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 (Santa Fe County)
Plan Goals
Increase urban horticulture knowledge and skill levels of homeowners and landscape professionals by teaching and recommending practical and responsible landscape and gardening practices.
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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture
Impact Reports
Two different horticultural tours were arranged and provided for by the Agent this year. The first tour was in June for a group of 21 County Agents and Horticulture Specialists from Kansas State University who were wanting to expand their knowledge base about xeric horticultural plants and suppliers. These tour participants had the opportunity to visit a local nursery and some Master Gardener sponsored demonstration gardens. Their visit in Santa Fe was a segment of a larger tour which included visits to Sandoval, Bernalillo and San Miguel counties as well.
The second tour was for a group of 40 retired statisticians from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and their spouses who had their annual meeting in Santa Fe in September. This 1/2 day tour included a visit to a private garden as well as a local nursery. Several of the tour participants were very interested in taking some plant material to their home states to try growing it in their own gardens.
The second tour was for a group of 40 retired statisticians from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and their spouses who had their annual meeting in Santa Fe in September. This 1/2 day tour included a visit to a private garden as well as a local nursery. Several of the tour participants were very interested in taking some plant material to their home states to try growing it in their own gardens.
Two separate classes of the Master Gardener course were offered once again during the winter and spring months of 2008 in Santa Fe and Eldorado. The 15 week course prepared a total of 51 citizens from Santa Fe County with research-based knowledge on proper gardening techniques of the Santa Fe area. The information which was gained will assist the course participant not only with their own gardening experiences, but also to assist the County Agent in disseminating sound home horticultural advice to other gardeners who have inquiries or wanting to know how to correct their own horticultural problems. Of the 51 students who enrolled in the classes, 47 completed the course successfully. Furthermore, of those students submitting their course evaluation forms, 75% rated the course as "highly satisfactory" in terms of meeting their expectations, with the other 25% of the participants rating it as "satisfactory". The Agent took on the responsible for contacting speakers, developing the course syllabus, ordering manuals, and teaching the session on Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety. Many calls are received throughout the year from individuals wanting to get on a list to receive information and an application for the 2009 Master Gardener course. As of the end of September 115 people are on the list. On one August afternoon many of these prospective students were invited to attend a social gathering at the Audobohn Center (which is one of the sites in which the Master Gardeners do some volunteer work) so that they could interact with Certified Master Gardeners and ask questions about the program. Many of those prospective students were hoping to fill out their applications at this event.
As Master Gardener interns and Certified Master Gardeners, this group of volunteers continues to provide a great amount of service to the greater Santa Fe area in the form of education, outreach and community service. Over 2950 hours of volunteer service valued at minimum of $47,200 was provided by the Master Gardeners from the Fall season of 2007 to the late summer of 2008.
Some of the ways in which the Master Gardeners provide volunteer hours to the County Extension Office is through the following:
The fourth annual Gardening Fair was organized and facilitated and with 12 different presentations made by Master Gardeners, the Extension Specialists, and other gardening experts from the Santa Fe area. Once again the master gardeners also developed a directory of landscape and gardening related businesses and organizations along with several pages of water conservation tips which were distributed at this one day event and other public outreach venues. The cost of printing the directory was underwritten by the Rio Grande Basin Initiative. Also inclusive of the Gardening Fair once again this year was the trade-fair in which 32 organizations and businesses were invited to have an information table. While trying to determine the exact number of fair attendees is a cumbersome task, it is estimated that over 1200 people attend the event.
A plant sale was held once again in conjunction with the annual Garden Fair with the proceeds being used to cover the cost of projects that the Master Gardeners have been working on or are in the process of developing. Some of the plants that were sold were plants which the Master Gardeners themselves propagated in the hoophouse which they share with the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens.
The Master Gardener Home Gardening Hotline continues to be staffed 2 mornings every week from early May to the end of October. Typically 3 volunteers are available to staff and answer questions at each session. A dedicated phone line provided by the County Extension Office was established in 2002 which includes an answering machine that is checked mid-week by a volunteer. The Master Gardeners answer an average of 20 calls per week on the hotline.
With the relocation of the Santa Fe Farmers Market into a large space, the Santa Fe Master Gardeners were once again able to have an information table which they staffed on Tuesday Saturday mornings. Through the information table the master gardeners provided literature, answered questions, promoted the hotline and promoted the Master Gardener course. Approximately 1200 contacts were made through the course of the market season with the vast majority of the contact being related to gardening questions or problems.
Several demonstration gardens continue to be managed and cared for by the Master Gardeners.
1) The management of the Herb/Drip Irrigation Demonstration Garden continues to be managed by the County Agent and the master gardeners. This demonstration garden is a Rio Grande Basin Initiative project which demonstrates efficiency of drip irrigation in backyard gardens while demonstrating varieties of culinary herbs suitable to grow in the Santa Fe area.
2) The Xeric Demonstration Garden in front of the County Extension Office continues to be maintained to demonstrate low water use ornamental landscape plant material.
3) The Audobohn Native Plant Demonstration Plot is a small garden which was planted and has been maintained since 2003 at the Randall Davey Audobohn Center. The purpose of the plot is to demonstrate native plants that can make for an attractive landscape and yet attract small wildlife into the landscape.
The Santa Fe Master Gardener Association once again worked with Habitat for Humanity by assisting with the planting of new plant material around newly built homes for the fourth consecutive year. This year 6 new homes received the assistance from the master gardeners and provided home owners with garden care and maintenance information.
One of the local nurseries once again asked the Santa Fe master gardeners to setup an information table every Saturday morning for 3 hours from May through July. The program lasted for 13 consecutive weeks. The nursery recognizes that these volunteers are well trained in the subject of horticulture and can provided unbiased and sound information to the public. The team leader for this project reported that they received many good questions from the public. In addition, a second local nursery requested the Santa Fe Master Gardeners to setup an information table their location on Sunday afternoons during the month of September, however, this location wasn't as busy due to the fact the growing season was winding down.
Also new this year, the Master Gardeners began doing some site preparation for a new demonstration garden that will be installed at the Eldorado Community Center. This initiative is in collaboration with the Board of Directors of the community center. Along with some site preparation, the Master Gardeners also conducted a workshop on composting in which 32 gardeners participated in an effort to reduce and recycle yard waste.
As Master Gardener interns and Certified Master Gardeners, this group of volunteers continues to provide a great amount of service to the greater Santa Fe area in the form of education, outreach and community service. Over 2950 hours of volunteer service valued at minimum of $47,200 was provided by the Master Gardeners from the Fall season of 2007 to the late summer of 2008.
Some of the ways in which the Master Gardeners provide volunteer hours to the County Extension Office is through the following:
The fourth annual Gardening Fair was organized and facilitated and with 12 different presentations made by Master Gardeners, the Extension Specialists, and other gardening experts from the Santa Fe area. Once again the master gardeners also developed a directory of landscape and gardening related businesses and organizations along with several pages of water conservation tips which were distributed at this one day event and other public outreach venues. The cost of printing the directory was underwritten by the Rio Grande Basin Initiative. Also inclusive of the Gardening Fair once again this year was the trade-fair in which 32 organizations and businesses were invited to have an information table. While trying to determine the exact number of fair attendees is a cumbersome task, it is estimated that over 1200 people attend the event.
A plant sale was held once again in conjunction with the annual Garden Fair with the proceeds being used to cover the cost of projects that the Master Gardeners have been working on or are in the process of developing. Some of the plants that were sold were plants which the Master Gardeners themselves propagated in the hoophouse which they share with the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens.
The Master Gardener Home Gardening Hotline continues to be staffed 2 mornings every week from early May to the end of October. Typically 3 volunteers are available to staff and answer questions at each session. A dedicated phone line provided by the County Extension Office was established in 2002 which includes an answering machine that is checked mid-week by a volunteer. The Master Gardeners answer an average of 20 calls per week on the hotline.
With the relocation of the Santa Fe Farmers Market into a large space, the Santa Fe Master Gardeners were once again able to have an information table which they staffed on Tuesday Saturday mornings. Through the information table the master gardeners provided literature, answered questions, promoted the hotline and promoted the Master Gardener course. Approximately 1200 contacts were made through the course of the market season with the vast majority of the contact being related to gardening questions or problems.
Several demonstration gardens continue to be managed and cared for by the Master Gardeners.
1) The management of the Herb/Drip Irrigation Demonstration Garden continues to be managed by the County Agent and the master gardeners. This demonstration garden is a Rio Grande Basin Initiative project which demonstrates efficiency of drip irrigation in backyard gardens while demonstrating varieties of culinary herbs suitable to grow in the Santa Fe area.
2) The Xeric Demonstration Garden in front of the County Extension Office continues to be maintained to demonstrate low water use ornamental landscape plant material.
3) The Audobohn Native Plant Demonstration Plot is a small garden which was planted and has been maintained since 2003 at the Randall Davey Audobohn Center. The purpose of the plot is to demonstrate native plants that can make for an attractive landscape and yet attract small wildlife into the landscape.
The Santa Fe Master Gardener Association once again worked with Habitat for Humanity by assisting with the planting of new plant material around newly built homes for the fourth consecutive year. This year 6 new homes received the assistance from the master gardeners and provided home owners with garden care and maintenance information.
One of the local nurseries once again asked the Santa Fe master gardeners to setup an information table every Saturday morning for 3 hours from May through July. The program lasted for 13 consecutive weeks. The nursery recognizes that these volunteers are well trained in the subject of horticulture and can provided unbiased and sound information to the public. The team leader for this project reported that they received many good questions from the public. In addition, a second local nursery requested the Santa Fe Master Gardeners to setup an information table their location on Sunday afternoons during the month of September, however, this location wasn't as busy due to the fact the growing season was winding down.
Also new this year, the Master Gardeners began doing some site preparation for a new demonstration garden that will be installed at the Eldorado Community Center. This initiative is in collaboration with the Board of Directors of the community center. Along with some site preparation, the Master Gardeners also conducted a workshop on composting in which 32 gardeners participated in an effort to reduce and recycle yard waste.
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.
Turf Irrigation Efficiency Through Sub-surface Drip Irrigation Workshop
For the second consecutive year, the agent arranged and hosted a half-day presentation by the Extension Turf Specialist focusing on efficient turf irrigation. The 3 participants were given information on analyzing and improving sprinkler irrigation systems, and on the design, installation and implementation of sub-surface drip irrigation for watering turf. The information presented also showed comparative differences in efficiency between above ground sprinklers and sub-surface irrigation. As a result of having attended this program last year, one of the participants convinced the home owners association of which she is a member of to conduct a water audit of the turf area which is in the common areas. The homeowners have determined through the audit that they are over-watering the turf and can afford to reduce the frequency of the irrigations by 12%.
For the second consecutive year, the agent arranged and hosted a half-day presentation by the Extension Turf Specialist focusing on efficient turf irrigation. The 3 participants were given information on analyzing and improving sprinkler irrigation systems, and on the design, installation and implementation of sub-surface drip irrigation for watering turf. The information presented also showed comparative differences in efficiency between above ground sprinklers and sub-surface irrigation. As a result of having attended this program last year, one of the participants convinced the home owners association of which she is a member of to conduct a water audit of the turf area which is in the common areas. The homeowners have determined through the audit that they are over-watering the turf and can afford to reduce the frequency of the irrigations by 12%.