Article & photos by Simone Adair

As I looked around the large community room, seeing so many familiar faces was lovely. I hadn’t seen many of the UC Master Gardeners that filled the room since before the Pandemic. I only knew some of them from Zoom calls. It wasn’t long, though, before hugs and handshakes were had by all. Delicious-looking food slowly filled the tables, everything from appetizers to magnificent desserts. There was a warm glow and holiday cheer all around.

The 2023 Volunteer Recognition Dinner was held at the Pleasant Hill Community Center on December 11. We arrived early to help set up, but volunteers were already preparing the room. Muriel Wilson and Virginia Saifer graciously agreed to organize the event. Looking around, I saw that things were well in hand.

Muriel directed Allyssa and me to help out at the Appetizer tables, where two other volunteers were already standing by at the ready. The appetizer tables have always been my favorite volunteer station. I can sample dishes as they arrive. And they did not disappoint. We were in for a treat if this indicated the caliber of the evening’s offerings. The CoCoMGs went all out on their dishes.

Soon, the long tables that ran the room length teemed with main dishes. Lines began to form on either side. It was a veritable cornucopia of delights. Every type of main dish was from salads to pastas to vegetarian delights. Not only were the evening’s guests good gardeners, but they were also excellent chefs.

I had scoped out the dessert table early, as this was where my heart lay. CoCoMGs soon filled the tables with delights. Right in the middle, though, there was what could only be described as a masterpiece. A chocolate cake decorated to look like a forest floor with colorful mushrooms, fantastical flowers, chocolate leaves, gold-dusted bark, and tiny candy insects took center stage. A crowd surrounded Maiytth Coleman, a 2024 trainee and the architect of this beauty of a cake when she started to carve the cake. We had to go and get her, as no one wanted to cut into the cake first. The cake was beyond delicious. I should add that I sampled all the desserts, which I can report were delicious.

Not to be outdone,

I was busy the rest of the evening taking photographs of the pin and badge recipients. I was just floored by how many hours everyone puts into our organization. I shouldn’t be surprised as I get to see firsthand all the articles Project Leads write for The Latest Dirt first. Still, 31,000 volunteer hours. Cheers to that! Congratulations to all the pin and badge recipients, including our very own Volunteer Support Project Lead Jon Dwyer, on his Gold Badge.

I also want to thank and appreciate Terri Takasugawa for the 7,500 Platinum Plus hours she’s contributed to the UC Master Gardeners. We were in the same class together where she was already showing the kind of leadership we’ve all learned is her standard modus operandi. From me to you, you are amazing!

 

 

 

By John Fike

Leading a project like New Volunteer Training has a myriad of aspects associated with it, ranging from challenge to fun. There also is a daunting feature given the complexities of managing both online Zoom and in-person components. However, if we can loosely interpret a famous statement by Isaac Newton, we can see further and, hopefully, succeed because we are standing on the shoulders of giants. That means we have solid templates to help us, developed by former Leads who ironed out wrinkles, found the most expedient ways to develop curricula, and pointed out those pitfalls, black holes, and swamps better left alone. Our colleagues’ historical precedents and experiences over the past decade or more have provided us with critical insight as we engage the newest UC Master Gardener trainees. Because these trainees will hopefully infuse the program with enthusiasm as well as new ideas and perspectives, it is incumbent upon us to make sure that their experience, while rigorous, is engaging, enlightening, and enjoyable. We are committed to providing the appropriate information and preparation so that our new trainees will be outstanding volunteers to the communities within Contra Costa County.

The challenge to leading an educational program such as this is that the academic experiences of the trainees range from minimal science exposure to advanced degrees in biological, chemical, or physical disciplines. Fortunately, regardless of background, everyone shares a common passion for gardening. So our approach stresses the conceptual basis of better gardening/horticulture/pest management: the ‘so what?’ of their learning. Appreciating or understanding the multitude of details will come later because one of the goals of the NVT program is to teach how and where to find those details. We have structured our hands-on activities toward problem-solving and working in groups, both critical components of the Master Gardener experience. We are dedicated to teaching and building confidence so that when our new colleagues don their UC Master Gardener badges, they will be comfortable when a client walks up, hands them a leaf, and asks, ‘What’s eating my plant?’

By Simone Adair

One of the highlights of the recent 2023 Volunteer Recognition Dinner was the honoring of UC Master Gardeners, who have volunteered a significant amount of hours with pins and new badges. Our UC Master Gardeners are awarded based on their inputted hours into VMS, starting at 100 hours and going to 7,500 hours.

Dawn Kooyumjian, the UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator for Contra Costa County, led off the recognition portion of the evening by highlighting the community impact of all the hours UC Master Gardeners put in in 2023. Our county volunteers imputed 31,000 volunteer hours with 17,819 client contacts.

The recognitions started with CoCoMGs, who had contributed 100 hours of volunteer time. Karen Goodwin, Robin Harper, Tim McClintick, Ben McDonald, Jana Multhaup and Reba Siero received the coveted Bee pin. Next up was the 250-hour recognition. Dorothy Abeyta, Cindy Engers, Stephen Guglielmana, and Lawrence Moglia received their Trowel pins. Ann Howard, Jan Manns, Suzanne Miller, Laurinda Ochoa, Ann Ramirez, Mary Stewart, and Betty Yee contributed 500 hours and received the Watering Can pin. Deborah Christman, Bill Miller, Philip Quinlan, Cheryl Schmidt, Ken Schott, and Allison Thomas received the Pruners pin.

Allison Thomas’ incredible contribution of 750 hours was omitted from the original PowerPoint presentation. This achievement is impressive, considering Allison is a Class of 2022 graduate. Laura Brainin-Rodriguez noted,” I regret the unfortunate omission of Allison Thomas’ name from the 750-hour pin recognition. I got turned around while working with various versions of this PowerPoint. Because of that, Allison was unable to receive public acknowledgment of her achievement in front of her peers. We wish to now thank her for her commitment and contributions.”

Dawn then announced who contributed 1,000 hours and received their Gold Badges. Jon Dwyer and Mark Thomason both reached this milestone. Unfortunately, Shelley Christianson was not recognized for her amazing 1,000-hour Gold Badge achievement. Laura Brainin-Rodriguez said, “It came to our attention after the December event that due to a glitch in the algorithm that runs the reports for hours that result in pin and badge recognitions, Shelley Christianson was not recognized. We now thank her for her commitment and contributions and are very sorry she did not receive this public recognition in front of her peers.” Our hard-working badge manager, Kristina Gutilla, is committed to sorting these issues out as she transfers this role to Henry Shaw after three years of exceptional performance. 

Brian Kerss, Dan Lent, and Judy Ryan reached the 2,500-hour Platinum Badge level. Brian and Dan are both the Low Water Use Garden Co-Leads. They are the Co-Leads at the Pinole Farmers Market and Ask A Master Gardener Single-Day Event Leads. Dan is also a New Volunteer Training Homework Reviewer, and Brian is the West County Great Tomato Plant Sale Co-Lead and Coordinator.

Dan said, “I have enjoyed managing the Richmond Low Water Garden, staffing Ask a Master Gardener tables, and being a home study reviewer for the new classes. I continue to learn many things in each of these endeavors such as first-hand information about native and Mediterranean plants and irrigation systems, current issues plaguing home gardeners, and staying up to date on the subjects that are taught in each new class.”

Judy spent five years Co-Directing the Hospitality Committee and directed the Sustainability Fair held in the fall two years in a row. She became a Master Composter through the RecycleSMART program and has given UC Master Gardener workshops on regular composting and vermiculture. “More recently, you will find me at the Wednesday workdays at Our Garden unless I’m traveling, as well as the extra harvesting days on Mondays in the summer,” Judy said.

She’s also on the watering team year-round, participates in all levels of propagation for the GTPS, and works almost every day at the sale. “To get my last 4.5 hours of the 2,500, I packaged bean seeds in December to be sold at the GTPS, a special project courtesy of Janet,” she added.

Finally, Terri Takusagawa reached the 7,500 hours Platinum Plus milestone, an outstanding and well-deserved achievement. Terri said, “I feel so privileged to belong to such a friendly and supportive organization! I came to educate the public, and I stay because of all the wonderful people!”

Terri’s participation has included: New Volunteer Training – the lead or co-lead of the project for five years, and continues to support the new training leads as a mentor, lab contributor, and resource for knowledge transfer as needed; Continuing Education – the project lead since 2020, coordinating Master Gardener-relevant educational webinars and workshops, as well as announcements of approved CE events and self-paced options; Ask a Master Gardener – the Materials Manager since 2017, the co-lead of the San Ramon FM AAMG table since 2019, a participant in the AAMG coordination meetings, helped found Virtual AAMG during the pandemic; Hospitality – leading the reception function for the year-end recognition events and annual business meetings since late 2017; Plant Sales – participating in propagation and event support tasks since 2017; and Help Desk for about a year in 2017-2018.

Compiled by Dorothy Abeyta and John Fike

Nicholas Banks (Antioch)

My first love was muscle cars. Then, I went heavily towards music. I have played with many people and had many good experiences and challenging times. I have always taken part in growing vegetables with my father, who spent most of his life farming. I have always enjoyed our time together, and with him, I learned the fundamentals of growing plants, particularly vegetables and fruits. I enjoy planting one seed and cultivating many fruits and vegetables to share with everyone.

I’ve always loved the idea of being able to give food to people in need. And that is my prime objective of learning and achieving from the knowledge I gain from the course. I have spent t quite some time searching for what will make my heart sing. I finally found my true calling in the UC Master Gardener program.

 

Anne Banks (Pittsburg/Antioch)

My love for gardening grew out of my grandmother’s love for plants. Although my grandmother did not know the official names of plants, she always knew the common name for plants, i.e., “Witches Broom” for the yellow flowering plant that grew on the side of the freeway, “Poor Man’s Orchid” for the flowers that grew on the side of the street when I was growing, etc. In addition, I always loved the time I spent with my father working in the yard.

When I was five, we moved to Concord, California, where my father got a job at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California. My father developed all of the vocational education programs, including, but not limited to, the Dental Hygiene Program, the Culinary Arts program, the Welding program, the Apparel Design Program, and the Horticulture program.

Our property in Concord had eight walnut trees and seven almond trees. In addition, my father planted several fruit trees on the property. I always put seeds in the ground to see if they would grow. I will never forget planting watermelon seeds in a small circle in the backyard. When the seedlings grew to about an inch and a half tall, someone took a large, round, bolder and dropped it on my watermelon seeds, killing them. I was devastated. Since then, my goal has been to grow watermelon, but I have yet to succeed.

As an adult, I have worked as a paralegal for 15 years, then as a high school special education teacher for 23 years, retiring six years ago. We have lived in Antioch, California, for the past six years. My goal in Antioch has been to grow tomatoes in our yard, with little success. I believe the tomatoes always have big round black spots on the bottom from incorrect watering. I hope by the end of the UC Master Gardener program, I’ll know how to remedy my tomato problem.

We lost our home in Pittsburg, forcing us to move to Antioch. We live in the older part of Antioch, off of “A” Street, where there are a lot of food insecurities. My goal for the UC Master Gardener program is to build connections in my community to establish a community garden.

We live a block from the church we attend. I founded “Mission Possible” at our church about ten years ago—an outreach program to help feed those needing food in our immediate neighborhood. We donate a different food item to the local food banks in Pittsburg and Brentwood monthly. In addition, Mission Possible has a group of women who meet one Saturday a month and give away little dresses, shirts, shorts, and t-shirts they sew locally and worldwide. Mission Possible is one of the programs I am proudest of.

In addition, every year, we hold a “Santa’s Workshop,” providing hot cocoa, cookies, and a small toy from Santa, in addition to crafts and games for the families in the neighborhood, which includes sending a plate of cookies home with each family.

Through the help of the UC Master Gardener program, I hope to expand our Mission Possible outreach to include helping local neighbors start their gardens and provide their families with fresh produce. I am very excited about being a part of the program, and I am looking forward to helping in my community.

Bennett Berke (Pleasant Hill)

 I was born in Chicago but have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since I was 22. I am married, with two adult children and two grandchildren.

After getting a B.A. and working for several years, I returned to school to study Ecology and Systematics at S.F. State and took Entomology and Plant Taxonomy classes. I did some desert fieldwork, but after getting my M.A., I ended up in computer programming and project management until my retirement.

After retirement, my activities included being a volunteer docent at the Ruth Bancroft Garden and a land steward for Save Mount Diablo.

I enjoy gardening because it is a satisfying and challenging mixture of science, experimentation, and aesthetics. I can see that the UC Master Gardener program is an open-minded and welcoming community, and I’m looking forward to contributing my own.

Neerja Bhutani (Walnut Creek)

I have called the Bay Area my home since 1981 and the United States my home since 1980, when I arrived from India after marrying my husband, who had been living here for seven years. Growing up in a bustling and crowded city like New Delhi, I had limited exposure to gardening, but I always appreciated the abundance of flowers and greenery in public spaces and parks.

We focused our early years in the U.S. on raising our two children and balancing family and career, so gardening was not a prominent interest. However, about 15 years ago, my husband’s passion for gardening ignited, and he became a dedicated and passionate gardener. Inspired by his enthusiasm for growing flowers, I embarked on a journey by taking classes in floral arrangements, a craft that I continue to adore.

Volunteer work has always been an essential part of my life, but for the past few years, various factors and the pandemic have temporarily halted my involvement. I’ve been exploring new areas of interest and observing my husband’s dedication to our garden since our children are grown up. I’ve been motivated to pursue new avenues of community involvement, and I secretly want to know how my husband can grow perfect vegetables and flowers.

Rakesh Bhutani (Walnut Creek)

After five decades in medicine, retirement is a precious gift. And in retirement, the pursuit of backyard gardening is unbelievably satisfying. I first started puttering in the dirt many years ago and have slowly learned enough to have some vegetables and flowers in the summer and spring bulbs from April through May. Winters are insufferable; although I keep trying to grow seedlings, I kill more than I grow. Every seed sprouting new leaves, flowers, and fruit is peace & joy.

Some years ago, Our Garden opened a mile from our home. I finally went there after I retired. I was surprised to see how luxuriant and beautiful its plants are, which has caused me great existential pain. These UC Master Gardeners know some secrets that no lecture can impart. I hope to discover them.

I will achieve my purpose in life when I can grow beautiful cauliflower and cabbages, turnips, carrots, and radishes, and my tomato, peppers, and eggplant plants are full of large fruit.

Stephanie Bontemps (Lafayette)

My love of plants began as a child gathering (and eating) fruits and vegetables in my grandparents’ gardens. My father grew up on a farm outside Savannah, Georgia, so there were always plenty of fresh foods when we visited. My love of plants grew over time after my parents bought a house in Southern California and decided to landscape it themselves, with some help from the kids. I loved planting and watching the plants thrive. I even loved pulling weeds.

When my husband and I bought our first home in White Plains, New York, the yard had potential but was a mess. Over time, it became beautiful as we learned what worked in the climate and the differences between shady and sunny parts of the yard. Our New York expertise was of very little use when we moved to Lafayette, California, where microclimates are critical and hungry deer and gophers present regular challenges. We’ve re-landscaped our entire one-acre property and continue to find new needs to replace and update plants, particularly as the climate warms.

I’m pursuing the UC Master Gardening program to deepen my knowledge. I’m particularly interested in native plants and landscapes that can thrive in a dry and warming environment. I’ve recently left a 40-year financial services career, so I finally have time to focus on this.

Jim Breuner (Orinda)

Retired Utility Safety Guy; Part-time Background Investigator; Part-time Gardener. It only took 40 years, but when we could finally afford it, my wife and I decided to transform our ugly, dirt/mud backyard and rotted-out redwood deck into a usable space of peace and beauty. Working with a landscape designer/builder, we put down pavers in such a fashion that it created “rooms” with chairs for visiting and relaxing, tables and chairs for entertaining and eating outdoors, and plants and irrigation (including a natural rock water fountain) for attracting birds, bees, and hummers to our sanctuary. I had long nurtured a passion for California natives, so there was an emphasis on that, but we are not “purists.”

Nor did I have an eye for design, flow, and symmetry. Hodgepodge best describes my gardening style. But as I learned by trial and error, my passion for gardening grew, and I understand a lot more Latin now than I used to.

We didn’t stop with the backyard. No, we went around by the front door, the entire front hill, and the back hill “outside the fence.” And I kept buying plants, seeing what worked and what didn’t. My criteria were: 1) deer resistant, 2) clay tolerant, 3) drought resistant, and 4) attract pollinators, in no particular order of importance. Extra points if it was a California native.

I got a lot of inspiration from attending the annual Contra Costa–Alameda Counties Bringing Back the Natives Tour for many years, and I still look forward to that event every May. I am especially fond of Ceanothus, Arctostaphylos, and Salvias. My wife would say I have a bit of a plant obsession. I tell her there are many worse things I could be obsessed with. She thinks I’m crazy for spending so much time on the computer looking up plants. I tell her I’m watching plant porn.

I had wanted to enroll in a UC Master Gardener class for years, but work and other commitments always prevented me from doing so. I’m retired now, so when the opportunity to apply for this class came up, I jumped. I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished on our hilly property in Orinda, especially in April through May, when the plants are ablaze with color, and the bees are buzzing. People walking or even driving by will sometimes stop and compliment me on how beautiful it is.

My yard is my happy place. It is a mind-blowing experience to know that I’ve put something in the ground and created something so beautiful and that others think so, too! However, I realize there is so much more beyond California natives that I can learn, and I am so excited to embark on this educational journey. I love talking to people about my plants, and I’m eager to start talking to other like-minded people about all that I am about to learn and to share this knowledge so they, too, can create their little piece of heaven on earth.

In my workday life, I have done many things, from police officer, claims investigator, safety coordinator, compliance superintendent, to Regional Safety Manager, to name but a few. To keep busy in retirement – and to stay out of my wife’s hair – I do background investigations on law enforcement candidates for several local law enforcement agencies, which brings me full circle. I swim laps three days a week and go on long hikes whenever possible.

My wife and I just celebrated our 45th anniversary. We have one daughter and three grandkids who live in Pleasant Hill, California, so we see them all the time and are fortunate to be such an integral part of their lives. One of the most significant accomplishments in my life – of which I am very proud – is completing the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile hike starting in France and ending in Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. The year was 2022, and I was 69 years old. It was on this journey that I fell in love with Flanders poppies!

Cynthia Casey (Walnut Creek)

Plants and Nature have always been a source of wonder to me. I’ve lived in the South, the Northeast, Mexico, and now in California, so I have been fortunate enough to see many very different varieties of plants. I grew up watching both of my grandmothers work in their gardens in Kentucky. My paternal grandmother was especially expert and had a half-acre yard filled with hundreds of flowers, tomatoes, grapes, and blackberries. She specialized in daylilies. The Hemerocallis Society visited regularly to admire the new varieties she had developed. I spent a lot of time there, and I think I learned a lot more than I realized by just watching. I began to create my gardens after I bought my first home in Contra Costa County in the early nineties.

I’m currently retired from a long career as a software designer, developer, and business analyst. I live in Walnut Creek, California. I’m divorced and have two daughters and three grandchildren.

 

Maiytth C. M. Takahashi Coleman (El Sobrante)

 Throughout my life, I’ve connected closely with Nature. One of my earliest memories is of my parents holding my little hands while exploring our family farm in Brazil.

Later, when I went to school, I longed for the weekend and school breaks to spend time back in our country home with the rest of our family.
I come from a family of immigrants who had to leave behind their lives, reinvent a new beginning, and keep their traditions in a foreign land. Luckily for them, their new home was a gentle land where Nature’s bounty and beauty weren’t in shortage.

My grandparents went from being businesspeople and teachers to becoming farmers. Of course, they learned everything and adapted to their new lives.

At the farm, I used to take long walks exploring the marginal ecosystem of the small river, where I would find myself collecting orchids and admiring the mysterious beauty of Nature for hours. I had a satchel, a packed snack, a stick, and a sketchbook where I would draw and take notes (the best I could) of the specimens I had encountered. There were berries, vines, grass, bromeliads, giant Ipe trees, and plants that looked straight out of a fairy tale book.

During family gatherings, whether after dinner or teatime, all of us, grownups and children, would research botanical encyclopedias and plant taxonomy charts to figure out what those plants were. My huge family shared the love of plants, animals, and cooking, and that, along with the love for each other, was the connection needed to feel at home. It was beautiful chaos.

Fast forward, I moved to foreign lands, had my children, and had a busy life, but again, my family’s love of Nature made me feel right at home anywhere I went. I’m a mother, and like all parents, I desire a beautiful future on this amazing planet for future generations.

My career evolved over the years from psychology, in which I was very involved due to my first child being diagnosed with autism, and then to Culinary Arts and gastronomy. It was a natural evolution, as they are so closely connected. We connect one to another through food and Nature. Food is an essential link to health for us and the ecosystems that maintain life on this planet because of how we grow it.

For this next cycle of my life, it made sense to return to my roots.
Gardening makes me feel closer to my ancestors. Applying the principles of biophilia and exercising my innate wish to seek a connection with Nature gives me a sense of security. There’s also the applied benefit to growing organic foods, learning to cultivate and apply science and information, using permaculture principles while supporting local fauna & flora, and learning more about the systems that keep this fantastic planet alive.

The UC Master Gardening program unifies the science, the community interconnectivity, and love and respect of Nature, offering tools to face the new obstacles that come along with climate changes and the necessary steps needed towards healing and preserving the ecosystem.

Tom Cramer (Lafayette)

I grew up on the East Coast in the Washington, D.C. area, moving to the Bay Area in the 1980s. We lived in a rural farming community where we always had a vegetable garden. My mother harvested vegetables and bought bushels of fruit for the table and preserving. My brothers and I picked whatever was ripe, sometimes climbing trees to get ripe cherries for a pie, sometimes getting green beans or tomatoes for dinner.

As an adult, I always had my own garden, even if only a small strip next to my apartment. I am now fortunate to enjoy a more extensive garden in Lafayette, California. I enjoy sharing produce with neighbors and carrying on my mother’s tradition of canning and freezing.

I have developed an interest in California native plants and especially their traditional uses. Natives are my favored choice for my Lafayette landscape.

Now retired, I have been learning more about soil, pollinators, and other topics that are so important to the area we call home. I look forward to further exploring and am excited to share that knowledge with others in our community.

Kathleen Dell’Aquila (Orinda)

I grew up in Southern California, where decomposed granite soil quickly grew huge veggies and gorgeous roses with only a bag of Gromulch added for nutrients. I loved gardening but had yet to learn how challenging it could be.

As a transfer “reentry” student to UC Berkeley, my husband, three children, and I moved north. I majored in English, worked in Special Education for two years as a paraeducator, and then pursued my teaching and educational leadership credentials through St. Mary’s College and Chapman University. I taught for 10 years and was an administrator for seven more before retiring. In retirement, I enjoy quilting and food preserving but have become frustrated with the heavy clay soils in my garden. It’s tough to preserve food when those veggies don’t grow!

I consider myself a lifelong learner, so I naturally turned to all the resources I could find, among them the UC Master Gardener presentations at libraries and online. It has taken many years for me to consider myself successful in the garden. Still, Nature is constantly throwing new challenges my way – critters in the soil and air, being on four feet, extreme weather, unpredictable seasonal shifts, too much water, or (usually) insufficient. I consider these challenges new opportunities to continue learning, and now I welcome them. I believe there is no endpoint to learning and that teaching adds to my increased understanding.

I look forward to my training as a UC Master Gardener and the opportunity to share that understanding with other gardeners. In the end, Nature is the Master teacher of us all.

Susan Domanico (Kensington)

I have been gardening and growing plants since I was a child. I filled every home I ever had with houseplants, and even when I only had a small outside space, I found a way to add pots and plants. When we purchased a newly built home in San Diego, California, my husband and I designed the yard and garden beds. We designed and installed the irrigation, supplemented the clay soil, dug the holes, and planted trees that I am proud to say are thriving and providing shade. I strived to plant a sustainable yard for Coastal and Southern California by reading, researching, and visiting demonstration gardens in the area.

My passion for growing things is only part of my identity as a scientist. My career started on the cellular and molecular scale, where I studied the immune system and then did research in cancer biology. After my post-doctoral research, I tested out teaching science in high school and never looked back. I have always taught biology and, over the years, taught chemistry, physics, robotics, and neuroscience.

I introduced plant biology at every opportunity possible in my high school biology classes. We explored hydroponics to understand minimum nutritional requirements for growth, used plants for long-term data collection, and annually used flowers for dissection to understand plant reproduction. I was always amazed that so many of my students never grew a plant from seed and equally pleased that they would cite the plant experiments as their favorite part of the class.

Now that I have retired from managing teams of teachers and teaching high school science, I am eager to pursue a new avenue to continue using science-based education to build community. Since we moved to the Bay Area several years ago, I have used my walks around my neighborhood to start conversations and make connections. I often find myself stopping to admire a flower or tree and notice someone next to me. We stop and talk about the plant, and both leave with a smile. Plants seem to bring out the best in us. Teaching more people how to successfully create gardens – especially edible gardens where we can share what we grow – could help strengthen the connections in our neighborhoods.

Lucy Duquette (Concord)

I was born in Buffalo, New York. When I was seven, we moved into the suburbs. My parents had purchased a home with a large backyard with mounds of dirt that my little sister and I used to play on. My father had the land evened into a large lawn, where he planted flowers and plum trees. While we missed playing in the dirt when the plum trees were fruiting, we found joy picking and eating the bounty. A neighbor had a pear tree that also supplemented our diets.

As a young woman, I planted a small garden in my own home, and nothing was more fun than watching food come out of the ground. When I moved to Florida, I found that flowers were better for that soil type. By then, my career had started absorbing my time, and gardening paid the price. I spent the next couple of decades working long hours and traveling for my job. I moved across the country, from New York and Florida to living in Colorado (where I married), California, Kansas, and Georgia, with extended times in Baltimore, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. My husband also had assignments in Utah, Texas, and New York.

We balanced our careers as we moved from place to place, and in 2016, we finally earned the right to move back home to the Bay Area. We had purposely kept our house in California, knowing this was where we wanted to be. And, having seen most of the country, we were delighted with our choice. My husband retired in 2017, and I retired in 2020. We started attending the UC Master Gardener Wednesday lectures. Our yard is small, but since retiring, we re-landscaped it to remove grass or other high water-needing plants and added fruit trees and flowers to attract birds and bees.

Regarding my background, I have an associate degree from the University of Buffalo. As a Senior Manager in a Federal Agency, where I worked for 42 years, I made decisions on business organization, procurement, recruitment/hiring, and program development, including public community services. With over 35 years in management, I led multiple projects and task force teams nationwide for program development, implementation, administration, and oversight. I worked with eight to over 1,000 group sizes on various strategic objectives.

For several years, I was an Operations Manager running a call center in Oakland, California, responsible for serving the public. I spent 10 years as the Manager of the agency’s National Quality Program, which included reviewing employees nationwide and conducting operational reviews for Executives. I have written countless business papers, executive briefing documents, and business plans. I held public workshops, designed public notices, wrote news articles, and sponsored all-employee conferences for various group sizes.

I served as a Public Affairs Specialist for three years, including professional media training from the University of South Carolina. I have appeared on radio and television, issued news releases, and performed public outreach. I have considerable experience as an instructor and have developed numerous technical and managerial training materials. In Florida, I served as the District Electronic Filing Coordinator, which involved conducting seminars for professional practitioners, monitoring their programs for compliance with the laws, and taking enforcement action if necessary. I am good at research and have developed courses, procedures, and plans used nationwide.

I am excited to be part of this program because I have a deep respect for the earth and a strong affinity for plants – watching them grow and develop. I want to learn more about horticulture to do my part and help others save the planet. I value the chance to socialize with people and make more friends. I particularly like the opportunity to feed those in need and help the community. I am willing to work where I am needed, but I am particularly good at accounting and office work.

Stanley Goldman (Walnut Creek)

I was born in Europe and raised in New York City. While in NYC, I moved into a new apartment in my senior year in college; my next-door neighbor gave me two plants as a housewarming gift. They were a Crown of Thorns and an Aloe. The pleasure I experienced in watching them grow started a journey from having a house full of plants to getting advanced degrees in plant molecular biology.

I am fascinated by the variety and tenacity of plants. Again and again, I ask myself, “How do they do that?” and “What can I do to help them along.” That has led to my life-long interest in and involvement with all types of plants. Over the years, I have had numerous gardens, three in my backyard during graduate school, kept plants indoors, and planted and nurtured trees. I have lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years and have always had a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and various ornamentals.

Now that I am retired, I would like to share what I have learned over the years and increase my knowledge through the UC Master Gardner training and volunteer programs.

Jan Hoehn (Danville)

I grew up in Danville, California, with 18 walnut trees in our backyard. We pruned, knocked, harvested, peeled, dried, cracked into halves (Christmas gifts to our extended family and friends), and sold walnuts to the local co-op! We were so proud of our harvest!

Every Saturday, our family shared gardening chores with extraordinary laughter and joy! We often visited my grandparents, who lived on acreage in Graton, California, with a Gravenstein apple orchard and a huge vegetable garden! My grandpa would take us through his garden, pulling up carrots, knocking soil off, and letting us chomp away!

Mother’s Day was my special day to visit the San Francisco Conservatory, delighting in the color and fragrance of extraordinary specimens. I often gardened with my mom in her garden, and when she was older, she “supervised” my gardening from her chaise!

We have continued to share gardening with our children and grandchildren. We grew seven citrus trees, tomatoes, potatoes, kale, Swiss chard, and blueberries in our Castro Valley, California garden. After picking grapefruit, oranges, and limes, our nine-year-old grandson introduced us to his best friend, “These are my grandparents who live in California and have an “orchard” (when you are nine years old, an orchard is seven trees). Years later, I picked up my third-grade grandson after school; he came running up to me excitedly, stating, “Gramma, bees are good for us!”

I currently work in a Danville nursery. My passion is to learn through the UC Master Gardeners program to help further educate and solve our guests’ gardening questions. We have an expanded Kid’s club and offer a school program in our local schools.

I look forward to volunteering in schools. I love to teach children the magic of growing their food!

Chris Hsu (Lafayette)

 Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a deep love for all things green and growing. My gardening journey began with my parents, who gave me their wisdom and green thumbs. At our home in Los Angeles, my parents planted countless fruiting trees such as loquat, sapote, dragon eye, persimmon, jujube, papaya, cherimoya, pomegranates, etc. I spent summers on my grandparent’s farm in Iowa, riding on the wheel of a tractor as my grandfather and I spread steer manure through the fields; I collected eggs from the henhouse, sorted good seeds from weed seeds with an antique mechanical seed cleaner, and shucked piles of sweet corn for freezing.

In college, I took my passion to the next level by setting up a grow cart to nurture vegetable seedlings. During this time, I discovered the joy of watching life spring forth from tiny seeds.

In San Francisco, I joined the Fort Mason Community Garden and eventually helped run the greenhouse and lath house that provided seedlings to all in the community garden.

Much later, I turned my front yard into a mini cornfield during the challenging first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic to be a source of sustenance and a symbol of resilience and hope.

A highlight in my gardening journey was the serendipitous discovery of a functioning well in my backyard – a Mother Nature gift equipping me to cultivate the land further.

My commitment to gardening is no half-hearted endeavor. I’m a gardener through and through, as my wife often laments about my perpetually dirty feet, a testament to my preference for well-worn Birkenstock clogs in the garden.

Gardening, for me, is more than a hobby; it’s a way of life. I’ve gained patience, resilience, and an understanding of the intricate balance of ecosystems. As an environmental advocate, I’m passionate about sustainable gardening practices, soil enrichment, and conservation.

I eagerly anticipate continuing my gardening journey, sharing my experiences, and contributing to the beauty and sustainability of our community.

Laura Laird (Alamo)

I love the smell of potting soil!

My grandmother was a gardener. We would spend hours together in her Illinois garden, weeding, pruning, deadheading, and generally watching plants grow. I have spread this love of gardening to my children. I want to gain knowledge and experience to help people outside my family enjoy this excellent and fruitful hobby/life skill.

My daughter got married last year, and instead of floral table arrangements, she wanted long wooden boxes planted with succulents. I made the 10 five-foot-long boxes and got to plant a few myself (she enjoys planting too). They were a big hit.

My neighbor plants 26 tomato plants each year. Bob then shares his bounty with the neighbors, a paper bag on each doorstep. Besides wanting to be the next Bob, I realize the power of growing produce for others and teaching them to do it.

From Illinois to Southern California to eventually settling in Alamo, California, I am excited to give back to a community I have enjoyed for many years!

Charlotte Lee (San Ramon)

“What, tomatoes get sunburned?!” I uttered in surprise. We moved to California from New Jersey in 2020. Our new house was already beautifully landscaped. The property’s fruit trees, raised vegetable beds, and gorgeous flowers were our main selling points when we purchased our new home.

However, as I enthusiastically began to plant, confident that my years of gardening knowledge from N.J. would pay off, I realized that gardening in California was completely different. Thus, I began my journey to re-learn how to garden.

While we love wildlife, we constantly try to outsmart the squirrels and gophers. Dealing with gophers was one of our first challenges. A farmer at the farmer’s market told me that gobstoppers would choke the gopher when it would eat it. So, we stuffed gobstoppers down the gopher hole. We found the gobstoppers sitting next to the gopher hole the following day! We try to prevent squirrels from eating the fruit on our fruit trees with netting around the canopy and metal tubing around the trunk, but they still find a way to get to the fruit. Once, I scared a squirrel off our pear tree, and it flew off the tree like one of the squirrels in the Mark Rober Squirrel Olympics video!

Proper irrigation is another ongoing challenge. “Deep watering,” “drip irrigation,” and “transpiration” were new terms for me. Calculating how much water a plant or tree needs? That’s mind-boggling! We hardly ever had to worry about watering in N.J. During the first year in our house in San Ramon, I overwatered the germaniums and underwatered the Meyer lemon tree. Fortunately, both survived.

Gardening has always been a part of my life. From a young age, I learned from my uncle and my parents. When my children were school-aged, I volunteered heavily in my children’s school, setting up and teaching gardening and nutrition appreciation programs. I also worked a few years as a cooking instructor for a local cooking school where I co-taught the “farm-to-table” summer camp program.

As I settle into my home in California, I look forward to expanding my gardening knowledge and abilities, learning how to overcome the unique challenges of the California climate, and sharing my experiences with others.

Amanda Merrill (Oakley)

I’ve always been interested in growing things from my earliest experience growing up in a fifth-story apartment, growing flowers and bulbs for the twice-yearly school flower show. We didn’t have a garden, but each year, my elementary school sent home candytuft and nasturtium seed to grow and, later in the year, daffodil bulbs. When our plants were grown, we would carefully walk them to school for the flower show. Getting those pots to school without dropping them or having the daffodil stems snap was quite a feat!

I grew up in England and, at 19, came to the U.S. to attend college. I later went to the East Bay and have been here ever since. Once we had our own home, I tinkered with a vegetable garden and grew so many tomatoes that I made sauce for days until I finally gave up because I couldn’t make one more batch. I love growing flowers, especially pale pink roses. Since retiring last year after 25 years as a teacher, I have decided to return to gardening and am anxious to learn more and share this knowledge with others.

Steve Parker (Richmond)

 I grew up in Southern California. I have university degrees in Biology, Geology, and Business. I worked for many years in the water treatment industry.

My first experience with growing plants was caring for a potted flower I received when I was five. My mother spent time in the hospital, where well-wishers gave her flowers and plants. She gave both of my brothers and I a plant to care for. Mine was a violet. My plant thrived over the next several weeks, while my brothers’ plants did not. I was told I had a “green thumb,” which I thought was strange.

When I was 10, I grew a pumpkin patch after watching Charlie Brown’s “The Great Pumpkin.” Since then, I have been growing fruits and vegetables at every opportunity and learning what grows well, what is accessible and what is challenging to grow, what I like to eat, and what I’m not keen on. In parallel, my cooking skills have improved, and I have learned to use spices and herbs to my advantage.

I collect seeds from vegetables and herbs I have succeeded with and propagate them again the following year. I focus on heirlooms and hard-to-find varieties. I preserve vegetables and make jams and jellies. I volunteer with a group called Contra Coast Fruit Rescue. We harvest fruit from backyard fruit trees and donate it to food pantries.

I have lived in Chicago, Dallas, and Tampa. I lived in Mexico and traveled to Central and South America. I have traveled to Europe, the South Pacific, Japan, and China.

I have a scientific background and a curious mind. At this point, I can call myself a lifelong learner.

Ruth Perelstein (Contra Costa County)

As I was growing up, my grandmother kept a Victory Garden in Iowa well past the end of WWII. As a child, I was sent to the garden to pick green beans and berries. She had a basement full of food they “put up” for the winter seasons. My mother carried on the tradition of a garden and keeping chickens in Denver. She sent me into the neighborhood to sell tomatoes to the neighbors. Eventually, we ate the chickens because they pecked my mother’s red toenails.

In my late 20s, I moved to San Francisco and worked downtown as a commercial artist. I was amazed by my lush surroundings. Many of the plants only grew inside in Denver. At that time, I was too busy trying to make a life in San Francisco even to consider gardening.

In 1981, I moved to an intentional community called Lafayette Morehouse in Oakland, California. In 1983, I moved to the Lafayette property and played with gardening. In 2015, I fell and suffered a concussion. On my doctor’s recommendations, I immersed myself in pulling weeds and being in Nature, which soothed my recovering brain. My husband, Marty, and I inherited a 1419 ft. community garden three years ago. What a learning curve that has been. We threw ourselves into the project and attended many garden lectures.

We have had two beautiful years of veggies. This year, though, we were inundated with pests, and abatement became the biggest heartbreak and challenge. The UC Master Gardeners program seemed just the help we needed to make gardening even more fun and thriving in our now all-consuming gardening lifestyle.

Marty Perelstein (Contra Costa County)

I grew up in the Bronx, New York, and often said I had to walk a block to see a tree. I discovered the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx in high school, only about a mile from our apartment. It was 267 acres of pure wonder. It became my favorite place to go, and I still do whenever I visit New York.

I live in an intentional community between Lafayette and Walnut Creek. We have 20 acres and keep most of the property in a natural condition. About eight years ago, my wife Ruth suffered a severe concussion. The doctors told us that what the brain likes is being in Nature and doing repetitive tasks such as weeding and gardening. We started what we called a Concussion Garden. We mostly planted ornamentals and some herbs for cooking.

During Covid, we started a community vegetable garden of about 1400 sq. ft. on our property. We have five beds and numerous wine barrels. I have four compost bins. I process the vegetable scraps from about 40 residents I live with. I also have worm bins and am making compost tea for use as fertilizer. Ruth and I started attending the Walnut Creek Garden lectures two years ago and have attended many of them.

I had previously become aware of the global food crisis due to climate and weather issues and the farming practices that depleted the soil. When I attended the lectures in Walnut Creek, I realized that the crisis could be met by people growing their food and by planting native plants and nurturing the soil.

I remember that during WWII, people in the U.S. and Great Britain were encouraged to have Victory Gardens as a patriotic duty.

Previously, I “ate my vegetables” because I was supposed to. Since then, my wife has turned me into a “Foodie,” and the flavor of the food we cook using our homegrown veggies is impressive.

Tina Schumann (Alamo)

 I am a former educator, born and raised in the Bay Area, residing in Alamo, California, for the past 24 years. Having raised two children, I have held many volunteer positions in the local schools, from room mom to treasurer to youth running coach. I am enthusiastic about my home garden and constantly seeking to improve it. My family lovingly gives me their dead or half-dead plants to try to bring back to life; I very much enjoy the challenge! I love hiking Mt Diablo and am amazed by the Nature and wildlife so near us. I peruse garden catalogs often to find the next plant to add to my yard!

 

Tara Vaishnav (Alamo)

As a child, my happiest memories were always in the garden. Whether in Kerala, India or at my Nana’s home, watching the harvesters scale up the coconut trees with the agility of monkeys and throw down coconuts! Or in Saigon, where the coconut tree had a giant pothos climbing up it this time. My mom called it the Python tree, and I was in awe. Or it could be planting bean seeds in our backyard with my mom teaching me to build a trough around it so water could find it, with a trellis above for the plants to climb on. “Collect leaves and drop them at the base of the plant,” she would say. That was my very first lesson in mulching and composting. I must have been seven years old.

My love for gardening started very early and always stayed with me. Even through my busiest years with a full-time job and three little children, I still found time to plant at least a tomato, a few cucumbers, and maybe some herbs.

Now that the children are grown, I have some mental capacity and time to return to gardening. I actively started gardening right before the pandemic and started my YouTube channel, GreenLove (@greenlove1), to teach, learn, and inspire others and share what I have learned with them. I also love photography and videography, and my social media channels provide me with a much-needed creative outlet.

As a lifelong learner, I love researching and experimenting in the garden and understanding the science behind Nature’s workings. I mimic those ways in my garden.

Professionally, I am a technology executive, but as a recent empty-nester, I want to explore how I can do more of what I love. I love learning (and teaching) about all things gardening. And I also try to tread lightly on this beautiful planet we call home!

Pamela Wagner (El Cerrito)

My name is Pamela, and I love looking at beautiful gardens. I have admired the beautiful colors in my neighbors’ yards, close and far. Several years ago, I had the junipers in my front yard removed and replaced them with different plants, some that I liked and others I pulled out. Now, I have different colors of salvia. However, I’d like to know what other types of flower plants I can add.

We have two veggie boxes, and I’ve grown some veggies but have no idea what good fertilizers are, what good bugs are, and why some veggies rot on the vine. So, I want to be a better gardener and share my flowering plants and produce with others. I’m retired with many volunteering projects and am hopeful that I can share more with friends and family.

 

Diane Worrell (Brentwood)

I was born in Kansas, grew up in New York, and spent most of my adult life in California. Three years ago, I traveled from Maine to Florida in a small trailer and camped in many state and national parks for 11 months. I returned to California the day after the state closed for Covid. Since returning, I have lived in Pittsburg, Clearlake, Turlock, and finally in Brentwood. I am glad to be settled in one place and pleased for the opportunity to learn much more about gardening and share that knowledge as a UC Master Gardener.

 

 

 

 

By Sara Hoyer

Client’s question:

I purchased some spring bulbs early last fall and then forgot to plant them! I purchased some daffodils and crocus. Is it too late to plant them - once we dry out a little bit, obviously? I purchased these from High Country Gardens, so they are on the drought-tolerant end of the spectrum. If it’s too late to plant, how should I store them? In the garage, freezer, fridge??

Sara Hoyer’s reply:

Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk. Your questions are about storing crocus and daffodil bulbs and whether you can plant them in mid-January. You are certainly not the first person to forget to plant your bulbs at the proper time in the fall. I know that I have done the very same thing at least once.

Of the two varieties you have, the daffodils have the best chance of growing and blooming when planted now. I suggest that you plant them as soon as possible. Just expect them to bloom later than usual. Flower bulbs are survivors and will have a fighting chance to grow and bloom even when planted late. Be sure to plant before spring or next fall.

By Bill Miller

The above title does not ask: “What’s good gardening? We trained UC Master Gardeners, have a pretty good handle on that, and are at the ready to share knowledge and best practices with those in our community. But rather, and as Yoda might put it, “What Good, Gardening?”

Many authors have written about the positive aspects of gardening and the direct benefits bestowed upon the gardener. Now that we are in the colder, darker, and wet-winterish days, what an excellent time to step back and marvel and reflect on the advantages of gardening. Way back when Baba Ram Dass encouraged us to “Be Here Now,” what better place than a garden where you can be totally present and available to the very plants you are tending? Mindfulness is all the rage, and quite deservedly so. Being down on your knees, or maybe standing next to your raised bed, lets you focus on what is in front of you. And if we are not wearing headphones to catch the latest podcast, we can be silent and available in the present moment.

What wisdom can be gained as you care for each plant and the soil beneath it? We observe how plants grow, what and how beneficials and not so beneficials affect our vegetation, and how flowers or fruit progress through their maturational stages. Upon close inspection, we see this transformation become apparent before our very eyes, a way to connect to the annual cycles of nature that encircle us. This awareness may allow us to feel closer to the earth and more centered within it.

And what about that earth? Considering the enormous challenges of a warming climate and the overwhelming news unfolding around the world, how does our small effort in our backyards help the world be a better place? Maybe shovelful by shovelful. Acting locally by improving our soil is one small act to better the world. And who knows what ripple effect that may have on the overall health of our planet?

As UC Master Gardeners, we grow stuff. We know what a healthy crop of vegetables can do for us. Beyond that, we can share our harvest with neighbors, people in need, and a stranger…and that sends out another ripple of care and concern into our world.

So enjoy the quiet of your growing habitat, whether it be a patio, a pot, or a plot, and be grateful for the opportunity for self-discovery while making our world just a little bit better place to live.

By Greg Letts

You will see some new additions to Our Garden on your next visit.

Two large, barn-red sheds have replaced the old sheds at Our Garden, and the fenced area has expanded 10 feet.

For several years, squirrel nests and gopher tunnels have undermined the foundations of the old sheds. The floorboards were rotting beneath the storage racks.

Steve Griffin spearheaded the project to replace them, which took almost two years to organize, coordinate, and weave through the City of Walnut Creek and the UC system.

After all of the necessary approvals, work began in November with our UC Master Gardeners demoing the old sheds and moving the north end fence out 10 feet.

The UC Master Gardeners then moved yards of gravel to cover the newly laid hardware cloth and level the area inside the cage. After trenching the perimeter 18-plus inches deep, UC Master Gardeners lined the trenches with hardware cloth to hopefully keep the critters out for a long time.

UC Master Gardeners completed the last steps the first week of January. Tuff Shed installed the two new sheds and then the CoCoMGs moved our equipment, pop-up tents, folding tables, tarps, plastic and shade cloth from the parking lot storage container.

 

 

 

Photos by UC Master Gardeners

In this month's The Latest Dirt, we present the New Volunteer Trainees bios, photos, and a message from NVT Co-Leads John Fike and Dorothy Abeyta. Here, Executive Committee Project Leads extend a warm welcome and describe the many opportunities available to the UC Master Gardener Trainees.

Communications

Hello from the Communications project! Remember us? We're the ones who do all the announcing, posting, and reaching out to the county and the world to share the good works of the amazing Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener Volunteers. Want to join us? We always need writers for our excellent newsletters, The Latest Dirt and News to Grow By. We would also LOVE another video editor or two for our YouTube channel. And if you like to be behind the camera, we'd welcome you. Just think of all things electronic and jammy jobs you can perform 24/7 from the comfort of your home. Email Lori at loripalmquist@gmail.com if you're interested.

News to Grow By

My name is Hedwig Van Den Broeck, and I am reaching out to you on behalf of the editorial team of our external newsletter, News to Grow By, published quarterly and reaches 8,500 Contra Costa residents. The team meets 1 to 1.5 months before the intended publication date to brainstorm about insightful articles on various gardening topics. Our Spring issue will come out shortly before the Great Tomato Plant sale and consequently will focus on growing tomatoes and other vegetables. Writers also contribute articles on California native plants, taking care of trees, gardening in our wildfire-prone state, gardening in small spaces, pests and diseases, and so much more.

We seek enthusiastic writers and editors who share our commitment to educating and inspiring fellow gardeners. We are excited about the possibility of working together to create informative and engaging content that will benefit our community of UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County. Feel free to check us out during one of our next brainstorming sessions on Zoom. You can reach Project Lead Hedwig Van Den Broek at hedwigvdb@gmail.com.

The Latest Dirt

Welcome New Volunteer Trainees! My name is Simone Adair. I'm the Editor of The Latest Dirt. The newsletter that you are reading now. We publish every other month and focus our content on internal news, including articles about UC Master Gardeners, news from Project Leads, and other articles that interest our members.

We would love you to join us as writers and editors. And please don't worry about being a perfect writer. Our editors will work hard to make your writing shine. Feel free to contact me at studioadair@gmail.com.
I look forward to working with you. And congratulations on joining the ranks of the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County.

Community Gardens

Community Gardens needs you! As the program grows, it requires more resources and support. Although we have wonderful teams of UC Master Gardeners in various locations, more glue and support are needed to keep everything humming. Please consider sharing a lead position and helping to create an even better experience for our gardens and gardeners.

Where are we, and what do we do?
Community Gardens with active UC Master Gardener participation (Last updated11/5/2023)

Central County
Lafayette Community Garden, Lafayette – Lead: Meb Philips
Monthly garden meetings with UC Master Gardeners and the Community Garden team. Participation in Harvest Festival and special events twice a year with about 100 participants.
Monarch Garden, Rancho Laguna Park, Moraga – Lead: Robin Harper
Provides materials, classes and support to garden club and special events.
Adaptive Learning Center, Concord – Lead: Karen Maggio
A twice-a-month program combining UC Master Gardener and CalFresh Healthy Living for 10-12 participants
Gehringer Community Garden and Native Demonstration Garden, North Concord – Lead: Phil Quinlan, Team: Karen Goodwin, Liz Whiteford, Allison Thomas, Robin Harper
Gehringer is our most extensive community garden, with over 100 gardeners. The demonstration garden is located outside the fence along the sidewalk, attracting community interest. We are planning a public ribbon-cutting event for the spring upon garden completion.
Roger's Ranch – Marian Woodard
UC Master Gardener participation happens during special events with an information table. About 10 UC Master Gardeners participated this year.

East County
Ambrose, Pittsburg - Neal Hoellwarth, Anne Sutherland, and the Jardineros team
UC Master Gardener participation happens during festivals and special events.
Family Harvest Farm, John Muir Land Trust, Pittsburg – Jack Cortis, Kim Overaa, Shawna Anderson, Karen Maggio, Allison Thomas, Suzanne Miller, Jan Manns, Rae Cecchettini, Katherine Wilson, Lawrence Moglia
This is the site of the newest demonstration garden, which is 2000 sq ft. There are weekly work parties, monthly UC Master Gardener programming, and CalFresh Healthy Living classes. Twenty UC Master Gardeners and about eight JMLT staff and interns are active at this site.
Wolwonja Ecocultural Garden, Cal State East Bay – Laura Fairbanks, Joni Stickney, Anna Wendorf, Alice Burns, Meb Phillips This site is currently on hold pending funding. This garden could be an exciting and busy project in 2024.
Healthy Hearts Farm (Ray Harts) Pittsburg – Kim Overaa
This is an active farm.

West County
Discovery House, Martinez – Molly Weden, Judy Clayton, Darlene DeRose
We meet at least twice monthly and provide UC Master Gardener programming for about 20 participants.
Mira Flores (Eden House), Richmond – Vicki Lee, Fletcher Oaks, Titania Buchholdt
Hana (Eden House), El Cerrito – Pam Austin, Fletcher Oaks
Pending evaluation of UC Master Gardener participation upon expiration of Memorandum of Understanding in 2024. There is low participation.
Veteran's Administration Hospital – Martinez – Denece Dodson
This UC Master Gardener program reopened this year to serve outpatients.
Casa Ujima, Richmond – Lead: Katherine Wilson
The program at Casa Ujima combines UC Master Gardener programming and CalFresh Healthy Living classes. CalFresh has lent raised grow beds to assist in this UC Master Gardener partnership. Classes are every two weeks with 8-10 participants.

We had the pleasure of meeting you at our November presentation to the class and look forward to welcoming you all to our program this coming year. I'm adding your contact information to our Community Garden collaborative tools roster, and you should receive communications from the team very soon. You can reach Project Lead Karen Maggio at kjmaggio@gmail.com.
Garden as though you will live forever - William Kent

 

Continuing Education

Hello, Trainees of the 2024 Class!

I'm enjoying getting to know all of you in the classroom this year, and I'm so impressed with your thirst for knowledge, collaborative spirit, and enthusiasm! These traits will serve you (and the program) well once you become certified UC Master Gardener volunteers in March. We are all looking forward to that time! The upcoming team presentations will be another significant accomplishment for you. The Continuing Education (CE) project always seeks those interested in contributing to a future CE workshop. Your team presentations will provide an excellent opportunity to practice teamwork and presentation skills and, perhaps, develop a topic that could be adapted for a future CE offering. All in good time, though; no pressure! In any case, I am looking forward to your involvement in the CE project as "consumers" of our educational offerings. All the best to you! You can reach Project Lead Terri Takusagawa at t.territ@comcast.net.

 

General Equipment and Materials

Jon Dwyer is currently filling in for the Project Lead of General Equipment and Materials. This Project needs a new Lead if you think you might be a good candidate. "You don't need to be a 20-year UC Master Gardener to do this job," Dwyer said. The only need is a pickup truck. Many GEM program activities support the Great Tomato Plant Sale (GTPS). For example, many green crates and folding tables move from the storage area to Our Garden and back after the sale. Also, Ask A Master Gardener supplies like pop–up tents and easels are stored and repaired when needed or replaced. You can reach Acting Project Lead Jon Dwyer at jon_dwyer@yahoo.com.

 

Help Desk

Hello to the class of 2024! As part of the class, you visited the office where our physical Help Desk operates in December. This is where we answer questions by email, chat with clients on the phone, and see clients in person. Our job is translating UC's science into a language accessible to the public. The Help Desk is a great place to expand your knowledge and become comfortable researching and looking for answers. The Help Desk team will host a Zoom session where you can meet the team and get questions answered. After graduation, you can join us
for training with a mentor. We're looking forward to having you join our team! You can reach Project Lead Susan Heckly at sheckly301@gmail.com.

 

Low Water Garden

The Low Water Demonstration Garden is near the library in the Richmond Civic Center, off MacDonald Avenue. It is a public garden, open 24/7. Its stated purpose is to demonstrate the use of low-water California native and Mediterranean climate plants and make a garden appealing year-round. UC Master Gardeners have spent 5+ years successfully transforming it, but it is still in process like all gardens. People are still needed to do the usual, like weeding, planting, and pruning, as well as the special projects and needs that face any public garden. In addition to the garden and the work there, we have access to a conference room at the library to give classes, and we need people interested in coordinating that and arranging other events using the garden. We work there every Friday from 9 to 12 noon. You can reach Project Lead Brian Kerss at bkerss@comcast.net.

 

Our Garden at Walnut Creek

Hello to the class of 2024 - I look forward to meeting you all soon! I believe you've all visited Our Garden, our wonderful demonstration edibles garden in Walnut Creek. Once you've graduated, you can volunteer by showing up at the garden around 9 am any Wednesday; no sign-up is necessary. We'll introduce you to the crew, the layout, and how we do things - we'll then find something for you to do! Also, in February, we'll start propagating for the Great Tomato Plant Sale, which means we'll be sowing seeds in flats, moving those seedlings into pots and putting together a watering team. Those efforts will continue through the first part of April. We'll post opportunities with dates, times, and locations on VMS and send out an email letting you know when sign-ups have begun. If propagation is your thing, you'll want to sign up quickly as it's a popular activity, and the dates fill up. On behalf of the Our Garden crew and the GTPS propagation team, we look forward to welcoming you into the fun! You can reach Project Lead Janet Miller at janet.miller99@gmail.com.

 

Rivertown Demonstration Garden

Greetings, Class of 2024! Welcome to the UC Master Gardener family. Rivertown Demonstration Garden is nearing the end of its heavy construction phases (just a few heavy-lifting projects – installing our new Sink/potting area, installing the Ruin Garden parts, and graveling our garden path). Work is ongoing at RDG, and we have been sincerely trying to make 'demonstration' the focus of this Project. There are still areas to develop and fine-tune, and RDG needs additional hands and minds to accomplish the tasks ahead. We even have a potential 'jammy job' if someone is interested in behind-the-scenes documentation and representation of RDG. See us any Tuesday Morning in Antioch; work starts at 10 am. We would love to connect with you and give you a chance to help provide your flair for the garden design at RDG. We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions before your visit, please get in touch with Project Lead Lisa Bramblet at lisa@bramblet.net.

 

 

Speakers Bureau

Welcome, Class of 2024 UC Master Gardeners! I look forward to meeting you soon and enjoying your upcoming class presentations. The Speakers Bureau delivers educational talks, both in-person and via online webinars, to the public interested in horticulture knowledge. You may have attended one of the Wednesday morning talks under the oaks at Our Garden or joined a Tuesday evening webinar presented in cooperation with the Contra Costa County Library. If so, you already know these Speakers Bureau talks are fun and educational, and we have a steady following of inquisitive budding gardeners. When you complete your training and start to volunteer, the Speakers Bureau has several interesting roles for people who enjoy sharing their knowledge or coordinating events. Please consider joining a fun and dynamic team. You can reach Project Lead Gail Burt at gail_burt@hotmail.com.

 

Volunteer Support

Jon Dwyer and Virginia Saifer are Co-Leads for Volunteer Support. They are responsible for several "back office/administration" activities that keep the Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener program running smoothly. These include Recruitment, mostly done through the News to Grow By newsletter that goes out to the gardening public. This is one of 12 subcategories under Volunteer Support. "We want to make sure that candidates know that they'll be responsible for 18 classes in the New Volunteer Training, as well as 25 volunteer hours and 12 CE hours each year after their initial year," Dwyer said.

"As an engineer, I like a job's black-and-white aspects. For example, with the re-appointment process each year, 80% gets done like a hot knife through butter. For the rest, there needs to be follow-up. "I'm sympathetic with members who haven't gotten all their hours in," Dwyer added, "but getting CE hours done is so easy."

Other subcategories include ensuring members have their badges. As members input their hours, they are eligible for special gardening pins and badges when they reach different levels. "We also have VMS Administrators who help members navigate the system, like needing help with their passwords," said Dwyer. "There's always interesting things to do." You can reach Project Lead Jon Dwyer at jon_dwyer@yahoo.com.

By Simone Adair

It was with sadness that we learned of our friend and colleague Kathy Gage’s passing on Saturday, January 6, after a long battle with cancer. When I became Editor of The Latest Dirt, Kathy quickly volunteered to help in any capacity needed. She wrote and helped edit many articles for our internal newsletter. Kathy was always available with advice or as a last-minute writer. She always brightened my day with her quick wit and thoughtfulness.

She was equally helpful to Hedwig Van Den Broeck, the Editor of our external newsletter, the News to Grow By. Hedwig said, “Although Kathy notified me early on that she would no longer be able to actively assist in the creation of the NtGB newsletter, the tragic news of her death nonetheless came as a shock."

“Kathy only contributed two articles to NtGB because she preferred working as an editor,” Hedwig added. “Her enthusiasm for books and the written word in general and the enormous amount of knowledge she accumulated over the years made her an invaluable member of our editorial team. Even when Kathy had to slow down, I still would find links to news articles in my inbox that we could utilize for the next issue of NtGB. Thank you so much, Kathy!”

Kathy attended the 2013 class in Richmond, California. Her carpool classmates were Ann Noll, Greg Doyle and Bonnie Dwyer. Bonnie said, “Kathy was so proud to be a Master Gardener. She wanted everyone to know the breadth and depth of this great organization we call Master Gardeners.”

“While her illness curtailed much of her work with the organization, she took every opportunity to sing the praises of the Master Gardener Program with friends and strangers alike.”

Kathy often worked at the San Ramon Ask A Master Gardener booth with Greg Doyle. They shared a passion for reading and often exchanged books.

“Kathy and I spent many a Peet’s coffee klatch talking about Ireland as we both had various degrees of Irish provenance and liked the same Irish authors,” Greg said. “I was introduced to several Irish authors by Kathy; she was a voracious reader with eclectic tastes. We read all of Adrian McKinty’s novels, sometimes each of us waiting expectantly for our library to make the latest one available and comparing our place in the queue. The protagonist of those novels is a Catholic detective in a Protestant constabulary in Ulster during the troubles; great conversation fodder for us.”

Greg added, “While Kathy was in hospice care at John Muir, I got a chance to talk to her husband, Bill Gage, and he told me that last year, on their trip to Ireland, Kathy made contact with a relative, a second cousin. Going to Ireland was a long-time dream of Kathy’s that she discussed often; meeting a relative was a very pleasant surprise, according to Bill."

“Kathy and I took care of each other’s yards when we were away on trips, had the odd glass of wine when visiting each other’s house, solved most political problems, and enjoyed each other’s company. I’ll miss her.”

There will be a Celebration of Life the last weekend of March, which coincides with Kathy’s birthday. Details to follow as we receive them. Cards can be sent to:

Bill Gage
3217 Ensenada Drive
San Ramon CA 94583

I am delighted to welcome our soon-to-be Class of 2024! This class brings together people with incredible backgrounds and talents to our program. I can’t wait to see you all certified and jump into volunteering!

So far, you’ve tasted the many projects in the UC Master Gardener program. As you start volunteering, I urge you to get involved with more projects than you think you might be interested in. You may be surprised about how much you like a new project or what you’ll find. Have fun and explore. You’ll also discover that you know more than you think. Have the confidence to try something new.

Experienced UC Master Gardener volunteers will support and mentor you along the way. You can rely upon them as you become more involved and confident.

Over time, you’ll realize that our overall program is dynamic and able to adapt to the needs of our local communities. Why is this? Because of our great UC Master Gardener volunteers, of course! Our volunteers bring fresh perspectives to new opportunities and energy to accomplish our goals. You’ll all be able to make a difference in our communities very soon.