Introduction to Master Gardener Basic Training

Maggie Fitzpatrick

August 9th, 2018

Agenda

• Parking, Entrance, Bathrooms, Non-smoking campus

• Orientation Folder (schedule, syllabus, other)

• Questions?

• Intro to OSU Extension & Master Gardener Volunteer Program

• Break

• How to Research as a Master Gardener Volunteer

A little about me….

OSU Extension & the Master Gardener

Volunteer Program

Extension History

• Morrill Act of 1862 created the land grant university system.

• Ohio State University founded in 1870 as a land grant institution

• Morrill Act of 1890 created funds to start

• The Hatch Act of 1887 provided funding to states for an agricultural experiment station

• Smith-Lever Act of 1914 created and provided cooperative funding for Agricultural Extension in each state

What is OSU Extension?

•Outreach and engagement arm of The Ohio State University• Non-formal education, community based-programs

• Office/programs in all 88 counties of OHIO

(and 2,900 counties in the U.S.!)

•Program Areas: • family and consumer sciences, • 4-H youth development, • community development, and • agriculture and natural resources (that’s us!)

•We celebrated 100 years in 2014!

4H Youth Development

• Clubs: organized group with a planned project or program and a trained, adult volunteer

• Groups: youth at a partner agency who participate in a 4-H learning experience

• Involved in the County Fair at the Berea Fairgrounds each August

Food and Consumer Sciences

• Building Healthy People, Healthy Finances and Healthy Relationships

• Canning and food preservation classes

• Courtney Woelfl is the new FCS Educator!

• Nutrition education that compliments food assistance programs• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Ed Program (SNAP-Ed)

• Expanded Food and Nutrition Ed Program (EFNEP)

Community Development

• Co-create solutions with communities and neighborhoods

• Food access, food security, food waste

• Farmers Markets and doubling coupons for food assistance

• Also housing counseling and green housing

Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Support Ohio’s diverse agricultural, horticultural and forestry practices as community, home or industry activities. Farmer to community gardener.

• The Urban Agriculture Program in Cuyahoga County provides education and resources that help communities grow nutritious food, develop important life skills, and create a healthy environment.

• How does it work? ANR Educators act as “operators”

Community Gardens

Dig In! Community Gardener Training Program, open to all

• 8 week program that builds successful, sustainable community gardens

• Since 2009:

− 194 graduates from City and suburbs

− 68 new community gardens started, 82 existing gardens improved

Resource & Network Garden Programs

• Summer Sprout (gardens within Cleveland city limits)

• Suburban Community Garden

Resident Gardens

• We support residents with their personal garden pursuits whether it is home landscaping or a container on a balcony.

• Examples: Hydrangea School, Container Gardening Workshop and the Master Gardener Volunteer hotlines.

Farmer Training

Market Gardener Training Program

• 12 week class for individuals starting a farm business

• Since 2006,

− 250 graduates

− Enterprises started include: apiaries, farmers’ markets, urban farms selling to restaurants

and through CSAs, and value-added products

Urban Agriculture Workshops

• Advanced topics for urban farm businesses

Master Gardener Volunteers

• Providing volunteer leadership and service to through various gardening activities.

• In 2017,

− Mentored community gardens

− Staffed hotlines at the office and farmers markets

− Lead several horticulture therapy programs

− Offered program many education events

and programs to the public

Master Gardener Volunteer Mission

Provides knowledge to and develops the leadership abilities of volunteers who, in turn, enable others to improve the quality of their lives by enhancing their home and community environments through horticultural education and activities.

Master Gardener Volunteer Mission

Its purpose is to train volunteers and utilize their expertise to teach people more about plants, their culture, their importance to the environment and to our quality of life.

Volunteering is key but...

• “Leaders not weeders”

• Not garden labor

• Not doing garden design/consulting

Master Gardener Volunteer Program

How did it get started?

• Dr. David Gibby started program in State of Washington in 1972.

• In Ohio, Franklin & Cuyahoga Counties conducted pilot training in late 70’s.

• Cuyahoga began program in1986.

It is now one of the model programs

for Ohio. We now have about

200 MGVs

Break time

Ice Breaker!

1. One fun thing you did over the summer?

2. Favorite summer food!

How to Research as a Master Gardener Volunteer

Mission of the Land-grant University

To deliver non-biased, research-based information to better Ohioans’ lives, businesses and communities.

As we are called upon for information from the community this mission defines our role in gathering and sharing research information.

Definitions

Non-biased – not biased, or based on prejudice or opinion.

Avoid a bias or opinion and only present facts. The aim is to help consumers to make informed decisions based on facts rather than advertisements, wives’ tales or urban legends. MGVs are not to endorse any products.

Tip: describe the material or active ingredients. Ex. Sweet peat, garden safe insect spray.

Definitions

Research-based- founded on an accumulation of facts that have been obtained by research.

MGVs must look for information from OSU, other land-grant universities or other credible sources.

Definitions

Non-biased

Research-based

Scientific Method (at least steps 1-3)

How did you get answers for the homework?

Unbiased, research based information

https://www.library.cornell.edu/research/introduction#2Findingbooks,articles,andothermater

University & Extension material