4-H and the Master Gardener Program
One of the benefits of Cooperative Extension is the ability to collaborate with different Extension programs, such as the Master Gardener Program. Through collaboration, the University of California is able to leverage the expertise of different program units to benefit the health and well-being of our communities. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of collaborating with the new Placer County Master Gardener president, Carol Holliman. I recently interviewed Carol and want to share the contents of that interview below. After the interview, I also provide a recent article that Julie Long published in the Master Gardener Real Dirt newsletter.
Meet Carol Holliman
[Matt] Why do you want to collaborate with 4-H?
[Carol] We share common interests in the development of our youth and the appreciation for the wonders of nature, such as plants and animals.
[Matt] How have you been collaborating with 4-H?
[Carol] We have partnered to help our local Placer County Juvenile Detention Facility revive their youth garden and offer lessons to eligible youth.
[Matt] What do you envision in a 4-H and Master Gardener partnership?
[Carol] I would like to see us expand our collaboration by offering 4-H youth classes in our new Loomis Demo Garden, with a focus on California native plants.
[Matt] How can 4-H help support the needs of the Master Gardener program?
[Carol] By communicating with 4-H clubs information about Master Gardener programs.
[Matt] Is there anything else you'd like to add?
[Carol] Master Gardeners can benefit from the extensive expertise that 4-H leaders have around working with youth. There may be combined education that we can offer to Master Gardeners and 4-H leaders on this topic.
Real Dirt newsletter
By Julie Long
We have a special person for the Member Spotlight this month-our new MG president, Carol Holliman! Thanks to Carol for a fascinating look into the interesting and varied life she has led! We are looking forward to the coming year under her leadership ??
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Ohio and lived part of my life near Oakland, but for most of my childhood I lived in Canada near Toronto. My father moved us around a lot in support of his education and career, which I feel has taught me to be adaptable. We lived in big cities, small towns and on a farm. It was while living on the farm I learned how to grow vegetables and came to really appreciate nature and all of its wonders.
What did you dream of doing when you grew up?
Like a lot of kids in the 60s I wanted to be an astronaut :)
Actually, I struggled figuring out what I wanted to do as an adult. While in high school I had a wonderful chemistry teacher, so I decided to get a bachelor's degree in chemistry. However, a work-study program soon convinced me that I didn't want to be a chemist, so I switched to computer science. That turned out to be a good choice for me in a dramatically expanding career field. I ended up going into computer sales with IBM, working there for over 31 years! After working for a couple other IT companies doing executive sales and proposal management, I retired about three years ago.
If you went to college, what did you study?
See above. I also got an MBA while working at IBM in Oklahoma, the job I got right out of college.
What inspired you to live in Placer County? Where is your home?
My husband and I raised our two children in Norman, Oklahoma, where I moved to in 1980 as part of my chemistry work-study program. Once they had left the nest, we decided that we no longer needed to stay there and deal with super-hot summers and scary tornadoes. I was doing a lot of work for IBM in northern California, so we decided to come West. After looking at lots of options we settled on Auburn because of its small-town charm combined with access to nature and history.
Please share a bit about your family
I married Terry in 1983. Within the next eight years we had two girls, who are now living on the other side of the U.S. To our great joy, our eldest, Stephanie, has a 3-year-old son, who has learned how to chat with us every week on zoom. Amazing!
How did you learn about Master Gardeners? When did you join?
Karen Covey, who I knew through mutual IBM friends, invited me to apply for the class of 2022. Throughout my career, whenever work got too stressful, I promised myself that in my retirement I would 1) volunteer for something fun and 2) I would garden. The combination of these two things that Master Gardeners represents was thus a no-brainer for me to go for! And I could not be more delighted with what I found. It is filled with great people, and has a wonderful mission, so I have lots of fun doing what I love to do.
What innate skills or work experiences do you use when volunteering?
All those years working for large, matrixed companies and doing public speaking really paid off when I took on the co-chair role for School and Community Gardens shortly after graduating. In my career I had to learn how to get things done by persuasion and good organization skills. Working with volunteers and partners requires these same skills.
What are the favorite areas of your garden?
Ever since learning to grow vegetables as a child, I have loved to create edible gardens and have done so most of my life. Since becoming a Master Gardener, I have also fallen in love with California natives. Happily, in the 1/3 acre I live on now we were able to create a lovely space for both. After a couple of years of intense effort, we now have raised beds for tomatoes, squashes, peppers etc., four fruit trees, California natives/pollinators and berries.
Beyond gardening, what are your favorite hobbies and activities?
I love being out in nature and have taken up paddleboarding and snowshoeing. We are building a craft room under our home where I plan to develop my stained and fused glass art skills. And I enjoy small adventures, like a trip to see a museum or find a fun restaurant. I appreciate the small joys of life and the blessings of good friends. I am also passionate about helping my community find hope in these challenging times through education on topics like sustainability and resilience.
What three things would others be surprised to learn about you?
- For part of my childhood, I was raised on a commune; consequently, under my business-like exterior is a free spirit.
- In the late 1990's I travelled the world for IBM explaining the potential of this new thing called “The Internet”.
- I worked in Oklahoma City when the bomb went off in 1995; had it not been for a customer meeting I would have been right in the damage zone two buildings away. A good reminder to appreciate every day for its blessings!