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Welcome! New Program Coordinators
The statewide office is thrilled to introduce three new Program Coordinators that started with the UC Master Gardener Program in Fall 2019. Please join is in giving them a warm welcome!
Danica Lea Taber
Santa Barbara County
dltaber@ucanr.edu
Growing up in Denver, Danica Taber, was in awe of her mom's ability to grow orchids in the arid Colorado climate. In high school Danica experimented with germinating seeds from store-bought produce, and everyone in her family was shocked when a grapefruit seed not only sprouted, but grew into a little plant that flowered!
Danica further explored plant cultivation as a student at CU Boulder by volunteering at the university greenhouses to help care for the phenomenal teaching collection curated by Tom Lemieux and Janice Harvey. When she moved to Santa Barbara in 2012, her growing experience skyrocketed, “I was fortunate enough to serve as the manager for UCSB's research greenhouses and teaching collections. I got a crash course in IPM, and I also began to appreciate how valuable invested volunteers are,” says Danica.
After finishing a Master's programs in environmental science and public affairs at Indiana University, Danica moved back to the area to live with her husband. “The UC Master Gardener Program of Santa Barbara has truly helped me feel at home here. Between the friendly faces, the impassioned conversations about ground squirrels, and the ‘can do, will do' attitude that I see volunteers apply to projects, even as a trainee I felt like I'd hit on a big secret. Gardening grows more than just plants. Gardening grows communities,” said Danica. She looks forward to meeting and supporting Santa Barbara County's UC Master Gardener volunteers in our mission to share science-backed gardening wisdom with members of our communities.
Katherine Uhde
Santa Clara County
kuhde@ucanr.edu
Katherine Uhde started as the UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator in Santa Clara County in November 2019. Katherine comes to us from UCCE Alameda County where she was part of the UC CalFresh Healthy Living Program. While there, she led a gardening education program for older adults in partnership with the UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County. Katherine also holds a Master Gardener Home Horticulture Certificate from Oregon State University Extension.
Katherine is originally from Iowa and earned her B.S. in Kinesiology, Public Health Option from Iowa State University where she studied human nutrition, exercise science, and public health. After graduating, Katherine moved to Kansas where she coordinated regional food access programs and led state-wide farmers' market, food policy, and school health initiatives, including the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program which served over 5,000 eligible older adults through 19 local agencies and 450 certified farmers. Katherine also managed a weekly farmers' market on the Capitol grounds in Topeka.
“Katherine is passionate about community, policy, systems and environmental changes that are sustainable, protect the environment, and promote healthy lifestyles. We are delighted to have her as part of the UC Master Gardener Program,” says Lucy Diekmann, Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Advisor.
Kali Burke
San Francisco & San Mateo
kaeburke@ucanr.edu
Kali Burke joined as the new Program Coordinator in San Franscisco and San Mateo this past September.
Growing up on the California coast, some of her earliest memories are of time spent in her large family gardens. Having dirt under her nails after a day in the garden still makes her the happiest.
Kali graduated from UC Santa Cruz where she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology. After graduating, she pursued her interests in food, agriculture, and education. Working with the local farm and garden community for close to 10 years now, she has experience in both the programs and operations sides of small nonprofits.
She considers herself a life-long learner and believes that gardens are a powerful tool for building community, educating the public, and learning more about ourselves and the world around us. She couldn't be more excited to be a part of the UC Master Gardener community!
Celebrating 40 Years in California!
Established in 1980, the UC Master Gardener Program has been extending UC research-based information about home gardening and pest management to the public for forty years.
Starting in Riverside and Sacramento Counties the program is now in more than 50 counties across California and functions as a volunteer based public service and outreach program under the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), administered locally by participating UC Cooperative Extension county offices.
Volunteers
Without the passion of volunteers, local communities, and support from UC academics the UC Master Gardener Program would not have grown into the extensive educational volunteer network it is today. Last year 6,154 active UC Master Gardener volunteers donated 446,237 hours, and 6.8+ million hours have been donated since the program's inception. Our volunteers are the core of the UC Master Gardener Program and are serving in a way that creates positive change for people, communities and our environment.
40 and Counting
Guided by our mission to extend research-based knowledge, the program is currently focused on three primary impact areas: sustainable landscaping, food gardening and community well-being. Through recently implemented statewide program evaluation and data collection efforts the first ever annual report was published in 2019. “The annual report spotlights volunteer and the impacts they are making in their communities every day,” says Missy Gable, statewide Director, “Our volunteers continue to set us apart. With the continued support and commitment from volunteers, UC, and local communities the program will continue to grow and support gardeners across the state.”
Celebrate with Us!
Join us throughout the year in helping celebrate the 40th year of the UC Master Gardener Program making a difference across California's landscape. This landmark anniversary is being celebrated through the use of the new 40th anniversary logo, events and special recognition throughout the state.
- Anniversary Logo:
Members of the UC Master Gardener community are encouraged to use the 40th Anniversary log on social media pages, email signatures, and in printed materials during the year-long celebration. - 2020 Statewide Conference:
Volunteers, University of California Academics, and specials guests will be able to celebrate at the triennial Statewide UC Master Gardener Conference, in Lake Tahoe Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2020. Special themed commemorative conference pin, apparel, awards dinner and celebrations are being arranged for the conference. - Photo Contest:
A special photo contest will also be held where everyone can participate and celebrate. - State and County Recognition:
Proclamations at both the state and local levels will call attention to and recognize the achievement of volunteers and their commitment to the mission and community service. - #GivingTuesday & Big Dig Day:
UC ANR's 2nd annual Big Dig Day will take place this year on Friday June 5, 2020 and focuses on raising funds to support local county programs or projects. Save-the-Date for #GivingTuesday taking place Dec. 1, 2020 and is primarily a social media movement to show support through volunteering or making a gift.
During this Holiday Season Give the Gift of Garden
The holiday season is upon us! As you check off the presents on your shopping list, consider a gift from the garden. Here are some great gift ideas with sprinkles of garden angels in mind for those special gardener's in your life:
Poinsettia
Even though poinsettias are tropical plants, they have become synonymous with the winter holiday season. The poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has both dark green and bright red leaves as well as small clusters of green and yellow flowers.
Seed Packets
Seed packets make a great holiday gift because of the large number of varieties available. The gardeners in your life will be able to grow their own vegetables and fruits or have a colorful array of flowers for their spring landscape. Seed packets contain planting instructions and tips that help guide all gardeners from novice to expert.
Jar It Up
Homemade items are always a pleasant addition to gift giving. Fruits can be made into marvelous jams and jellies; vegetables can be pickled or made into relish; nuts can be candied and placed in a jar. Use a piece of burlap and some ribbon for the finishing touches on a beautiful gift.
Garden Angel
Be a Garden Angel! Make a card with a handwritten offer to mentor a beginning gardener or an offer to help plant or harvest for a seasoned gardener or a person who loves to garden but may not be able to. This is truly a gift from the heart.
Dried Flowers
Press or dry flower arrangements from your garden. Pressed flowers look beautiful in a picture frame with a special note, poem, or quote.
Recycled Bird House
Bring out your crafty side and upcycle old material around the house to create a birdhouse. Construction basics are available online along with video tutorials. This gift keeps on giving as it provides seasonal interest and excitement once a bird chooses it as home.
Gift Basket
Fill a basket with any bountiful harvest of fruits, vegetables, or flowers from your garden. You can also include seed packets, a Garden Angel card, and jarred goods. This is a fun way to share your enjoyment of your garden with others.
During this holiday season give the gift of garden and share joy, peace, and love on this bountiful time of the year. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Holiday and a Happy New Year!
American Rose Trials for Sustainability
Did you know the UC Master Gardener Program of San Joaquin County has been part of a National Rose Trial since 2018? The National Rose Trial is part of the American Rose Trials for Sustainability (A.R.T.S.) Program which has trial sites across the United States. The National Rose trial was initiated in 2012 by individuals representing multiple rose stakeholder groups including: private industry, the scientific community, and public gardens.
The goal of the A.R.T.S. program is to identify roses that perform well in a given region when grown under "minimal input conditions." What are "minimal input conditions?"
- there are no pesticides used
- we do not deadhead the flowers
- there is no pruning (except to remove winter-killed canes in the spring, or those killed by rodents)
- we do not add any fertilizer (only compost is added prior to planting)
- plants are not covered in the winter (in colder climates it is common to cover and protect roses)
A.R.T.S. national test sites are strategically located throughout the U.S. and are hosted by partners that share the A.R.T.S. mission including botanical gardens, arboreta, municipalities, colleges and universities. There are only two Mediterranean climate trial locations and they are both located in California. The National Rose Trials at the UC Cooperative Extension office in San Joaquin County began in 2018, and the second location at Fullerton Arboretum started in 2019.
A.R.T.S. defines its climate regions using the Köppen climate classification system, which is the preferred means used by ecologists. This system not only takes into account temperature, but also seasonal precipitation and humidity. The A.R.T.S. evaluation protocol has 45% of the score reflecting sub-components of the health and quality of the foliage, 42.5% the presentation and quality of the flowers and 12.5% reflecting the plant's growth habit. Climate can greatly impact all three of these evaluation categories.
How does the trial work?
Karrie Reid, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture Advisor, has been managing and overseeing the trial since its inception in 2018. Roses were planted in an unused turf area that was converted to rose trial grounds. One of the selling features of converting the turf sections was the calculated water savings - 3,656 sq. ft. of turf used more than 103,000 gallons of water, while 60 roses in the same area on drip irrigation uses approximately 6,175 gallons, a huge 94% savings!
Each year starts the beginning of a new trial with 20 difference rose cultivars. Three of each rose variety is planted randomly throughout the beds, allowing ample spacing between plants to observe natural plant habit. Mixed in the plantings are two standard rose varieties known to perform well and to be disease resistant. The trial runs for two years, evaluations start the year of planting and finish the following year so roses only go through one winter season. There are two staggered rose trials planted in San Joaquin County per year.
Roses being tested in the A.R.T.S. trial may be watered thoroughly during the first year after planting for proper establishment during the season they were planted. The roses in the UC Master Gardener of San Joaquin trial are watered 1-inch, twice a week while they are blooming during the first year, and only once a week during the second year.
Each rose is evaluated twice monthly during the growing season by a team of UC Master Gardener volunteers, the local advisor, or a local rose club member. Evaluators rate the roses on a 10-point scale, judging on foliage, flowers and form. The evaluation data collected is submitted to the A.R.T.S. program for evaluation.
Picking the winners
Any rose cultivar in a given region that scores higher than the average of the standard cultivars and has greater than a 50% survival is given the A.R.T.S. Local Artist Award. Any rose that receives the A.R.T.S. Local Artist award in four or more regions is given the A.R.T.S. Master Rose Award.
Having the A.R.T.S. awards in different regions means that nursery and landscape professionals along with home gardeners can be sure they are selecting plants that will perform well in their gardens. Not every plant is going to thrive in every climate. While a particular cultivar may do well in the short, cool growing season of Maine, it may perform very poorly in the much longer and warmer conditions found in California.
We are excited about the opportunity to participate in the program and are eager to find out the winners in our region. Follow us on Facebook @ucsjmg to hear about the winners from us.
Soon, the UC Master Gardener Program in San Joaquin County will begin prepping the ground to install a brand new trial in January 2020!
If you would like to learn more about the A.R.T.S. program, visit their website: https://www.trustedroses.com. If you have a gardening related question, you can contact the UC Master Gardeners at 209-953-6112. More information can be found on our website: ucanr.edu/sjmg.
Information for this article was taken from the A.R.T.S. website and Nursery Management magazine.
Giving Tuesday is Dec. 3
TOMORROW IS GIVING TUESDAY!
Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season. For UC ANR #GivingTuesday is an opportunity to raise funds for county programs, projects and extension efforts.
“Wherever you are in California, so are we. Our programs and research serve our communities— bringing practical, trusted answers to residents across the state. That's what our #GivingTuesday #NeighborCA campaign is all about,” said Emily Delk, director of annual giving for UC ANR.
How can you help? Here are a few simple ideas:
- Join us and donate. Your gift can be applied directly to support your local county program.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for exciting updates. Include @UCMasterGarden and the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #NeighborCA.
- Share this message with friends and family and encourage them to join the movement!
“Giving Tuesday gives us an opportunity to talk about our research and outreach to enhance food systems and create thriving communities, as well as all the other positive things everyone in ANR is doing to make life better for Californians,” said VP Glenda Humiston.
We're asking you to join us in supporting the UC Master Gardener Program tomorrow by making a gift that supports our mission and the work we are doing in your community. Please spread the word to friends and family who want to support you in making an impact.
Thank you for all you do for the UC Master Gardener Program and for joining the #GivingTuesday movement! For more information visit mg.ucanr.edu/GivingTuesday.
