The UC Master Gardener Program improves community health and well-being by expanding green space and food gardening access across California. Through gardening education and community projects, the program fosters healthier lifestyles, reduces stress, and promotes biodiversity, creating lasting benefits for public health and environmental sustainability.

The Issue

California is the most urban state across all the United States, with almost 95% of its residents living in urban areas. Among the nation's most densely populated areas (with populations of 200,000 or more), three are in California: Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim (7,476 people per square mile), San Francisco/Oakland (6,843 people per square mile), and San Jose (6,436 people per square mile).

Urban living often correlates with certain health challenges, including higher-fat diets, sedentary lifestyles, and increased stress levels—all of which can impact both mental and physical health. Alarmingly, 30% of California's youth lack access to parks, sidewalks, or community centers in their neighborhoods, and nearly one-third of adults fall short of physical activity guidelines.

Access to outdoor spaces and nature is essential, with research showing the positive effects on physical and mental well-being. Obesity in both adults and children is a critical public health issue in California, underscoring the importance of promoting outdoor activities and healthy lifestyle choices across communities.

How UC Delivers

Connecting with the UC Master Gardener Program can be a meaningful way to address green space access and these pressing urban challenges. Since 1980, the UC Master Gardener Program has emerged as a solution to help Californians with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to integrate gardening into daily life.  With more than 6,000 volunteers spanning across 53 California counties, the UC Master Gardener Program offers a unique bridge to reconnect residents with green spaces.

Through hands-on learning, gardening workshops, and community-based projects and partnerships, the UC Master Gardener Program addresses issues stemming from urban living—such as limited access to parks and outdoor spaces—by promoting green spaces that offer safe, accessible areas for physical activity and mental rejuvenation. UC Master Gardeners volunteer in local neighborhoods across the state, establishing community gardens, educational projects, and gardening activities that make it easier for Californians to experience the numerous health benefits of time spent in nature. In the 2023/24 program year the UC Master Gardener Program had 2,173 projects, supported thousands of gardens, and reached almost half a million residents in-person.

The Impact

The UC Master Gardener Program has significantly impacted the health and well-being of California residents by fostering increased outdoor activity, healthier diets, and access to green spaces. In the 2023/24 program year, 66% of workshop participants reported spending more time outdoors—a behavior linked to reduced stress, improved mental health, and increased physical activity, which can help combat obesity and related health conditions. Additionally, 72% of participants successfully started or enhanced their efforts in growing fruits and vegetables at home or in community gardens, contributing to healthier eating habits.

The UC Master Gardener Program also encourages program participants to live a healthier lifestyle by increasing the amount and variety of produce eaten. Research highlights the profound impact of community gardening on dietary habits. Adults with a household member participating in a community garden consumed fruits and vegetables 1.4 more times per day than those who did not. Even more striking, they were 3.5 times more likely to meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

“Students and staff enjoy visits that include academic lessons, planting seeds, harvesting crops, eating fresh vegetables, and taking a quiet break from the day to walk through the Mindfulness Maze. Providing opportunities for our students to learn in our Larry Ford Outdoor Classroom is a priority for our school community, and the [UC] Master Gardeners have become an instrumental piece in making that dream a reality.” - Skyridge Elementary Principal Wright

Photo Credit: UC Regents

Research also shows spending more time outdoors leads to increased physical activity that can prevent or reduce the risks of illnesses associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Spending time outdoors not only promotes physical well-being, but also enriches mental health by alleviating negative factors and increasing positive ones. It can decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. It can also create a buffer for stressors and increase coping skills.

“Taking the UC Master Gardeners class not only taught me how to grow my own food but also became a source of therapy for me. Harvesting fresh vegetables gave me a sense of accomplishment. I feel healthier, happier, and more connected to nature.”  - Shirley Alvarez

Not only does the UC Master Gardener Program create initiatives that get people outside, but it also contributes to adding green space to urban areas. In the 2023/24 program year alone, the UC Master Gardener Program created more than 3.5 million square feet of garden space throughout California. These gardens consist of pollinator gardens, food gardens, home landscapes, and school and community gardens that increase access to green space.

“[UC] Master Gardeners provide great help as teachers, garden advisors, help provide some food security for urban residents.” - Florence Nishida, UC Master Gardener of Los Angeles County

The UC Master Gardener Program demonstrates the transformative power of gardening to address public health and environmental challenges, providing a scalable model for urban areas nationwide.

 

References

• Nation's Urban and Rural Populations Shift Following 2020 Census (Dec. 2022, Press Release CB22-CN.25)
• Who has access to urban vegetation? A spatial analysis of distributional green equity in 10 US cities, Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 181, 2019)
• Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Urban Community Gardeners. Alaimo, Katherine et al. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 40, Issue 2, 94 – 101
• Beyer, K.M.M., Szabo, A., Hoormann, K. et al. Time spent outdoors, activity levels, and chronic disease among American adults. J Behav Med 41, 494–503 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9911-1
• Catalan, A., Tognin, S., Hammoud, R. et al. Understanding the relationship between time spent outdoors, mental well-being and health-related behaviors in a Spanish sample: A real time smartphone-based study. Psychiatry Research, 329 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115494
• Kondo, C., Jacoby, S., South, E. Does spending time outdoors reduce stress? A review of real-time stress response to outdoor environments. Health & Place 51 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.03.001
• Nguyen, P. -Y., Astell-Burt, T., Rahimi-Ardabili, H., & Feng, X. (2021). Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11028 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111028
• Kremen, C. Ecological intensification and diversity approaches to maintain biodiversity, ecosystem services and food production in a changing world, Emerging Topics in Life Sciences 4(2) 2020 https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20190205

 

Social Media Summary

At the West Coast Rodent Academy, 45 pest management professionals gained hands-on skills in rodent ecology, exclusion techniques, and rodenticide awareness to tackle California's urban rodent issues.

 

The Issue

Urban rodent populations pose ongoing challenges to public health and infrastructure in California. From residential neighborhoods to schools and agricultural zones, pest management professionals encounter a variety of rodent species and face complex challenges in controlling their spread. The need for effective, sustainable rodent management solutions is essential to protect both public and environmental health, making specialized training increasingly important for professionals across California.

 

How UC Delivers

In October, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) hosted the 17th bi-annual West Coast Rodent Academy (WCRA) in collaboration with the California Pest Management Association, Target Specialty Products, and Veseris. Held at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, this three-day workshop provided in-depth training on rodent ecology and integrated pest management (IPM) for 45 participants from diverse backgrounds in the pest control industry. Led by UCCE Human-Wildlife Interactions advisor Niamh Quinn, industry experts shared practical skills and the latest research on rodent behavior, disease, trapping, and rodenticide impacts.

Participants ranged from newcomers, like Paige Reyes, who recently joined the pest control industry, to seasoned experts with decades of experience. Reyes, attending on scholarship, said, “Even though my dad teaches me so much, I'm learning just how smart rats really are at this training.” In one of the program's hands-on sessions, groups tackled exclusion activities, sealing entry points with materials like mesh and mineral wool to prevent rodent access. This hands on exclusion workshop was developed for West Coast Rodent Academy and is now being used in other States to train pest management professionals.

On the second day, participants learned about rodenticides, where Quinn presented her latest research on rodenticide exposure in wildlife, funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and California Department of Food and Agriculture. These sessions provided insight into regulatory changes and rodenticide resistance, equipping participants to apply updated methods in the field. There is limited applied research for commensal rodent management in the US, so hearing about the research first hand and being able to use it in the field, is a unique and very important part of West Coast Rodent Academy.

 

The Impact

The West Coast Rodent Academy helps build a well-trained workforce equipped to address California's rodent control challenges using IPM principles. One hundred percent of participants learned something new at the workshop and are planning to use this knowledge to change their behaviors in the future. All of the participants felt that they had increased competence in their jobs because of their attendance at the West Coast Rodent Academy.

New professionals like Reyes gain essential knowledge for safe and effective practices, while veterans like Josue Campos, who attended after waiting a year for a spot, appreciated updates on “what doesn't work anymore and what we need to start doing.” Campos, who manages a small pest control business, said the Academy allowed him to share valuable information with colleagues and bring back solutions to implement immediately.

After two months since participating in the academy, Campos said he started using stop feed baits and polyurethane sealant when securing devices. “The rats loved the bait we used before, but they would eat all of it shortly after we set up the bait station,” he said. “We were also using liquid nails to secure our rat traps, but I learned that polyurethane works a lot better at the academy. So, I use that now and it's true,” Campos added.

The workshop impacts California communities directly by preparing pest control professionals to adapt to changing regulatory environments and public health concerns. For example, Lance Swift, Director of Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation for Princeton Joint Unified School District, noted that this specialized training will enhance his work in managing pest issues in schools across his district.

 

Looking Ahead: 

With California's rodent population evolving, the need for continued education on IPM and rodent management techniques is greater than ever. The West Coast Rodent Academy remains a cornerstone in UC ANR's mission to foster safe, effective pest management practices statewide, bridging the gap between research and practice for lasting impact.

To learn more about West Coast Rodent Academy, visit: West Coast Rodent Academy.

 

SoCal Edison staff, bolstered with UCCE training, identify Goldspotted Oak Borer infestations and trigger swift response, demonstrating enhanced workforce capacity to combat invasive species and protect California's forests.

The Issue

Invasive tree pests pose a significant threat to California's urban and natural forests. Among them, the goldspotted oak borer (GSOB) has inflicted severe damage on the state's oak populations, resulting in substantial tree mortality and altering forest ecosystems. This invasive beetle primarily targets coast live oaks, California black oaks, and canyon live oaks. The decline of these iconic trees disrupts natural habitats and negatively impacts local economies that rely on healthy forests for recreation, tourism, and timber resources. As new infestations continue to rise in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, timely identification and management are crucial for safeguarding oak forests and their associated wildlife. There is an urgent need to both partner with those regularly inspecting trees and provide opportunities to enhance workforce competency in pest management.

How UC Delivers

To address this pressing issue, a collaborative team from University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) partnered with SoCal Edison (SCE) to organize a comprehensive four-hour training session in July 2024. This session brought together 57 participants, including staff and contractors from SCE, at the company's offices in Irwindale. Instructors included UCCE Advisors Beatriz Nobua-Behrmann and Chris Shogren, along with Joelene Tramm, the Natural Resources Director for the La Jolla Band of Indians and a master's student in Entomology at UC Riverside. Randall Oliver (UC Integrated Pest Management) and Julie Clark (UCCE Ventura County) provided logistical support to make this happen.

The training equipped participants with essential skills for identifying GSOB infestations, implementing effective management strategies, and preventing the pest's spread by properly disposing of infested plant material. It featured real-world examples of successful management practices and the latest research findings. In addition to GSOB, the agenda included training on identifying other critical tree pests and diseases. Participants engaged in interactive discussions, fostering a community of practice focused on protecting California's forests.

 

The Impact

The impact of this training was immediate and measurable. Within two months of the session, SCE staff reported two new suspected GSOB infestations in previously unknown locations. Armed with the knowledge gained from UCCE, they promptly initiated best management practices. Once our UCCE team was informed of these suspected infestations, we coordinated a collaborative response involving agencies such as CalFIRE, the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, LA County Fire, and the US Forest Service. This swift action not only confirmed the new infestations but also established a solid foundation for strategic interventions.

Feedback from the training highlighted its effectiveness: 60% of attendees completed a post-training survey, with all respondents unanimously expressing increased confidence in identifying and managing tree pests and a commitment to applying their newly found knowledge. By empowering SCE staff and contractors with essential training, UC ANR has strengthened California's workforce competency and enhanced the state's capacity to combat invasive species and protect its natural resources.

Looking ahead, the collaboration between UCCE and SCE is set to continue, with plans for ongoing training sessions and resources to support pest detection efforts across Southern California. The success of this initiative underscores the importance of partnerships in addressing environmental challenges, providing a model for future interventions.

“Through UCCE training and SCE collaboration, we have been able to collectively expand inspection horizons throughout SCE utility corridors that has helped discover new distribution patterns”- Chul Paik, SCE Senior Specialist

In conclusion, through targeted training and collaborative action, UCCE is making significant strides in safeguarding California's natural resources while enhancing workforce competency in invasive species management. This proactive approach not only benefits the immediate environment but also fortifies the resilience of California's forests for generations to come.