- Author: Denise Godbout-Avant
Humans love anything new and different, and that includes plants for their garden. In the past, when bringing plants into California from other places, people had no idea this could cause environmental problems. Whether arriving accidentally or purposely, California has become home for approximately 1,100 plant species/subspecies that did not naturally occur in the state. These plants became naturalized and thrived by out competing California's native flora for water, space, light, and nutrients. Invasive non-native plants crowd out crops, degrade rangeland, increase the potential for wildfire and flooding, consume valuable water, and damage recreational areas. Native plants and animals/insects evolved side-by-side, each benefiting the other. Loss of native plants negatively impacts the indigenous fauna that depend on them for food and shelter, thus reducing overall biodiversity.
The week of Saturday, June 4 – Sunday, June 12 is California Invasive Species Action Week. The goal is to increase awareness of invasive species, their negative impacts, and how you can help stop them from spreading.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are organisms that are not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Not all non-native species are invasive. To be considered invasive, an introduced plant species must meet these criteria, established by the EPA:
- Has few germination requirements, enabling it to adapt to the new environment easily
- Grows rapidly
- A prolific seed producer with effective dispersal systems
- Free of natural enemies and diseases
- Harms the environment, property, the economy, or the native plants and animals of the region
Plant Invasion in California's Central Valley
Historically, plant invaders significantly altered California's Central Valley landscape to what we know it to be today in a relatively short period of time. The invasion of non-native plants began with the Spanish settling in the state in 1769, likely introduced by plants/seeds on the fur of livestock. The discovery of gold in 1848, produced a flood of people, which accelerated the introduction of non-native plants via contaminants of seed, clothing, equipment, and animals.
Of the invasive species listed on the California Invasive Plant Council Inventory, about 37% were accidentally introduced to the state. The remaining 63%, however, were intentionally introduced for purposes such as landscape ornamentals, soil stabilization, animal forage, human food, fiber, or medicinal.
University of California Integrated Pest Management has a Pest Notes link on invasive plants (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74139.html) which lists the results of UC Master Gardener surveys of invasive plants for sale in California nurseries. Invasive plants rarely or no longer sold are listed.
What Can We Do?
While we cannot bring California back to what it was prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 1700s, we can try to protect what native plant species we have.
Some ways you can help:
- Educate yourself regarding California's invasive horticultural plants, avoid planting them, and plant their alternatives for your garden.
- If an invasive plant already exists in your garden, at the very least, the plant should be kept in a vegetative state, so it does not reproduce. If you choose to remove these plants, it is important to make sure reproductive parts do not escape during the removal process.
- Do not to transport any reproductive parts such as fruit, seed, or root pieces by animal, human or vehicle to areas where plants have not been established. If you go camping or hiking in nature, clean your camping and hiking gear to ensure you are not accidentally spreading hitchhiking invasive species. If you bring a dog(s) along, clean their fur before leaving the park or wilderness area. Stay on designated trails and roads.
- Encourage local nurseries and garden centers not to sell invasive plants.
- Join removal efforts. Chances are you can find invasive species volunteer opportunities nearby. Check out your closest state or national park's website to see if they host invasive species walks—many organize half-day or day hikes where you learn to identify and help remove invasive plants.
Becoming a part of ongoing efforts to manage or eradicate the invasive non-native plant species in our state will help reduce their negative impacts on our natural resources. Planting native beauties in your garden is a simple way to help these plants survive and benefit the local fauna food webs.
Resources:
- UC IPM - Invasive Plants: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74139.html
- Plant Right - PlantRight is a project that was developed and managed by Sustainable Conservation, a California-based environmental nonprofit, from 2005-2019. In 2019, the new home of PlantRight became Plant California Alliance, which was formed through the merger of the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers, and the Nursery Growers Association. Includes a list of invasive plants in selected regions of CA and native substitutes: https://plantright.org/
- California Invasive Plant Council: https://www.cal-ipc.org/ has a list and photo gallery of the plants to avoid on the Cal-IPC Inventory. Plants are listed in alphabetical order by scientific name. Listings link to full Plant Profile pages with more information on each plant. Also has links to learning how to identify invasive plants and volunteer resources.
- A list of plants not to put in your garden and alternatives: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/dont-plant-me
- PlayCleanGo provides ways for stopping the spread of invasive species: https://playcleango.org
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
On May 19-20 from noon to noon, the UC Master Gardener Program is participating in UCANR's Giving Day — a day to ‘dig deep' to support the program you care about. We invite you to support our mission to extend sustainable gardening practices in thousands of community, school and demonstration gardens across California.
How can you help? Here are a few simple ideas:
- Join us and donate. Your gift can be applied directly to support your local county program.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for exciting updates. Include @UCMasterGarden and the hashtag #GivingDay.
- Share this message with friends and family and encourage them to join the movement!
It's the generosity of individuals and volunteers like you that support our efforts to bring practical, trusted answers to residents across our state.
With your support, UC Master Gardener volunteers are helping grow healthier gardens and more sustainable landscapes for future generations. An investment in the UC Master Gardener Program represents an investment in California's present and future.
Make a gift: donate.ucanr.edu/givingday
- Author: Missy Gable
In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California's communities. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.
Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart who are community connection leaders. These volunteers pursue and build relationships with new audiences or community partners for the UC Master Gardener Program, focusing on increasing program reach and being inclusive of new and more diverse audiences.
Heather Holland
UC Master Gardener volunteer Heather Holland has chaired the School Gardens Committee for seven years for the UC Master Gardener Program in San Diego County. This is no small task as school gardens pepper the landscape all over the county, with hundreds existing from heavily populated south county to the northernmost rural communities. Volunteers in San Diego County currently consult in approximately 350 schools, with more than 800 schools served over the past 20 years. It takes a lot of volunteers to cover all of these locations, Heather leads a committee of over 80 volunteers and inspires them to bring life and learning into each garden site.
Amazingly, Heather personally volunteers in 31 school gardens across the county. She recently learned of an opportunity to get sheds, tools, irrigation supplies, plants and other items donated. She efficiently organized schools that needed the items, made multiple trips to gather the donations, and quickly distributed these great new resources to the schools that needed them the most. “This isn't unusual for Heather. She is always the first to volunteer when someone needs help,” says fellow San Diego volunteer Devonna Hall.
In doing this important work, Heather fosters a close working relationship with all of the schools served by the UC Master Gardener volunteers in San Diego. Because of her efforts and those of her committee, schools in the county are supported and students are connected to food and gardening. Heather's words, “the natural world is the best teacher.” Thanks to this ingenuity, follow-through, and strong commitment, more schools and students are involved in growing food, eating it, and learning about climate change.
Ron Antone and Penni Parsons
Community events such as farmer's markets and Earth Day are held at this location; it serves as a community learning center for all ages. With construction complete, the UC Master Gardener propagation house will offer training for youth and adults on how to propagate plants sustainably. Farms of Amador, an organization Ron is closely connected to, will bring student field trips to the site to learn about propagation, supporting both skill and career development.
By creating this important space for gathering and education, Ron and Penni are inspiring a love for gardening throughout their community. Says Penni, “my love for gardening began when I was a little girl, my dad always had a garden. Knowing that I can plant a tiny seed and that in time it will grow and produce food is both nourishing my body and soul.”
To get their project off the ground, Ron served as construction lead for the project. He drew up plans, the budget, organized materials and worked with partners on permissions for the construction of the propagation house. Penni worked on the plant sale committee, providing leadership and sweat equity that raised more than $5,000 to fund the propagation house. She also built a team of volunteers to work with her and Ron, and together, they built an incredible space to bring the community together and support education.
Emy Shibukawa
Emy became a UC Master Gardener as a member of the first online class for San Bernardino County. She was an Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) class participant, and through the UC Master Gardener/Master Food Preserver/EFNEP partnership program, she was exposed to the excitement and opportunity of UC Master Gardener training.
Immediately upon starting her training, Emy saw what an important and needed service the program provides to the community. Today, Emy is instrumental in gathering community needs and marrying those needs with the services that Cooperative Extension programs provide. She has been particularly impactful in her local San Bernardino/Muscoy/Highland area, matching community needs with UC Master Gardener volunteers and projects.
One example is Operation New Hope, an organization dedicated to underserved youth, mentoring and educating them in life skills and pathways to success. Today, UC Master Gardener volunteers are working with Operation New Hope's San Bernardino location to add gardening spaces indoors and out, bringing in student and staff educational support from not only UC Master Gardeners but UC Master Food Preservers and EFNEP educators as well.
“In addition to projects [Emy] is bringing to the program to expand our outreach she supports our talks, our community and school garden committees and more!” says Maggie O'Neill, program coordinator. “Emy is very dedicated to bringing education and the University into our communities and neighborhoods. By leading this work connecting the community and the programs and services of Cooperative Extension, she is practicing the community-engaged extension work that we know is significant, impactful, and responsible for lasting change.”
Roxana Prince
Roxana Prince is relatively new to gardening and a great example of how you don't need to be a lifelong gardener to make a significant and impactful difference in your community through gardening education. “[Roxana] is an inspiration to others who might want to become a Master Gardener. They don't need to know it all or be lifelong gardeners to be an invaluable part of the UC Master Gardener team,” says Maggie O'Neill, program coordinator. “She is a sponge when it comes to learning and is great at seeking out reputable research to learn more when she has questions!” Roxana's inquisitive nature is one of the reasons she is so great at what she does in her volunteer role. She is relatable and shares her home gardening journey in a way that empowers and inspires everyone she connects with.
Roxana is bilingual and combined her commitment to community and education to get monthly UC Master Gardener classes offered in Spanish. She took the initiative, translating PowerPoints, marketing classes to Spanish-language audiences, giving talks, and answering questions. This impactful work has dramatically expanded the reach in a county with over 700,000 Spanish speakers. “She is a great example of not only a UC Master Gardener who only supports our regular activities throughout the county, but she also finds activities close to home in her community and brings what she has learned there,” says O'Neill.
The latter is one of many examples of Roxana's great work. Additional projects include working with the Mexican Consulate to add gardening classes taught in Spanish, working with Music Changing Lives Community Garden to create a food forest, and much more. Her efforts are grounded in supporting the community and successfully connecting UC Master Gardener outreach with those who might not otherwise have come across the program. “The UC Master Gardener class provided infinite possibilities and options for my family and me and provided another tool under my belt to better serve the community I work, and live in,” says Roxanna. “Especially my gente (people), the Spanish speaking community, where now I can share evidenced-based gardening tips in Spanish too!”
Barbara Kiernan
“Barbara Kiernan is organized, creative, energetic, and an effective leader. She is sought out for her community garden and composting skills, programming perspectives, and institutional knowledge embodying everything desirable in a great UC Master Gardener volunteer,” says advisor emeritus Janine Hasey. Barbara has a passion for teaching gardening skills for growing food and years of experience partnering with local agencies, schools, and organizations to share this knowledge with Sutter-Yuba residents. The list of projects Barbara has started or coordinated that benefit her community and the UC Master Gardener Program in Sutter-Yuba is impressively long.
For six years, Barbara taught vegetable gardening at Leo Chesney's woman's prison garden program. The women grew their own vegetables, taking pride in their accomplishments and finding purpose and recreation in the garden. The resulting fresh fruits and vegetables harvested saved the county thousands of dollars a year and provided a healthy and nutritious addition to the food being provided to the women. The project inspired one inmate to pursue UC Master Gardener training after release. Barbara has also played important connector and educator roles with the Yuba County Jail and Probation office, coordinating impactful gardening programs and connecting the UC Master Gardener Program with a traditionally underserved community.
Barbara plays a key leadership roles as a co-coordinator of community and community gardens outreach. In this role, Barbara coordinates with the city to create the Marysville Community Garden, where gardeners have access to raised beds, city water, on-site compost bins, gardening tools, and more. The garden was located close to a bus route and a bike trail, a thoughtful consideration that has enabled more community members to benefit from the garden. She was also instrumental in establishing the Artisan Community Garden located in Yuba City. All of Barbara's work serves to deepen local connections between the community and the programs offered by Cooperative Extension. Says Barbara, “being in the garden teaches us to be humble and learn.”
During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its 6,216 incredible UC Master Gardener volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Throughout the month, we will feature stories of special volunteers or Gardeners with Heart from across the state who use their skills to improve program delivery. Gardeners with Heart are volunteers nominated by their local county leadership as community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for National Volunteer Month and Week!
Special appreciation to UC Master Gardener Program coordinators Tracy Celio (Amador) and Maggie O'Neill (San Bernardino), advisor emeritus Janine Hasey (Sutter-Yuba) and volunteer leader Devonna Hall (San Diego) for their contributions to this story.
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.
Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart, who are harvest helpers who empower their community to grow food at home, in school and community gardens—connecting gardeners with resources, knowledge, and support to have a successful food garden harvest and improved access to nutritious fresh produce.
“Becky Bednar is an example of a UC Master Gardener who fully embraces the program's mission, teaching others how to grow their own food,” says Maria Murrieta, program coordinator in San Luis Obispo. “She continually encourages others to go out to the community – to meet people where they are – to provide gardening information.”
Becky transferred to the UC Master Gardener Program of San Luis Obispo County from Los Angeles, where she was introduced to the ‘Grow LA Vegetable Garden Initiative' training. As a beginning gardener, she participated in the workshops, which inspired her to join the program and start teaching food gardening workshops.
Realizing there was a need in her new county, Becky led the effort to start a Victory Garden project in San Luis Obispo County. “The Victory Garden project is a way of bringing gardening to the community. I enjoy helping beginning gardeners learn the basics of edible gardening using hands-on methods. With a little encouragement and hand-holding, the Victory Gardeners become enthusiastic gardeners, hungry for more gardening knowledge,” explains Becky. “I enjoy hearing about their gardening projects and seeing their progress. We encourage participants to continue to work together informally by volunteering at the Victory Garden and donating harvest to the local food bank. We also hold monthly workshops with featured topics of the month as a way of staying in touch.”
After great success with the first Victory Garden location, Becky identified a second location in the town of Oceano to offer food gardening classes where the program had not previously had a presence. Thanks to Becky Bednar's positive energy and initiative, the UC Master Gardener Program has had an opportunity to improve and expand outreach to make resources accessible to more county residents.
Christy Gray joined the UC Master Gardener Program eager to learn more about gardening and make a difference in her community. Over the past five years, Christy has been involved in many important projects in San Bernardino County. “She was instrumental in establishing our Seed Library program,” says program coordinator Maggie O'Neill, “which has a major focus on education around growing food from seed and learning all about seed saving.” Since then, she has continued to support fellow UC Master Gardener volunteers and projects across the county, taking on a leadership role at many of the program's community gardens. Christy has long been a community garden advocate and supported several community gardens in the inner city San Bernardino area.
In addition to being a UC Master Gardener, Christy completed a farmer-training program run by a local community garden. She wants to take what she has learned to help the county residents address food insecurity by working with several community gardens to help expand their outreach and grow food on a larger scale that can be shared with people in need.
Christy has a passion for helping elevate others and is dedicated to helping teach people about growing their own food at home and in community gardens. She is amazing at highlighting not just the food growing aspects but also the mental health aspects of growing food and how places like community gardens can be a hub where building and collaboration can happen.
Tobi Brown
moved to Sonoma County after teaching in elementary and middle schools in Gilroy, Calif. for 30 years. She lives with her husband on a property in unincorporated Santa Rosa that the family lovingly calls ‘The Farmstead' where they grow vegetables, fruit trees and berries with their 12 laying hens and a border collie.
Tobi Brown joined the UC Master Gardener Program and quickly got involved in the leadership of its food gardening specialists project. Food gardening specialists provide advanced training in sustainable food gardening to UC Master Gardeners, host public education at several demonstration gardens, conduct workshops, and offer consultations to schools and community groups interested in food gardens across Sonoma County. The food gardening specialist group created a monthly Zoom event called ‘Veggie Happenings through Tobi's leadership.' Each installment is a one-hour video packed with useful, science-based, and timely information with demonstrations on current food gardening topics, all oriented around the seasons.
In her other role, Tobi collaborates with community partner Harvest for the Hungry, a non-profit that provides food for food pantries. “Tobi's knowledge and her eagerness to reach out and teach Sonoma gardeners to grow food is epic,” says UC Master Gardener Anne Haddix. “Her friendly guidance is always focused on the best sustainability practices.” We're grateful for the passion Tobi brings to all of her UC Master Gardener volunteer efforts. Her energy is infectious and results in new food gardeners far beyond Sonoma County!
Hillie Salo
Hillie Salo encourages every gardener she meets to “plant seed, save seed, share seed.” Hillie has focused her volunteer efforts with the UC Master Gardener Program in Santa Clara County on helping people learn how to grow their own food and save seeds. When the pandemic broke out, access to plants, seeds and gardening supplies became challenging to find. Inspired to help her neighbors, Hillie gathered seeds and put them in a box on her street to share. A neighbor's letter expressing their gratitude motivated Hillie to bring the idea of a more permanent seed share to Martial Cottle Park, a public park dedicated to showcasing local agriculture.
A Seed Share is a centralized location or place where the community can share seeds and gardening knowledge. In early 2021, UC Master Gardeners partnered with the Santa Clara County Parks, Slow Food South Bay, and the Boy Scouts of America to bring a Seed Share to Martial Cottle Park. Hilo shepherded the project for almost a year, seeking approval from the program's steering committee and Martial Cottle Park. “Sharing seeds is a wonderful opportunity for a community to build resilience around growing and sharing food. Sharing seeds builds diversity and adaptability into local seeds; strengths needed in the face of climate change,” says Hilo. “Seed Shares bring a risk-free opportunity to new and low-income gardeners.” With the success of the Seed Share in Martial Cottle Park, the goal now is to build a network of Seed Shares at all of the program's demonstration gardens.
It has been a year now since the Martial Cottle Park Seed Share has found a home greeting its visitors as they enter the UC Master Gardener Demonstration Garden. Halo is looking forward to repeat customers at the seed share, where those who had success last year are returning to both contribute and acquire something new. “More often than not in the modern garden, plants we grow are harvested at maturity and people never see the full life cycle of a
plant,” explains Hillie, “What does a plant that has gone to seed look like? You might be surprised. Seeds grown in the Full Life Cycle Garden find their way into the Seed Share and quarterly seed swaps, creating new opportunities.”
During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its 6,216 incredible UC Master Gardener volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Throughout the month, we will feature stories of special volunteers or Gardeners with Heart from across the state who use their skills to improve program delivery. Gardeners with Heart are volunteers nominated by their local county leadership as community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for National Volunteer Month and Week!
Special appreciation to UC Master Gardener Program coordinators Maria Murrieta(San Luis Obispo) and Maggie O'Neill (San Bernardino) and volunteer leader Hillie Salo (Santa Clara) for their contributions to this story.
To see additional Gardeners with Heart - Harvest Helpers, view blog post: National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 1)
- Author: Melissa G. Womack
In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Month and Week (April 17-23), honoring all of the contributions that volunteers make in our communities. All week long, the UC Master Gardener Program will feature stories of exceptional volunteers, or Gardeners with Heart, making a difference in California's communities. This year we recognize our community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. The passion and support of UC Master Gardener volunteers have been and continue to be essential in the program continuing to serve our mission.
Please join me as we celebrate and share our Gardeners with Heart and their remarkable stories, projects, and impact. Today, we celebrate Gardeners with Heart, who are harvest helpers who empower their community to grow food at home, in schools and in community gardens. Connecting gardeners with resources, knowledge, and the support they need to have a successful food garden harvest and improved access to nutritious fresh produce.
As a UC Master Gardener, Barbara Searles is most deeply involved as the co-chair of the School & Community project team and is on the Help Desk steering committee for Marin County. Barbara shares her gardening knowledge and enthusiasm for growing plants as a garden committee leader at the Mill Valley Community Garden, connecting with gardeners of all ages. In addition to her work with community gardens throughout Marin, she shares valuable resources and expertise with a growing number of senior residential community gardens. Recently, the Cities of San Rafael and San Anselmo received insight from Barbara on best practices for community gardens.
During National Volunteer Month (April 1 - 30), the UC Master Gardener Program celebrates its 6,216 incredible UC Master Gardener volunteers and their contributions to California communities. Throughout the month, we will feature stories of special volunteers or Gardeners with Heart from across the state who use their skills to improve program delivery. Gardeners with Heart are volunteers nominated by their local county leadership as community connection leaders, harvest helpers, and environmental stewards. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for National Volunteer Month and Week!
Special appreciation to UC Master Gardener Program coordinators Maggie O'Neil (San Bernardino) Yvonne Rasmussen (Napa) and volunteer leader Jeannette Perez (Marin) for their contributions to this story.
To see additional Gardeners with Heart - Harvest Helpers, view the blog post: National Volunteer Month: Gardeners with Heart – Harvest Helpers (Part 2)