The UC Master Gardener Program is well known for its volunteers' prolific extension of home horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and pest management to California residents. At times behind the scenes and at other times front and center, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinators and lead volunteers work diligently to ensure that volunteer cohorts have the skills and resources they need to succeed.

Last month UC Master Gardener statewide staff, program coordinators, and volunteer leaders gathered for their annual coordinator meeting. This year the annual coordinator meeting included two packed days full of training, sharing, and enrichment centered on volunteer engagement.

Program coordinators and volunteer leaders brainstormed ideas on ways to engage and support volunteers from all generations. Photo: Melissa Womack

Sample icebreakers were done in the morning as a team-building activity and to showcase interactive ways to have volunteers meet each other or buy into the training. In this icebreaker coordinators were asked to act out the phrase "Oh no! Look at that topped tree!"

 

Following a few sample icebreakers, coordinators received updates on the state of volunteer engagement within UC ANR from Gemma Miner, the UC 4-H Youth Development Program's Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. Building on this presentation, UC Master Gardener Program Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Marisa Coyne, offered a presentation on applying a generational lens to the work of recruiting and retaining volunteers. Coordinators brainstormed generated ideas related to improving the generational diversity of UC Master Gardener volunteers and remarked that although each generation (traditionalist, baby boomer, generation X, and millennial) was shaped by different trends and events, many of their needs are similar.

Program Coordinator, Judy McClure, of Sacramento County welcomed attendees to the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center to learn about how gardens can be used as an outdoor classroom and learning space. Photo: Melissa Womack

A hands-on demonstration about planting bulbs showcased multi-sensory and participant focused facilitation methods. Photo: Melissa Womack

 

The group re-convened bright and early the next day for a presentation by UC Davis Student Farm Associate Director, Carol Hillhouse. Drawing on her 30-year career in outdoor experiential learning with UC, Hillhouse outlined eight best practices for adult and land-based learning. “Adults come to education experiences with prior knowledge and with expectations,” said Hillhouse. “Successful volunteer engagement includes the acknowledgement and application of prior knowledge and an ability to meet adult learning goals.”

Carol Hillhouse, UC Davis Student Farm Associate Director, presented to the group about experiential learning and engaging volunteers. Photo: Melissa Womack

 

Next, Melissa Womack, Statewide Marketing and Communications Coordinator and Tamekia Wilkins, Statewide Evaluation Coordinator, led the group through an activity designed to help folks share program evaluation data using storytelling and data. As daily communication moves increasingly online, networks like Twitter and Facebook create opportunities for sharing impact with community members and community leaders.

 

Participants were asked to combine storytelling and impact data for various communication pieces. Photo: Melissa Womack

Five coordinators and volunteer leaders, presented on projects that support the program's mission and are opportunities for meaningful partnerships within our communities. Photo: Melissa Womack

 

Just as UC Master Gardener Volunteers seek continuing education to ensure that their horticulture information and extension skills are sharp, program coordinators engage annually in professional development around volunteer management, program administration, and evaluation. Research on core competencies of Master Gardener Coordinators in North Carolina indicates that a variety of proficiencies are needed to successfully lead a Master Gardener Program. Annual coordinator meetings are a regular opportunity to build and share knowledge.

A list of coordinators can be found the UC Master Gardener Program website. Note: Some counties do not have UCCE staff coordinators. In these cases, UCCE Advisors or County Directors are listed as the lead contact per UC ANR policy.

Thank you to all who attended and presented at this year's coordinator meeting!

It may seem odd to see seventy-five people at a hotel conference center learning about insects and rats on vegetables, but not if you are a UC Master Gardener.  The UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) in partnership with the UC Master Gardener Program just wrapped up the Vegetable Pests and Solutions train-the-trainer series. More than 340 UC Master Gardener volunteers from across the state took part in the regional trainings offered in Fresno, Orange, Placer, San Luis Obispo and Sonoma counties. 

Active Learning

The advanced UC IPM training offered a hands-on, train-the-trainer experience that increased participants' knowledge of insect pests of vegetables, vegetable plant diseases and disorders, and vertebrate pests of gardens and homes.  One of the highlights of the training was Human-Wildlife Interaction Advisor, Niamh Quinn, showing a taxidermy collection of vertebrate pests at the Orange and San Luis Obispo County workshops.  Being able to handle and observe the different markings, colors and claws on certain animals makes future identification easier as participants learned the signs to look for when identifying vertebrate pest damage in the vegetable garden.

UC Master Gardeners are getting a real hands-on look at the features of a pocket gopher. Photo Credit: Elaine Lander

UC Master Gardener volunteers were lead through exercises that mimic questions commonly received from the public.  Some of the questions had a photo, others just a sparse description that volunteers worked together to solve using online IPM resources and materials provided at the training.  The exercises were designed to challenge and expose the learner to different types of scenarios and tools they can use in the future.

Outreach and Education

The UC Master Gardener Program's mission is to extend research-based information, by attending advanced trainings such as this, volunteers are even more prepared to contribute to the program's mission. With exposure and practice using new resources and materials training attendees have the tools and knowledge needed to educate the public on vegetable pests and solutions including scripted PowerPoints, activities, handouts, and vegetable pest identification card sets. One attendee reported “As a first year UC Master Gardener, this training helped me become more comfortable and more confident researching answers for pest management questions.” 

At the conclusion of the training volunteers convened with their fellow county volunteers to talk about their plans to take new found knowledge back into their communities.  Some of the great ideas generated were:

• offer seasonal pest problems workshops
• include a “Need Help Solving Pest Problems?” flier for all events
• add IPM tips to newsletters and social media
• integrate IPM into presentations as appropriate or relevant to topic
• add signage for damaged or diseased plants with IPM solutions in demonstration gardens
• share IPM toolkit at farmers markets and demo garden events

UC Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County are brainstorming ideas of how to incorporate the IPM training they just received into their outreach and education efforts. Photo Credit: Elaine Lander

How We are Making a Difference

One portion of the agenda was focused on how the UC Master Gardener community is making a difference. With 6,000+ volunteers serving more than 517,000 Californians per year the impact of the UC Master Gardener volunteer effort is truly amazing.  Through statewide program evaluation efforts the impact in sustainable landscaping, food gardening and community well-being is now being analyzed and reported in the programs annual report.  Volunteers can see the impact they are having statewide and be proud of being part of a group that social changes they are seeing in their local communities. 

As active volunteers and life-long learners UC Master Gardeners are a powerful educational tool and inspiration for others not only in the garden but in the volunteer community.  Statewide educational offerings like UC IPM's train-the-trainer series help hone the diagnostics skills while building confidence in the subject matter. 

The next statewide training opportunity for UC Master Gardener volunteers will be the 2020 UC Master Gardener Conference, Sept. 28 –Oct. 2, 2020 at the Granlibakken, Tahoe. The conference is the beginning planning stages and taking speaker and topic suggestions, click here to suggest a speaker or topic.

“Be very afraid…….Be deathly afraid,” of these very spooky garden inhabitants for Halloween!

When you think of Halloween, the first things that come to mind are ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and other spooky creatures. Did you know that spooky fungi and plants can also be lurking in your garden? Creepy fungi and plants exist, and are the perfect opportunity to put the scare into your landscape.

If you're trying to conjure up a terrifying garden or create a truly inspired spine-chilling floral display for Halloween, you may want to include one or two of these frightening garden dwellers. Read on at your own risk! 

The bleeding tooth fungus is present among moss and pine needles in coniferous forests. Photo credit: Bernypisa

Bleeding tooth fungus or ‘devil's tooth'

Scientifically known as Hydellum peckii, bleeding tooth is a fungus. This fungus gets its name from the thick red fluid that oozes through tiny pores across the white cap, generating the appearance of blood. The red gooey sap is the result of guttation, a process that occurs in moist conditions where excess root pressure forces water out of the plant or fungus.  This mushroom can be spotted in America's Pacific Northwest and in Europe. It is typically present among moss and pine needles in coniferous forests. Despite its ghastly appearance, the mushroom is not toxic, but also not recommended for consumption. Bleeding tooth fungus contains atromentin, a chemical which has effective antibacterial and anticoagulant properties like heparin (prevents formation of blood clots). Not only is the mushroom used medically, the ruby red like goo is also used in textiles to produce colorful pigments. 

Ghost plant is translucent, often appearing almost “ghostly” white. It is a perennial wildflower in the blueberry family, also known as corpse plant. Photo credit: Liz West / Flickr)

Ghost plant

Scientifically known as Monotropa uniflora, this plant is a perennial wildflower in the blueberry family. The entire plant is translucent, often appearing almost “ghostly” white. The “ghostly” white droopy flowers of the plant resemble spooky white figures found in dark, chilling underground crypts. This plant is found throughout the United States in deep, shady, rich woods at low to moderate elevations. Ghost plant is parasitic; it feeds on other organisms. These flowering plants don't photosynthesize, meaning they don't need light to grow. In fact, the ghost plant can actually grow in the dark, making for a truly frightful night.

Venus fly trap is the predator of the plant world and has several small, tooth-like structures that serve as a “mouth”. This “mouth” closes to catch and trap insects that the plant liquefies and feeds off of. Photo credit: Lawrie Phipps

Venus flytrap

Scientifically known as Dionaea muscipula, Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant. This particular plant may remind you of the famous movie Little Shop of Horrors. “Feed me, Seymour”, is a quote you may remember. The Venus flytrap is a predator in the plant world. It has several small, tooth-like structures that serve as a “mouth”. This “mouth” closes around unsuspecting insects that the plant has lured in. Once the insect is caught, the plant emits enzymes that slowly digests the bugs. What remains is a brittle figure of appendages and the exoskeleton of the insect. The nutrients extracted, specifically nitrogen, are then absorbed into the plant.  This nitrogen assists in the plants' survival in unfriendly environments. This carnivorous plant is native to North America, mostly found in subtropical wetlands in North and South Carolina. Because of its “alien” like appearance, the Venus flytrap would make for a petrifying addition in any home.

Cristata brain cactus is a gruesome looking plant with unusual development patterns. When it grows it appears to look like a zombies favorite treat, mmmm brain. Photo credit: Cliff / Flickr

Brain cactus

Scientifically known as Mammillaria elongata ‘Cristata', this cactus is a popular houseplant or outdoor specimen plant (in warmer climates). This gruesome looking plant has unusual development patterns because when it grows it appears to look like a zombies favorite treat, the human brain. An interesting fact about this cactus is how the shape occurs. The brain cactus is a mutant form of a cactus that is supposed to grow straight finger-like formations. Cristata's mutation creates a crested appearance for the plant and cause the pads of the plant to twist. Brain cactus is native to Central Mexico, they grow in rocky outcroppings and between crevasses.

As you can see, fungi and plants do some pretty creepy things! They do anything from oozing blood-like fluid, growing in the dark, devouring unsuspecting insects, to looking like human brains. Whether or not Halloween costumes are your thing, there is still an opportunity to get your scare on this Halloween season. Conjuring up a display of any of these garden dwellers will definitely bring some spine chilling reactions.

Have a wonderful, safe, and spooky Halloween!

Looking to showcase the amazing projects happening in your county? The Search for Excellence (SFE) competition guidelines for the 2020 UC Master Gardener Conference are now available. Application submission will begin on January 7, 2020 and close on April 28, 2020. The conference is scheduled for September 28- October 2, 2020 at Granlibakken Tahoe.

UC Master Gardener volunteers, program coordinators and advisors from around the state are invited to start planning to submit their innovative educational and outreach projects now.   The Search for Excellence guidelines and submission guide are available online to help with the planning stages.

Photo/ Los Angeles County

The top three winning submissions are individually recognized and celebrated at the conference during the awards banquet dinner. Winners are given the opportunity to present their project to fellow UC Master Gardener volunteers from across the state during the Search for Excellence Session at the 2020 Conference. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three highest-scoring entries among seven counties. 

1^st place = $1500 GRAND PRIZE
2^nd place = $1000
3^rd  place = $500

Search for Excellence Categories

Search for Excellence gives county programs the opportunity to share successful and innovative projects in the following seven categories:

1. Community service
2. Demonstration garden
3. Innovative project
4. Research (applied scientific methodology)
5. Special needs audience
6. Workshop or presentation
7. Youth program

Outreach and making an impact in local communities should be the focus of the entries, which will be judged by a team of gardening and horticultural experts selected from throughout the state. Projects eligible for consideration must take place in California, be connected to the UC Master Gardener Program and have been completed between 2017-2019.

All applicants, regardless of award status, are strongly encouraged to submit a poster for display at the conference as an opportunity to share their ideas with other county programs. Winners to be announced July 2020.

For questions about submitting a project, contact your local program coordinator or advisor to discuss and get approval. Additional information and forms can be found on the conference website under the Search for Excellence tab,  ucanr.edu/sites/2020MGConference/Activities/Search_for_Excellence/

We look forward to learning about the creative and impactful projects from counties big and small!

Important Dates

• Submission Guideline and Guide posted online October 23, 2019
  
• Submissions accepted January 7 - April 28, 2020
• Winners contacted end of June 2020
• Winners announced publicly July 2020
• Conference September 28- October 2, 2020

Past Winners

• 2017 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence Winners
• 2014 UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence Winners

Questions? Contact: 

Search for Excellence Chair
Email: mgsfe@ucanr.edu 
Include county name in subject line for all email communications