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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Los Alamos County)

Plan Goal

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.

Situation Statement

The field of urban horticulture is increasingly important to Los Alamos County residents. Los Alamos County, the smallest in the state, has one of the highest population densities in the state. Projected growth and constant influx of persons from outside the arid southwest resulting from the national laboratory (LANL) present important challenges to the county and its residents. Horticultural practices can either add to the severity of these challenges or help to mitigate them and improve the quality of life for urban dwellers. Common practices in maintaining urban landscapes waste resources and pollute air and water. Residential demand for water continues to increase as supplies decrease. Nearly all of pesticide use in the county is residential and nonagricultural; pesticides and chemical fertilizers are often over-applied by home gardeners and the excess is flushed into the state’s waterways. Clearly, there is an urgent need for county-specific, environmentally-sound horticultural information to help home gardeners make better choices. There is also growing interest among public and private landholders in using more sustainable horticultural practices and products to protect wildlife corridors, support native pollinators, and conserve and protect natural resources, including water and soil.

Target Audience and Actions

The primary audience will consist of the home owner. These individuals will reached through Master Gardener training classes and public programs. Individuals will also be served through one-on-one consultations and publications. In addition to the general public, information will also be directed to landscape professionals and suppliers through workshops, conferences, and personal interactions

Short-Term Objectives

1. At least 15 Master Gardeners will be trained annually to assist the Agent in the dissemination of basic horticultural information through workshops, educational demonstrations and developing of demonstration gardens.

2. The Agent will respond to 95% of the requests for horticultural information providing the clientele which will lead to a minimum of 20% increase in knowledge.

3.Develop a Stakeholder Section (horticulture and landscape professionals, public agency staff, Master Gardeners, K-12 and community college teachers, and other)with information targeted to the needs of stakeholder. audiences.

Medium-Term Objectives

1. The Agent will respond to presentation requests from community groups and organizations at a minimum rate of 3/year. Clientele participating in such presentations will increase their knowledge base by an average of 10%.

2. A minimum of 1 training per year will be conducted for private and public landscape professionals including information on pest management techniques. Clientele participating in such presentations will increase their knowledge base by an average of 10%.

Long-Term Objectives

1. Work with affiliate/satellite organizations throughout the county to adapt existing gardens and/or develop a new demonstration garden in White Rock to reflectthe overall goal. Exhibits, including educational signage, plant labels, and interior exhibits, will be designed using visitor-centered principles, testing and evaluation practices.

Evaluation Plan

Short term objective 1 will be assessed through pre-post test instrumentation. Objective two through post survey.

Medium-ter objective 1 and 2 will be assessed through a post survey instrument
Long-term objective 1.