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.
Urban Horticulture (Valencia County)
Plan Goals
Increase, enhance, and sustain urban (non-commercial) horticulture in Valencia County by teaching proper landscape plant selection, management, and efficient water use.
- Owner
- Related Plans
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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture
Impact Reports
The demand for site-specific and reliable horticultural educational programs in Valencia County has continued to rise. As a result, the agriculture agent’s objectives have been to maintain a strong group of certified Valencia County Extension Master Gardener (VCEMG) volunteers, maintain personal consultation, site visits, NMSU lab testing services and interpretation, and provide relevant programs and workshops to non-commercial gardeners as needs arise.
Valencia County Extension Master Gardener Program (PY 2011): The 12 week VCEMG training program yielded 7 new trainees and retained 23 veteran members, of which the average exam score was 89%, well above the 70% minimum. Veteran retention rates were at 96%, whereas trainee retention was lower at 54%. Volunteers provide an enormous value to Valencia County by dedicating their time, talents, and energy to the Master Gardener program. Based on total numbers of volunteer time submitted to the agent, VCEMG gave 1,639 hours of volunteer service worth $35,009 in 2011 (Based on $21.36, 2010 Average Value of Volunteer Time, http://www.independentsector.org). A figure that nearly tripled the short-term objective set by the agent, and exceeds the 3 year objective of the VCEMG program by 100%, and exceeds the long-term objective by 50%.
Notable 2011 VCEMG activities included weekly outreach information booths at local Farmer’s Markets, where residents and growers were able to ask questions and bring in diseased plants for diagnosis. This effort alone yielded hundreds of personal consultations and maintained a high visibility of NMSU Extension programs in the county. Another activity in which VCEMG volunteers served their community was through the development of site-specific publications and materials, which complimented and summarized numerous NMSU publications that covered topics important to the area. Additional events sponsored by the Valencia Extension Office and the VCEMG include an annual free pruning seminar which invites NMSU-CES specialists to speak, and several seminars on bees, honey, and apples offered to school groups, and the general public throughout the year. Master Gardener volunteers also sponsored a landscape and gardening renovation at a local elementary school. Master Gardeners also presented at the 1st annual Home and Garden Expo, which provided timely information to homeowners on landscaping and gardening in Valencia County. Over 500 residents and students attended these events. Program participants expressed a high level of interest in future workshops and were satisfied with the quality of information provided at these workshops. In summary, this volunteer program has provided a relevant service and contributed significant impacts to the general public who have attended a VCEMG function, interacted with a trained volunteer or agriculture agent, through a variety of public outreach educational programs.
Urban Horticulture: The most notable impact realized by the general public is the ability to attain free research-based information on area-specific horticultural topics necessary for successful gardening in the varied and challenging central New Mexico environment. This includes the capacity to gain knowledge in proven gardening practices for the area, the development of alternative water supplies, efficient irrigation techniques, and other urban water conservation practices. Additional educational services include water-wise plant selection and proper landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, pest and weed control, plant disease identification, and many other related topics. Approximately 60% of the agriculture agent phone calls, emails, and office visits are related to urban horticulture.
Season extension is a program that has received increasing interest from small-scale fruit, vegetable, and ornamental growers. The agent coordinated and implemented 2 Hoop house Construction Workshops and 1 Chicken Tractor (mobile chicken house) intended to generate interest in season extension and small-scale livestock production and provide an example of a cost effective blueprint to follow. Participants (100%) stated they gained knowledge and thought they would be able to construct a similar structure.
The most constant service the agent has offered non-commercial clientele is individual consultation, phone and email correspondence, and field visits typically on specific problems, concerns, or questions associated with urban horticulture. Clientele often seek information from the extension agriculture agent or VCEMG volunteers on a variety of soil and plant science related topics, as well as main campus lab services such as soil testing and disease diagnostics. Both urban and commercial growers consistently seek free extension agriculture services including weed identification and control, insect identification and control, pesticide application, organic and/or natural production methods, and plant disease prevention. The agent documented over 40 requests for horticultural assistance over the past year.
Valencia County Extension Master Gardener Program (PY 2011): The 12 week VCEMG training program yielded 7 new trainees and retained 23 veteran members, of which the average exam score was 89%, well above the 70% minimum. Veteran retention rates were at 96%, whereas trainee retention was lower at 54%. Volunteers provide an enormous value to Valencia County by dedicating their time, talents, and energy to the Master Gardener program. Based on total numbers of volunteer time submitted to the agent, VCEMG gave 1,639 hours of volunteer service worth $35,009 in 2011 (Based on $21.36, 2010 Average Value of Volunteer Time, http://www.independentsector.org). A figure that nearly tripled the short-term objective set by the agent, and exceeds the 3 year objective of the VCEMG program by 100%, and exceeds the long-term objective by 50%.
Notable 2011 VCEMG activities included weekly outreach information booths at local Farmer’s Markets, where residents and growers were able to ask questions and bring in diseased plants for diagnosis. This effort alone yielded hundreds of personal consultations and maintained a high visibility of NMSU Extension programs in the county. Another activity in which VCEMG volunteers served their community was through the development of site-specific publications and materials, which complimented and summarized numerous NMSU publications that covered topics important to the area. Additional events sponsored by the Valencia Extension Office and the VCEMG include an annual free pruning seminar which invites NMSU-CES specialists to speak, and several seminars on bees, honey, and apples offered to school groups, and the general public throughout the year. Master Gardener volunteers also sponsored a landscape and gardening renovation at a local elementary school. Master Gardeners also presented at the 1st annual Home and Garden Expo, which provided timely information to homeowners on landscaping and gardening in Valencia County. Over 500 residents and students attended these events. Program participants expressed a high level of interest in future workshops and were satisfied with the quality of information provided at these workshops. In summary, this volunteer program has provided a relevant service and contributed significant impacts to the general public who have attended a VCEMG function, interacted with a trained volunteer or agriculture agent, through a variety of public outreach educational programs.
Urban Horticulture: The most notable impact realized by the general public is the ability to attain free research-based information on area-specific horticultural topics necessary for successful gardening in the varied and challenging central New Mexico environment. This includes the capacity to gain knowledge in proven gardening practices for the area, the development of alternative water supplies, efficient irrigation techniques, and other urban water conservation practices. Additional educational services include water-wise plant selection and proper landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, pest and weed control, plant disease identification, and many other related topics. Approximately 60% of the agriculture agent phone calls, emails, and office visits are related to urban horticulture.
Season extension is a program that has received increasing interest from small-scale fruit, vegetable, and ornamental growers. The agent coordinated and implemented 2 Hoop house Construction Workshops and 1 Chicken Tractor (mobile chicken house) intended to generate interest in season extension and small-scale livestock production and provide an example of a cost effective blueprint to follow. Participants (100%) stated they gained knowledge and thought they would be able to construct a similar structure.
The most constant service the agent has offered non-commercial clientele is individual consultation, phone and email correspondence, and field visits typically on specific problems, concerns, or questions associated with urban horticulture. Clientele often seek information from the extension agriculture agent or VCEMG volunteers on a variety of soil and plant science related topics, as well as main campus lab services such as soil testing and disease diagnostics. Both urban and commercial growers consistently seek free extension agriculture services including weed identification and control, insect identification and control, pesticide application, organic and/or natural production methods, and plant disease prevention. The agent documented over 40 requests for horticultural assistance over the past year.
2010 Program Year:
Due to an influx of new residents to the county and a large interest in home gardening and landscaping, the demand for site-specific and reliable horticultural educational programs in Valencia County has continued to rise to meet the challenges of gardening in the arid southwest. As a result, the agriculture agent’s objectives have been to maintain a strong group of certified Valencia County Extension Master Gardener (VCEMG) volunteers, maintain personal consultation, site visits, NMSU lab testing services and interpretation, and provide relevant programs and workshops to non-commercial gardeners as needs arise.
Valencia County Extension Master Gardener Program: The 12 week VCEMG training program yielded 7 new trainees and retained 24 veteran members, of which the average exam score was 88%, well above the 70% minimum. Of the class of 2010, 90% of the volunteers were retained by meeting training requirements and the 40 hour/individual volunteer time requirement for certification for the upcoming 2011 program year. Volunteers provide an enormous value to our county by dedicating their time, talents, and energy to the Master Gardener program. Based on total numbers submitted to the agent, VCEMG gave 1,435 hours of volunteer service worth $23,650 in 2010. A figure that doubled the short-term objective set by the agent, and exceeds the 3 year objective of the VCEMG program by 50%.
Notable 2010 VCEMG activities included weekly outreach information booths at local Farmer’s Markets, where residents and growers were able to ask questions and bring in sick or dying plants for diagnosis. These efforts alone yielded hundreds of personal consultations and maintained a high visibility of NMSU Extension programs in the county. Another activity in which VCEMG volunteers served their community was through the development of site-specific publications and materials, which complimented and summarized numerous NMSU publications that covered topics important to the area. Additional events sponsored by the Valencia Extension Office and the VCEMG include an annual free pruning seminar which invites NMSU-CES specialists to speak, and several seminars on bees, honey, and apples offered to school groups, and the general public throughout the year, sponsored by a longstanding VCEMG volunteer, local expert and apple/honey producer. Over 400 residents and students have attended these events. Program participants expressed a high level of interest in future workshops and were satisfied with the quality of information provided at these workshops. In summary, this volunteer program has provided a relevant service and contributed significant impacts to the general public who have attended a VCEMG function, interacted with a trained volunteer or agriculture agent, through a variety of public outreach educational programs.
Urban Horticulture: The most notable impact realized by the general public is the ability to attain free research-based information on area-specific horticultural topics necessary for successful gardening in the varied and challenging central New Mexico environment. This includes the capacity to gain knowledge in proven gardening practices for the area, the development of alternative water supplies, efficient irrigation techniques, and other urban water conservation practices. Additional educational services include water-wise plant selection and proper landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, pest and weed control, plant disease identification, and many other related topics. Approximately 60% of the agriculture agent phone calls, emails, and office visits are related to urban horticulture.
Season extension is a program that has received increasing interest from small-scale fruit, vegetable, and ornamental growers. In collaboration with NMSU-RAIPAP staff, the agent coordinated and implemented a 1-day Hoop house Construction Workshop intended to generate interest in season extension and provide an example of a cost effective blueprint to follow. Participants (100%) stated they gained knowledge and thought they would be able to construct a similar structure. Additionally, district NRCS staff expressed interest in collaboration, as certain federal programs have recently included cost-share opportunities for qualified agricultural producers.
The most constant service the agent has offered non-commercial clientele is individual consultation, phone and email correspondence, and field visits typically on specific problems, concerns, or questions associated with urban horticulture. Clientele often seek information from the extension agriculture agent or VCEMG volunteers on a variety of soil and plant science related topics, as well as main campus lab services such as soil testing and disease diagnostics. Both urban and commercial growers consistently seek free extension agriculture services including weed identification and control, insect identification and control, pesticide application, organic and/or natural production methods, and plant disease prevention. The agent documented over 400 requests for horticultural assistance over the past year.
Due to an influx of new residents to the county and a large interest in home gardening and landscaping, the demand for site-specific and reliable horticultural educational programs in Valencia County has continued to rise to meet the challenges of gardening in the arid southwest. As a result, the agriculture agent’s objectives have been to maintain a strong group of certified Valencia County Extension Master Gardener (VCEMG) volunteers, maintain personal consultation, site visits, NMSU lab testing services and interpretation, and provide relevant programs and workshops to non-commercial gardeners as needs arise.
Valencia County Extension Master Gardener Program: The 12 week VCEMG training program yielded 7 new trainees and retained 24 veteran members, of which the average exam score was 88%, well above the 70% minimum. Of the class of 2010, 90% of the volunteers were retained by meeting training requirements and the 40 hour/individual volunteer time requirement for certification for the upcoming 2011 program year. Volunteers provide an enormous value to our county by dedicating their time, talents, and energy to the Master Gardener program. Based on total numbers submitted to the agent, VCEMG gave 1,435 hours of volunteer service worth $23,650 in 2010. A figure that doubled the short-term objective set by the agent, and exceeds the 3 year objective of the VCEMG program by 50%.
Notable 2010 VCEMG activities included weekly outreach information booths at local Farmer’s Markets, where residents and growers were able to ask questions and bring in sick or dying plants for diagnosis. These efforts alone yielded hundreds of personal consultations and maintained a high visibility of NMSU Extension programs in the county. Another activity in which VCEMG volunteers served their community was through the development of site-specific publications and materials, which complimented and summarized numerous NMSU publications that covered topics important to the area. Additional events sponsored by the Valencia Extension Office and the VCEMG include an annual free pruning seminar which invites NMSU-CES specialists to speak, and several seminars on bees, honey, and apples offered to school groups, and the general public throughout the year, sponsored by a longstanding VCEMG volunteer, local expert and apple/honey producer. Over 400 residents and students have attended these events. Program participants expressed a high level of interest in future workshops and were satisfied with the quality of information provided at these workshops. In summary, this volunteer program has provided a relevant service and contributed significant impacts to the general public who have attended a VCEMG function, interacted with a trained volunteer or agriculture agent, through a variety of public outreach educational programs.
Urban Horticulture: The most notable impact realized by the general public is the ability to attain free research-based information on area-specific horticultural topics necessary for successful gardening in the varied and challenging central New Mexico environment. This includes the capacity to gain knowledge in proven gardening practices for the area, the development of alternative water supplies, efficient irrigation techniques, and other urban water conservation practices. Additional educational services include water-wise plant selection and proper landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, pest and weed control, plant disease identification, and many other related topics. Approximately 60% of the agriculture agent phone calls, emails, and office visits are related to urban horticulture.
Season extension is a program that has received increasing interest from small-scale fruit, vegetable, and ornamental growers. In collaboration with NMSU-RAIPAP staff, the agent coordinated and implemented a 1-day Hoop house Construction Workshop intended to generate interest in season extension and provide an example of a cost effective blueprint to follow. Participants (100%) stated they gained knowledge and thought they would be able to construct a similar structure. Additionally, district NRCS staff expressed interest in collaboration, as certain federal programs have recently included cost-share opportunities for qualified agricultural producers.
The most constant service the agent has offered non-commercial clientele is individual consultation, phone and email correspondence, and field visits typically on specific problems, concerns, or questions associated with urban horticulture. Clientele often seek information from the extension agriculture agent or VCEMG volunteers on a variety of soil and plant science related topics, as well as main campus lab services such as soil testing and disease diagnostics. Both urban and commercial growers consistently seek free extension agriculture services including weed identification and control, insect identification and control, pesticide application, organic and/or natural production methods, and plant disease prevention. The agent documented over 400 requests for horticultural assistance over the past year.
Medium-term successes
Eddy County
Living Desert State Park, Eddy County Cooperative Extension, and the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist offered a Water Wise Landscape workshop attended by 38 citizens. This is an annual event that has resulted in increasing knowledge of plants and techniques to conserve water in Southeastern New Mexico landscapes. Attendees report successful changes in their landscape and irrigation practices as a result of this annual workshop.
Santa Fe (on-going projects) -
Habitat for Humanity has been using Santa Fe County Master Gardeners to design and install water efficient landscapes at the homes they build. The Master Gardeners then teach the new homeowners how to garden appropriately and conserve water.
El Rancho de los Golondrinos has worked with Master Gardeners maintaining a heritage apple orchard to demonstrate historical gardening practices to visitors.
Master Gardeners have maintained demonstration gardens and collaboration with NMSU Extension faculty (George Dickerson’s herb garden and Curtis Smith’s olla garden). This provides hands-on experience for the Master Gardeners who then teach this to their fellow citizens and to visitors to the demonstration garden site adjacent to the County Extension Service office.
CNM (formerly TV-I) – as chairman of the advisory committee for the Landscape Horticulture training program at CNM the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist was in a position to encourage cooperation between NMSU and CNM. Dr. St. Hilaire on the NMSU end and Paul Zalesak at CNM have developed articulation agreements between NMSU and CNM. Distance learning venues were developed so that NMSU professors could teach some of the classes at CNM and some CNM teaching could be made available to NMSU students as desired by the faculty.
Eddy County
Living Desert State Park, Eddy County Cooperative Extension, and the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist offered a Water Wise Landscape workshop attended by 38 citizens. This is an annual event that has resulted in increasing knowledge of plants and techniques to conserve water in Southeastern New Mexico landscapes. Attendees report successful changes in their landscape and irrigation practices as a result of this annual workshop.
Santa Fe (on-going projects) -
Habitat for Humanity has been using Santa Fe County Master Gardeners to design and install water efficient landscapes at the homes they build. The Master Gardeners then teach the new homeowners how to garden appropriately and conserve water.
El Rancho de los Golondrinos has worked with Master Gardeners maintaining a heritage apple orchard to demonstrate historical gardening practices to visitors.
Master Gardeners have maintained demonstration gardens and collaboration with NMSU Extension faculty (George Dickerson’s herb garden and Curtis Smith’s olla garden). This provides hands-on experience for the Master Gardeners who then teach this to their fellow citizens and to visitors to the demonstration garden site adjacent to the County Extension Service office.
CNM (formerly TV-I) – as chairman of the advisory committee for the Landscape Horticulture training program at CNM the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist was in a position to encourage cooperation between NMSU and CNM. Dr. St. Hilaire on the NMSU end and Paul Zalesak at CNM have developed articulation agreements between NMSU and CNM. Distance learning venues were developed so that NMSU professors could teach some of the classes at CNM and some CNM teaching could be made available to NMSU students as desired by the faculty.
Short-term successes
As reported in County Agents’ impact statements, specialist support of county agents and county Master Gardeners has enabled them to meet the changing needs of the nursery industry and home gardeners in their counties, to develop educational programs in schools and among the public.
Specialist support of county Extension programs have enhanced agent respect within the counties to the point that they are often the primary source of information that cities, counties, and other organizations use for referrals.
With specialist assistance Master Gardener programs in the counties are growing and providing increased assistance to the Extension Service agents as stated in the Agents’ impact statements. Master Gardener programs have resulted in significant teaching opportunities for county residents:
Lea Co. – Waite House – the oldest residence in Lovington was donated to the Historical Society and Museum. The museum then gave access to this house to Lea County Master Gardeners to develop a demonstration garden and access to the house as a classroom. This is a long-term and continuing project that provides landscape design and management demonstrations to citizens of Lea County.
NM Jr. College in Hobbs has been impressed by the Lea County Master Gardener program and has offered to provide classroom space for teaching Master Gardeners, advertising for the Master Gardener classes, and willingness to offer Junior College continuing education credits to people who take the Master Gardener classes. This collaboration began in 2009 and is continuing and growing. The New Mexico Junior College experienced a 60% increase in enrollment as a result of collaboration with NMSU and Lea County Master Gardeners.
Otero - Otero County Master Gardeners provided 6 educational programs to educate local gardeners about techniques for landscaping and gardening in a water conserving manner. They were provided NMSU publications and information. Through the year 49 Otero County Master Gardener volunteers provided 2269 hours of horticultural educational service to their fellow citizens.
Sandoval - A demonstration garden in developed in cooperation with city of Rio Rancho, Sandoval Extension Service, and Master Gardener has been highly regarded locally and nationally. In 2009 Master Gardeners had donated by the time of the county report over 2000 pounds of vegetables from this garden to two charities that distribute vegetables to people in need. The provision of fresh vegetables was a much needed addition to the foods available and the nutrition of program participants.
Master Gardeners provided well-attended plant clinics to answer gardening questions from 200 citizens annually. They conduct numerous educational programs for 500 county residents utilizing Master Gardeners, County and State Extension professionals as instructors. These have resulted in ongoing changes in gardening practices in Sandoval County.
Over 100 active Master Gardeners have contributed more than 5,000 hours of educational service to Sandoval County.
Bernalillo- About 200 active Master Gardeners assist the Bernalillo County Extension Program in offering horticulture education programs to the public. Many contribute more than the required 40 volunteer hours due to their commitment to the success of the program and desire to teach their fellow citizens. Volunteer activities exceed 10,000 hours in providing gardening information at libraries, the Downtown Growers Market in Albuquerque, 4-H Seeds program, the Organic Demonstration Garden, Tomato Fiesta, and various joint activities with the Albuquerque Council of Garden Clubs.
Valencia- Twenty-one Master Gardeners contributed 1, 297 volunteer hours in support of the Valencia County Extension horticulture educational program. The Master Gardeners maintained a demonstration water harvesting/container garden at the Valencia County Extension office using information provided by the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist and the County Agent. Master Gardeners conducted 50 plant clinics to provide educational outreach to Valencia County residents.
Los Alamos- Forty-two Master Gardeners volunteered 688 hours of a variety of horticultural educational service to county residents.
As reported in County Agents’ impact statements, specialist support of county agents and county Master Gardeners has enabled them to meet the changing needs of the nursery industry and home gardeners in their counties, to develop educational programs in schools and among the public.
Specialist support of county Extension programs have enhanced agent respect within the counties to the point that they are often the primary source of information that cities, counties, and other organizations use for referrals.
With specialist assistance Master Gardener programs in the counties are growing and providing increased assistance to the Extension Service agents as stated in the Agents’ impact statements. Master Gardener programs have resulted in significant teaching opportunities for county residents:
Lea Co. – Waite House – the oldest residence in Lovington was donated to the Historical Society and Museum. The museum then gave access to this house to Lea County Master Gardeners to develop a demonstration garden and access to the house as a classroom. This is a long-term and continuing project that provides landscape design and management demonstrations to citizens of Lea County.
NM Jr. College in Hobbs has been impressed by the Lea County Master Gardener program and has offered to provide classroom space for teaching Master Gardeners, advertising for the Master Gardener classes, and willingness to offer Junior College continuing education credits to people who take the Master Gardener classes. This collaboration began in 2009 and is continuing and growing. The New Mexico Junior College experienced a 60% increase in enrollment as a result of collaboration with NMSU and Lea County Master Gardeners.
Otero - Otero County Master Gardeners provided 6 educational programs to educate local gardeners about techniques for landscaping and gardening in a water conserving manner. They were provided NMSU publications and information. Through the year 49 Otero County Master Gardener volunteers provided 2269 hours of horticultural educational service to their fellow citizens.
Sandoval - A demonstration garden in developed in cooperation with city of Rio Rancho, Sandoval Extension Service, and Master Gardener has been highly regarded locally and nationally. In 2009 Master Gardeners had donated by the time of the county report over 2000 pounds of vegetables from this garden to two charities that distribute vegetables to people in need. The provision of fresh vegetables was a much needed addition to the foods available and the nutrition of program participants.
Master Gardeners provided well-attended plant clinics to answer gardening questions from 200 citizens annually. They conduct numerous educational programs for 500 county residents utilizing Master Gardeners, County and State Extension professionals as instructors. These have resulted in ongoing changes in gardening practices in Sandoval County.
Over 100 active Master Gardeners have contributed more than 5,000 hours of educational service to Sandoval County.
Bernalillo- About 200 active Master Gardeners assist the Bernalillo County Extension Program in offering horticulture education programs to the public. Many contribute more than the required 40 volunteer hours due to their commitment to the success of the program and desire to teach their fellow citizens. Volunteer activities exceed 10,000 hours in providing gardening information at libraries, the Downtown Growers Market in Albuquerque, 4-H Seeds program, the Organic Demonstration Garden, Tomato Fiesta, and various joint activities with the Albuquerque Council of Garden Clubs.
Valencia- Twenty-one Master Gardeners contributed 1, 297 volunteer hours in support of the Valencia County Extension horticulture educational program. The Master Gardeners maintained a demonstration water harvesting/container garden at the Valencia County Extension office using information provided by the NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist and the County Agent. Master Gardeners conducted 50 plant clinics to provide educational outreach to Valencia County residents.
Los Alamos- Forty-two Master Gardeners volunteered 688 hours of a variety of horticultural educational service to county residents.
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.