To provide continuing education for Master Gardeners, the Statewide Master Gardener Program provides regional trainings.  An example is the Advanced IPM Training being offered next week in Davis, CA.  Trainings like these are always popular and serve as a place for Master Gardeners to learn new things, refine their skills, interact with University of California scientists, and meet other gardeners.  By promoting activities where Master Gardeners learn together, the Statewide Master Gardener Program ensures that Master Gardeners are up-to-date with the most recent research recommendations from the University of California.

The next set of regional training sessions will be the Edible Landscaping series.  In this training, Master Gardeners will learn the ins and outs of incorporating edibles into their landscapes.  The training includes planning and design, policies, maintenance, harvest and storage, and food safety.  Attendees will then be certified to teach others in Edible Landscaping practices - a skill that is in high demand.

Master Gardeners might recall attending the Sustainable Landscape Train the Trainer series two years ago.  The Statewide Master Gardener program surveyed the people who were subsequently trained by Master Gardeners and we found some wonderful things!  For example, 77% of the people who did not compost at the time of training indicated that they had started composting after three months!  That is a significant change in their behavior that definitely leads to a more sustainable California.  In addition to composting, over 40% more people began leaving portions of their gardens undisturbed for wildlife, 20% of those surveyed began using better irrigation techniques, and just over 10% planted drought tolerant plants.  These examples are just a handful of the practices that were influenced by the Sustainable Landscape classes.  

Together, through these classes, the Master Gardeners and the Statewide Master Gardener Program are making a difference!  See you soon at one of the Edible Landscape Training sessions!

And now what you've all been waiting for...registration is finally open for the Edible Landscape Train-the-Trainer workshop. This two-day conference will give you an edge on all things edible and how to present it to the public. Six conference locations around the state mean that this exciting conference is coming to a city near you! Registration fees are only $35 for two days worth of instruction from UC experts, additional resources to take back to your community, as well as refreshments and lunch. Come meet Master Gardeners from all over the state and learn how to increase the effectiveness of your county's most valuable resource on Edible Landscaping....you!

Click here to continue to our registration site. Or find it under "Classes and Events" on the Statewide Master Gardener Website.  Act fast spots are limited!

Now that recertification is 100% done I wanted to be the first to say welcome to a new Master Gardener volunteer year!  In previous years, a welcome like this only applied to those programs that began their new year on July 1.  Now, thanks to the Statewide Master Gardener Program, ALL the California Master Gardener programs are beginning the new membership year at the same time, with the same expectations for all! 

This may be considered a minor point by some, but after working as a Master Gardener Program Representative for almost a decade, I applaud these fundamental “consistencies”.  In recent years, I have served on a number of committees related to UCANR and/or the Master Gardener program and I have really come to appreciate the balancing going on at the Statewide Master Garde

ner Program level.  The Statewide Master Gardener Program is supporting us by developing a balanced approach to smart and sustainable program growth:  programmatic consistencies, advanced training opportunities, online resources, networking circles, marketing tools, outreach models and much more. 

As a Program Representative for two very different Master Gardener county programs, I am committed to preserving the flavor of each of my volunteer groups.  I don’t want them to lose what makes their programs unique in their communities and the specific approaches that have proven successful over the years in regard to outreach and education.  However, I do believe in a common “infrastructure” to all the Master Gardener Programs up and down the state so that the public understands exactly what our program is and what we’re trying to accomplish across the golden state. 

I want a Master Gardener volunteer to be able to transfer to a new Master Gardener program when they relocate and not have to be confused with different timelines and volunteer requirements.  I want the public to be able to make sense of what the “Master Gardener Training” is all about and what it entails no matter where they train.  That doesn’t mean trainings can’t be customized to the locale, it means we all agree to a level of consistency and quality that we can be proud of and share in.

As all of our Master Gardener Programs grow, we can flourish by keeping our roots tucked firmly in the fertile Statewide soil but allowing our local blooms to be as unique and colorful as we are.

The Volunteer Leadership Summit is the first ever leadership training designed for California Master Gardener volunteers. At this free one-day workshop participants will hear from a range of speakers and be challenged to engage in the larger Master Gardener community by networking with their peers from across the state. The workshop will be held November 9, 2012 at the UC Davis Campus.

The idea for this conference was actually introduced by a volunteer earlier this year. She had noticed that other volunteer organizations have trainings and conferences specifically towards making better leaders out of their volunteers and requested that the Statewide Master Gardener Program do the same.  We quickly recognized what a powerful tool this could be and set to work creating a program. At the workshop, participants will hear from Associate Director of UC Cooperative Extension, Bill Frost; discuss the importance and process of building community within their programs from Ellie Rilla, and hear from select volunteers from diverse programs throughout the state during our panel talk. Participants will also explore ideas for program and board structure, meeting facilitation, and the nitty gritty on financial policies. Breakfast refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Unfortunately, to stay within fire code and to make the workshop as interactive and meaningful to participants as possible each program may select one volunteer to attend. For more information and access to registration please contact your local coordinator.  

UPDATE: Thanks for those who commented, to remind me to say that we will be recording the day's session for those who are unable to make it and would like to see it later! It will not be a live webinar because the logistics of audience participation and such via Adobe Connect and teleconference would be nearly imposible, however the DVD of the taped session will be available to all counties.