- Author: Melissa G. Womack
- Contributor: Marcia Rosenberg
Do you have a delicious local delicacy or a favorite gardening tool?
Are you an artist with a unique masterpiece?
Do you have a vacation home a fellow Master Gardener could enjoy?
Are you a crafter that loves to build birdhouses or design fairy gardens?
Get creative, have fun and help support a program you love!
Please consider donating items for the 2014 UC Master Gardener Conference silent auction. The silent auction is a unique opportunity to raise funds that help offset costs and provide scholarships for attendees at future UC Master Gardener conferences.
“Growing Together” is the theme of this year's conference and can be incorporated into a variety of exciting donation ideas, including a county basket.
Donating silent auction items is easy
Work with your coordinator and designate a member in your county responsible for collecting donation(s), forward contact information to Marcia Rosenberg, silent auction coordinator. Once you have determined the items your county will donate (recommended minimum value $50 ) - download the Silent Auction application and return no later than August 1, 2014.
Return application:
Attn: Marcia Rosenberg
RE: Silent Auction
Fax: 559.225.5482
Email: johnmarcia3000@sbcglobal.net
Visit the conference website to learn more details about the silent auction and how to package silent auction donation baskets. We are grateful to have generous and dedicated University of California, Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners and are looking forward to hearing from you!
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
As University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners, we are all doing great things. Search for Excellence (SFE) awards is an opportunity to celebrate and share accomplishment by showcasing the tremendous talents of Master Gardeners statewide. Master Gardeners are invited to submit an educational and innovative county project for consideration April 1 – July 1, 2014.
What is the “Search for Excellence”?
Master Gardeners have successfully developed outreach projects in their local communities and have dedicated an huge amount of time and resources to ensure the project's success. The Search for Excellence awards are a small way to recognize and thank Master Gardeners for all that they do.
Search for Excellence is a statewide competition which recognizes county UCCE Master Gardener Programs for outstanding projects that support the mission of the UC Master Gardener Program.
What are SFE Categories?
Projects must fall under one of the following categories:
- Youth programs
- Demonstration gardens
- Workshop or presentation
- Community service
- Innovative projects
- Special needs audiences (senior, disabled or horticultural therapy)
- Research (applied scientific methodology)
What Projects Count for SFE Award Considerations?
Project submissions must fit the following parameters to qualify for SFE awards:
- Projects judged on merit for work completed between 2011 – 2013
- Projects must be completed for a full year to be considered
- Entries must be group, not individual, projects
- Each county may submit multiple SFE applications, only one project per category will be considered
Search for Excellence awards are designed to highlight the statewide conferences and we hope you will consider submitting an application for a project in your county that educates the public in a special, fun and creative way. Additional details including guidelines and an application for the 2014 SFE awards are attached below and also available on the 2014 UC Master Garden Conference website.
If you think one of the projects is a candidate for an award based on its' development, implementation and impact in the community, let your Master Gardener Program Coordinator or leader know about it!
Questions? Contact Kevin Marini, 530-889-7399
2014 SFE Application
2014 SFE Guidelines
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
Thank you for registering early to ensure the UC Master Gardener Conference will be an extraordinary event. Currently more than 400 attendees have registered for the conference!
The Tenaya Lodge is officially sold out of rooms (don't panic) from Oct. 8 -10, 2014. There are a few ways you can do to help manage the situation as outlined below:
- Attendees are encouraged to check with roommate(s) for duplicate hotel reservations and release unneeded reservations as a courtesy to their fellow Master Gardeners.
- Still need lodging? Continue to check on room availability by contacting the Tenaya Lodge directly, (559)683-6555. There is no waiting list - rooms are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The Statewide Office is looking at alternate accommodations and those options will be published as soon as they become available.
We are reviewing the lodging list from the Tenaya Lodge to ensure accuracy of reservations. Be on the look-out for an email confirmation from UC ANR regarding your lodging plans in the upcoming weeks. We still have plenty of space for UC Master Gardeners who would like to attend the event.
We promise to keep you informed on hotel updates and conference activities in the near future!
- Author: Judy McClure
Caution!
Don't miss this opportunity to add money to your UCCE Master Gardener Program's bank account. That's right, the MarketPlace can help volunteers increase the flow of money into their program's operating budget.
The passion UCCE Master Gardeners have for sharing horticulture with the community is fueled by our love for people and love of plants (or maybe you prefer insects). Regardless of the motivation that brings you to the UCCE Master Gardener program, we all have one thing in common - we must periodically purchase items for our gardens!
Historically, conference attendees arrive with empty suitcase space specifically intended for transporting home newly acquired treasures. The MarketPlace is an opportunity to collect unique gardening items while helping individual counties along the way.
Each county has the opportunity to reserve a sales booth space, provide sales materials of their choice and volunteer to assist with store operations. Funds raised by each individual county will be returned to them less minimal operating costs.
Within the next month each UCCE Master Gardener Coordinator will receive an information packet with preliminary participant guidelines. Space may be limited, so keep an eye on the 2014 UC Master Gardener Conference website or the statewide blog for MarketPlace updates. Absolutely, don't allow the information packets to lay dormant or become part of the compost pile.
Start the conversation in your county today, be prepared to respond quickly when the packets arrive in the mail. Talk about how your county can capitalize by participating in the MarketPlace. Brainstorm about what ‘must-have' items will motivate gardeners, naturalists, or bird watchers to part with their hard earned cash. Think about display methods for showcasing your sales items. Offer to coordinate your MarketPlace booth or be a committee participant. Be the one who makes a difference!
Yolo and Sacramento counties are proud to be hosting the 2014 MarketPlace. We look forward to having you join us in Yosemite, one of California's most treasured spots!
- Author: Marcy Sousa (Hachman)
It feels like just yesterday the University of California Master Gardeners joined together for the 2011 UC Master Gardener Conference at the Hyatt hotel in beautiful Santa Rosa, Calif. It's hard to believe it is already time to start thinking about the 2014 UC Master Gardener Conference on October 7th -10th, 2014 at the gorgeous Tenaya Lodge, near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park.
You Spoke, We Listened!
After each conference the Statewide Master Gardener Conference Committee strives to make the next event bigger and better for attendees. The committee meets following the conference and reviews previous glitches and setbacks to determine solutions and strategies for future conferences. Sounds a lot like gardening, doesn't it?
This year we surveyed UCCE Master Gardeners from across the state and asked, “What topics do you want to see at the 2014 conference?” The committee has been diligently working on securing speakers, site tours and a seminar agenda that came directly as a result from your feedback.
General Track Topics Include:
- Edible Landscaping
- Sustainable Landscaping
- Horticulture
- Integrated Pest Management
- Growing Leaders, Growing Programs
- Art of the Garden
- Master Food Preservers
We are busy lining up speakers for each of topic, check back often for updates!
Conference Highlights Include:
- Keynote speakers
- Networking
- “Search for Excellence Awards”
- Pre and post conference tours
- Silent auction
- Vendor mall
- UC Master Gardener store
- Located at one of California's foremost destinations
The committee is currently in the process of securing sponsorships designed to help reduce registration fees. In hopes of fee reductions, registration costs have not been finalized – and will be announced at a later date.
We hope you will plan on joining us in October at the 2014 UC Master Gardener Conference. Keep up to date with conference information on our website. We will continue to keep you updated with more details as they become available from the committee.
Happy Gardening!