UC Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County launched “Learning Labs at Mesa Harmony Gardens” in April. These Learning Labs are focused sessions for hands-on exploration including building a compost pile and avocado tree care. During the quarter, UC Master Gardeners hosted over 40 educational workshops, learning labs, and help tables across Santa Barbara County including Santa Maria and Buellton. Follow-up evaluations from Q3 (Q4 data not yet available) show that two months after attending a workshop, participants report adopting new practices to reduce pesticide application (63%, n=41), use plants that attract pollinators (75%, n=16), select low water-use plants (75%, n=51), clear plants and organic materials 0-5 feet from the home (67%, n=24), and felt more connected to their community (70%, n=97). The UC Master Gardener program includes over 90 volunteers and reaches over 1,400 local residents annually.
