Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture

In the fall of 2008 this agent was able to provide a lecture to the retired teachers club on Africanized Bees due to the exposure of the program done in the spring for the emergency responders in the county. This lecture provided the history of the Africanized bee and its establishment in the landscape. Due to their dangerous nature when agitated and the concentration of attacks learning to recognize potential threats is extremely important. Twenty participants were present. All in attendance said that they had learned something new that they didn’t know before and they would change their habits of how they approach a potentially dangerous situation. This program served as a great refresher course on bee safety.

12 clientele visits were made from October 08 - September 09. To assist with lawn, tree, garden problems.

Therapeutic garden project
Purpose: To use “plant parenthood” with inpatient substance abuse intervention in such a manner as to increase self-esteem and awareness. Using a community gardening approach makes this is a cooperative effort with some of the values instilled in the clients, such as Self-help, Self-responsibility; Democracy, Equality, Equity, and ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for a life form. Plants give a direct feed back as to level of care, if the care is poor they die, if the care is good they bear fruit or reward. The summer of 2009 a small pilot project, was conducted one of the results that were observed included the phenomenon of hope that gardening empowered in the clients. The thought process of putting together that a healthy environment leads to a healthy person. Producing one’s own food is a great activity in a number of ways but specifically in this project, increased exercise, increased knowledge and skills, improved diet, and the teaching of a work ethic. Gardening offers the opportunity for “teachable moments” that because of the hands on activity have tendency to stay with a client; as reported by evaluation completed by past clients.
Proposed Program:
Continue the pilot program with some small changes. Starting in the spring of 2010 (Late February) meet with the clientele and do basic gardening planning, how big, how much of what, and when to plant. Start working up the planting beds and plant according to the plan. Work each week with clientele on gardening skills, and those teachable moments. As we move into the harvest time we need less time in the garden so I thought of collaborating with my collogue the Eddy County Extension Home Economics agent Ms. Charley Fisher. She could come in and teach nutrition, meal planning, food preservation, and preparation of food products from the garden. We would use the same allotted time slot, which is currently on Fri 9:00 to 10:00 we could go to 11:00 when the clinical staff need us. In the fall, we would continue with the winter garden.
Advantages
Gardening is comparatively simple to organize and is effective with many skill levels. Weather it is simple weeding or more advanced skills all clientele have the opportunity to get involved. Both ecotherapy and cooperative working may have benefits for other groups, including intensive out patient, or those under the responsibility of probation services.
Results
The provision of meaningful activity within a residential substance abuse treatment facility is a constant challenge to those who run such a facility. A garden and clientele needs are very specific and bring them together in a manner which results in an activity/educational experience that promotes mental, physical and social health and welfare is an exercise in itself. Gardening has qualities that promote mental health when accomplished as a group social benefit also occurs. In addition the intrinsic hope of gardening is therapeutic to clientele which will be practiced by them when the return to a less controlled situation. This program also gives the opportunity for those who are required by the Criminal Justice System to complete e community service to accumulate hours in the community garden.

In cooperation with Living Desert State Park, Eddy county extension conducted a water wise landscape workshop where 38 citizens learned about xerscape techniques and planning.

In January 2009 the Lea County Extension and NMDA hosted its 19th annual Pesticide Applicators Training at New Mexico Junior College. This training has two purposes 1) assist clientele in maintaining there pesticide license by obtaining CEU's and 2) train future license holders and preparing them for the required examination that will have to be taken. Presenters for this program are specilaist from the university and NMDA employees. This year there was 88 participants for the program. Majority of the participants work for local communities and schools, with participation from the surrounding counties. The up coming training will also be offered on the Centra program.