The UC Master Gardener Program is excited to welcome new Advisors to our community of practice! Each new advisor has assumed the critical role of supporting the academic integrity of the UC Master Gardener Program within their respective county or region. The advisor's role entails harmonizing program activities with local and state consumer horticulture needs, delivering top-notch training, and reviewing the outputs of UC Master Gardener volunteers for accuracy.

Advisors Andrews, Godfrey, Hill, Singh, Pitton, and Volk will work closely with UC Master Gardener Coordinators to support the ongoing success and growing impacts of their respective UC Master Gardener Programs. 

The following fantastic new Advisors have recently joined UC ANR:

Ellie Andrews

Specialty Crops Advisor, Sonoma, Marin & Napa Counties (UC Master Gardener Advisor in Sonoma County):

• Fruit, nut and vegetable crops
• Plant biological efficiency and abiotic stresses affecting plants
• Conservation and efficient use of water
• Harnessing ecosystem services

Jessie Godfrey

Environmental Horticulture & Water Resource Management Advisor, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco (UC Master Gardener Advisor in Alameda & Contra Costa Counites):

• Climate Change
• Sustainable Natural Ecosystems

Ryan Hill

Weed Science and Agronomy Advisor, Tehama, Shasta & Glenn Counties:

• Weed control
• Herbicide safety

Hardeep Singh

Local Food Systems Advisor, Central Sierra (Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne & El Dorado):

• Fruit & vegetable crops
• Urban agriculture/local and regional food systems

Bruno Pitton

Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Placer & Nevada Counties:

• Floriculture & Nursery
• Greenhouse management

Emma Volk

Production Horticulture Area Advisor, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties:

• Vegetables

We were pleased to welcome 27 people representing 34 counties at this year's annual UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator Meeting. As this was a conference year, our meeting was held at the start of the triennial UC Master Gardener Conference, this year in Tahoe City, CA on Monday, Oct. 2. This year's meeting emphasized networking and emerging partnerships.

We have a lot of new faces since our last in-person annual Coordinator Meeting so we kicked off our event with a wonderful opportunity to get introduced to one another and highlight local program successes. We enjoyed meals together and continued conversation and connection to share resources and ideas across programs.

Presenters joined us to contribute to our theme of emerging partnerships. In addition to the impactful work new partnerships represent, strategic partnerships can help us open our program doors wider to a broader diversity of clientele and future trainees. Elizabeth Moon, UC ANR Director of Workplace Inclusion and Belonging, helped set the stage to discuss partnerships by grounding us in shared language around equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Following Elizabeth's presentation, we had engaging learning and discussion opportunities with Karina Hathorn, Garden Project Manager with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC, and Yana Valachovic, Forestry Advisory with UCCE Humboldt & Del Norte. We look forward to hearing about new and expanding partnerships to address California's pressing needs!

Before breaking for a shared meal, Anne Megaro and Sheron Violini from UC ANR Government and Community Relations impressed on us the importance of sharing and celebrating with our elected officials. The importance of their presentation was reinforced later in the week when each of the four search for excellence winners received a Senatorial Resolution in honor of their impactful community work.

Resources and presentations from our meeting are now available on the Coordinator's Website: https://mgcoord.ucanr.edu/Training/Annual_Coordinator_Meeting/

Thank you for all who were able to attend in person and who have reviewed the materials posted online.  We look forward to hosting our next annual meeting in fall of 2024. Until then, let's continue the networking and dialog!

The UC Master Gardener Program is pleased to be welcoming new Advisors to our community of practice! New advisors are joining the statewide team for a 3-part, 3.5-hour orientation to our program where we review roles and responsibilities, opportunities, and the incredible benefits that come along with supporting volunteers. Each new academic has responsibility for the academic integrity of the UC Master Gardener Program in their county or region. This includes aligning program activities with local and state consumer horticulture needs, providing high quality trainings, and reviewing UC Master Gardener volunteer outputs for accuracy. Advisors Goncalves, Solins, Spinelli, and Tanner also have administrative responsibilities to their respective UC Master Gardener groups, working in close alignment with UC Master Gardener Coordinators. Additional Advisor recruitments are currently underway in Ventura County and Tulare/Kings/Madera/Merced Counties.

The following fantastic new Advisors have recently joined UC ANR:

Dr Clebson Goncalves
Diversified Agriculture Advisor, Lake & Mendocino Counties
Areas of Expertise:

• Plant management systems
• Weeds
• IPM
• Soil, plant, water, and nutrient relationships

Dr Chris Shogren
Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Los Angeles County
Areas of Expertise:

• Ornamentals
• Entomology
• IPM

Dr Joanna Solins
Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Counties
Areas of Expertise:

• Urban green infrastructure
• Ornamentals
• Watershed protection and management
• Trees & urban forestry

Dr Gerry Spinelli
Production Horticulture Advisor, San Diego County
Areas of Expertise:

• Nurseries and floriculture
• Conservation and efficient use of water
• Soil, plant, water, nutrient relationships

Eddie Tanner
Specialty Crops & Horticulture Advisor, Humboldt & Del Norte Counties
Areas of Expertise:

• High tunnels
• Organic systems
• Vegetables
• Native plant landscaping