Specialist) there were 4 Master Gardener training programs in New Mexico. One of these was only classes and did not involve the students as Master Gardener Volunteers. In 2007 there were 15 counties with Master Gardeners, 13 counties teaching the classes. I also assist the Navajo Tri-State Extension Master Gardener Program as well. In 2006 a survey of the 15 Master Gardener counties resulted in 9 responses. From the responding counties it was determined that there were 560 active Master Gardeners. These Master Gardeners provided at least 22,808 volunteer hours of service to their counties (10.92 FTE). This benefit which accrued to the 9 reporting counties is valued at $411,456 (based on value for trained volunteers from Bureau of Labor Statistics).
For several years I have taught use of ollas (buried, unglazed clay jars) as means of efficient irrigation and adding interest to landscapes. This information was presented in newspaper articles, news releases, and various publications, presentations to county agents, Master Gardeners, and various gardening/civic groups. The result has been the development of a new small industry in a disadvantaged sector of Albuquerque society.
East Central Ministry in Southeast Albuquerque has developed a growing market for ollas, providing employment and work-skills training to low income and underemployed residents of the area of Albuquerque known as the “war zone”. John Bulten, director of East Central Ministries, told me that this project provides 4 part-time jobs in which workers are trained to hold jobs. The ollas are being sold in California, Colorado, and by several New Mexico Nurseries (many are then shipped out of state), and Whole Foods is negotiating to sell the ollas in 20 stores.
The concept was taken by a friend on a trip to South Africa. Her purpose on this trip was to plant gardens and teaches gardening in poor villages of South Africa. She took information I had written about ollas. Later additional information was requested by organizers of the project for expanded implementation in arid regions of Africa.
John Bulten said that another person has taken ollas to teach container gardening to low income people in Mexico.
In addition to newspaper articles and news releases, this information was published in the Proceeding of the Desert Green Conference and in a quarterly publication of the Colorado Xeriscape organization.
I continue to receive requests for olla information and for public presentations to teach use of ollas in landscape water conservation.
Gardening public and Professionals
When I overheard my name mentioned during a break at the Eddy County Master Gardener classes, I asked what was being discussed. A man, now seeking to be a Master Gardener, said that he had previously attended a xeriscape workshop that I presented. As a result, he xeriscaped his front yard and was now expending the xeriscape to his back yard. He attributed his change in gardening practices and resulting great savings in water (over $100 each month in the growing season) to the earlier xeriscape workshop. He also said that he was now growing plants more successfully as a result of selecting appropriate plants as recommended in the workshop.
A Valencia County apple grower, beekeeper, Master Gardener, community leader, president of the NM Beekeepers Association, president of a local Growers Market annually hosts a tree care workshop because “Extension programs have improved everything I do and I want my neighbors to share in this information.” (Quote from Ken Hays, Bosque Farms, NM)
Master Gardener Program.
In 1995 (when I assumed responsibilities as Horticulture Specialist) there were 4 Master Gardener training programs in New Mexico. One of these was only classes and did not involve the students as Master Gardener Volunteers. In 2007 there were 15 counties with Master Gardeners, 13 counties teaching the classes. I also assist the Navajo Tri-State Extension Master Gardener Program as well. In 2006 a survey of the 15 Master Gardener counties resulted in 9 responses. From the responding counties it was determined that there were 560 active Master Gardeners. These Master Gardeners provided at least 22,808 volunteer hours of service to their counties (10.92 FTE). This benefit which accrued to the 9 reporting counties is valued at $411,456 (based on value for trained volunteers from Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Gardening public and Professionals
Fifty- two weekly newspaper garden columns were published in numerous New Mexico publications and web sites (including the NMSU College of Agriculture web site) and 26 bi-weekly articles were written for The Albuquerque Journal. The impact of these articles on readers is made evidence by numerous weekly requests for information in which the articles are mentioned, and new questions for the question and answer articles.
In 2006 presentations were made to 8 garden clubs and public venues 6 New Mexico counties. I am frequently asked to return to give additional presentations because the garden club members state “your information is so useful to us”. At these return engagements, I learn that the information from previous presentations has been employed successfully by the garden club members as we discuss their successes.
NMSU Extension Agents
Twelve New Mexico Counties included Urban Horticulture in their plans of work. Each of these counties has requested and received assistance from the specialist. In addition, 14 counties that did not include Urban Horticulture in their plans of work also requested and received assistance from the specialist. This indicates the desire for even rural counties to have attractive landscapes that use water efficiently. Eleven appointments with county agents in the specialist office or the specialist on-site in the county were recorded. A greater number of unrecorded contacts resulted from telephone contacts and request for assistance.
Master Gardeners
The specialist drafted guidelines for starting a Master Gardener Program and core curriculum for Master Gardener classes. This draft was given to County Agents with new Master Gardener Programs (or considering programs), new County Agents with existing Master Gardener Programs, and selected other people for their comments.
The specialist advised new agents and agents considering establishment of Master Gardener Programs in their counties. In each case, the time commitment involved and the need for volunteer commitment was discussed and used in making the final decision. The result was redirection of some existing programs in some counties and development of a series of gardening programs in others to evaluate community interest and need. Master Gardener programs may develop in the future in some counties as a result of these “pilot garden series” programs.
The specialist taught Master Gardener 23 classes in 10 New Mexico counties and 3 classes for Navajo Nation (Master Gardeners and Master Growers). Following the classes the specialist supported agents and Master Gardener volunteers through e-mail, telephone, and on-site visits as they served their public. PowerPoint presentations were provided to county agents as requested.
The impacts of Master Gardeners in the counties were reported in Agent Impact Reports. Four counties reported number of volunteer hours (19,661) and two counties reported the dollar value of Master Gardeners volunteers in their county ($60,376). A great diversity of volunteer service to the public and communities was reported by the agents.
Based on the objective to respond to 95% of the requests for horticultural information, clientele will report a 20% increase in knowledge.
Impact: During the reporting period there were 3006 requests for horticultural information from clientele throughout Los Alamos County. Information requested was on a variety of subjects including integrated insect pest management, ornamental trees and shrubs, noxious weed management, wildlife management and enhancement, water conservation and turf management, and home production of fruits and vegetables. Each client contact is approached with a strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are recommended only after there are indications they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms, and the environment. A sample of 401 of the clientele indicated at least a 60% gain in knowledge associated with the specific request for information. Respondents also indicated a high level of usefulness of the information. Three hundred sixty-four of those sampled indicated that they had incorporated at least one of the strategies discussed with the agent in their overall strategy in solving their problem.
Impact: During the reporting period there were 3006 requests for horticultural information from clientele throughout Los Alamos County. Information requested was on a variety of subjects including integrated insect pest management, ornamental trees and shrubs, noxious weed management, wildlife management and enhancement, water conservation and turf management, and home production of fruits and vegetables. Each client contact is approached with a strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are recommended only after there are indications they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms, and the environment. A sample of 401 of the clientele indicated at least a 60% gain in knowledge associated with the specific request for information. Respondents also indicated a high level of usefulness of the information. Three hundred sixty-four of those sampled indicated that they had incorporated at least one of the strategies discussed with the agent in their overall strategy in solving their problem.
Based on the objective to train at least 15 Master Gardener volunteers to assist the agent in the dissemination of horticulture information to the general public.
Impact: Following a series of 15 three hour training sessions, 18 Master Gardener volunteers were trained in basic horticulture to prepare them to aid the agent in educational efforts. All 18 volunteers increased their knowledge about basic botany, the plant environment, growing fruits and vegetables, pruning of trees and shrubs, basic soils, basic landscape design, weed management, fire defensible space, integrated pest management and plant selection. Participants demonstrated their horticulture proficiency by passing exams with at least an 80% average score. The volunteers have contributed 961 hours during the reporting period valued at $15,276.00. Volunteers participate in educational programming which includes public programs, private consultations with clientele on urban horticulture issues and the design and maintenance of a 1½ acre public demonstration garden in downtown Los Alamos.
Impact: Following a series of 15 three hour training sessions, 18 Master Gardener volunteers were trained in basic horticulture to prepare them to aid the agent in educational efforts. All 18 volunteers increased their knowledge about basic botany, the plant environment, growing fruits and vegetables, pruning of trees and shrubs, basic soils, basic landscape design, weed management, fire defensible space, integrated pest management and plant selection. Participants demonstrated their horticulture proficiency by passing exams with at least an 80% average score. The volunteers have contributed 961 hours during the reporting period valued at $15,276.00. Volunteers participate in educational programming which includes public programs, private consultations with clientele on urban horticulture issues and the design and maintenance of a 1½ acre public demonstration garden in downtown Los Alamos.
Carlos Valdez has signed on to support Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture within Los Alamos County.