- Author: Jennifer Baumbach
Jim Fowler has been an invaluable part of the UC Master Gardener Program for over 20 years and has achieved Platinum Badge status and beyond, earning a sapphire pin. He amassed over five thousand volunteer hours during this time. He completed his training in Solano County during a serendipitous year when Yolo County did not hold a class. I count myself incredibly fortunate to have accepted him into the program—what a gift his presence has been to us all.
Throughout his tenure, Jim has been the cornerstone of every aspect of the program. He has tirelessly answered gardening questions at farmers' markets and county fairs, attended countless planning meetings, and managed the help line. Jim organized and administered training classes, shared his wisdom through presentations, and played a pivotal role in creating and supporting both Central Park Gardens and Grace Garden. His editorial contributions have been monumental—writing dozens of articles and serving as the editor for Bloomin' News and The Yolo Gardener for an impressive 15 years. On top of this, his volunteer work with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden helped propagate thousands of plants essential to their collections and plant sales.
And yet, in a delightful twist, Jim, with all his devotion to gardening, openly admits he hates it! His humorous and candid reflections—calling gardening “dirty, sweaty, and itchy” and lamenting about sore hands, blisters, and relentless weeds—only underscore his brilliance and deep connection to the natural world. His innovative Darwinian gardening method, outlined in his spring 2022 article, reveals a mind that turns challenges into triumphs.
It is with a heavy but deeply appreciative heart that I announce Jim's retirement from the UC Master Gardener Program of Yolo County. While we will miss him terribly, I know he is ready to bid farewell to what he aptly called “too darn much hard work!” Jim, I want to thank you not only for your boundless contributions but also for being a trusted friend and sounding board. Your impact on the program, our community, and me personally is immeasurable.
To Jim's wonderful wife, Zora—thank you for sharing him with us all these years.
Congratulations, Jim, on your well-earned retirement to Southern California where the weather is always amazing! May your next chapter be filled with family, joy, and the pursuits that bring you the greatest happiness.
Reference:
Darwinian Gardening and the Magic of Mulch by Jim Fowler -Yolo Gardener Spring 2022