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 (Quay County)

Plan Goal

Increase knowledge base of constituents in the areas of horticulture, holistic gardening, small acreage farming, water saving techniques, and soil erosion.

Situation Statement

Home owners,home horticulturist, and small acreage gardeners consistently request educational material for native plant material for landscapes,vegetable varieties, pest identification, disease diagnosis, and fruit production. Additionally, Farmers Market participants have an urgency to return to a more holistic type gardening practice to increase saleable value to their respective crop.
With prolonged drought, decreasing water alotments, and a city water rate hike of 8%, water conservation has become an increasing issue with local and area growers.
Value of the states pecan crop now surpassing $100 million annually, and new developments in pecan varieties growers are now equipped to establish orchards throughout the state. One area that shows promise is northeastern New Mexico.

Target Audience and Actions

Audience and participants will consist of home horticulturist, hobby gardeners, small farm producers, Farmers' Market participants, and interested Quay County stakeholders. Methods of contact will consist of educational programming and research based information provided through workshops, seminars, news articles, newsletters, one on one consultation and other types of media avenues.

Short-Term Objectives

Increased knowledge and awareness of xeriscape gardening techniques, variety selection, intergrated pest management, holistic gardening techniques, and organic production practices by small acreage farmers and home gardeners.

Medium-Term Objectives

Improvements of urban landscape. Increase knowledge base of seasonal activities to keep landscape plant material healthy and vibrant. Increase in home values through landscape horticulture. Participants will reduce water usage by 10% and expand on knowledge of water use techniques and technology. Adoption of Xeriscape gardening principles & holistic vegetable production. Increase in Farmers' Market participation and attendance by 35%.
Participants, service organizations, City and County personnel will begin implementing skills and knowledge attained through educational material and workshops.

Long-Term Objectives

Long term objectives will exhibit a increased amount of land and acreage incorporating water wise planting principles. Native and water efficient plant material will increase by 15% in city and county properties. Water use efficiencies will increase by 10%. Home horticulturist will reduce turf grass areas by 5% in home lawns.
Master Gardener program or garden series programming will be implemented in Quay County.

Evaluation Plan

Impacts will be measured in acreage or square footage implementing xeriscape principles on city and county property. Emphasis in irrigation technology adoption will be interpreted in gallons saved and transferred into money saved on a per year basis.
A Retrospective Post Evaluation will measure knowledge gained at the end of the year in each subject matter program.
Water Quality Conservation
Urban Horticulture & Landscape
Xeriscape Gardening
Improved Garden Variety selection
Intergrated Pest Management