building the capacity of the yavapai county master gardener program through volunteer engagement
TRANSCRIPT
BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE YAVAPAI COUNTY MASTER GARDENER BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE YAVAPAI COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM THROUGH VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTPROGRAM THROUGH VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT
J. W. SchalauJ. W. Schalau11 and M. C. Barnes and M. C. Barnes22
Program LocationYavapai County covers 8,125 sq. miles in north central Arizona with elevations ranging from 1,900 to 8,000 feet. The current population is 209,000 with most people living in one of two population centers (Prescott/ quad-cities and Cottonwood/ Verde Valley). An Extension office serves each area.
Program BackgroundJeff Schalau has been ANR Agent in Yavapai County since July 1998. His programming efforts are evenly divided between horticulture and natural resources. Master Gardener is the cornerstone of the county’s horticulture programming.
Mary Barnes has served as the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator since 2004. She facilitates communication and tracks volunteer service for the Master Gardener Program.
The Yavapai County Master Gardener Program offers one training course each year to 40 applicants. The training course alternates between the two county population centers.
What Do Master Gardeners Want from the Program?
To provide science-based horticultural information that improves the quality of life in their communities
To increase their horticultural knowledge and expertise
Flexibility in time and types of volunteer service
Social interaction and communication structure
Recognition for their effortsTo have fun while volunteering
The Yavapai County Master Gardener Training CourseTexts are the California Master Gardener Handbook (hard copy) and the Arizona Master Gardener Manual on-line. Weekly quizzes are given. Topics of the fourteen 3½ hour sessions are:
Basic BotanyClimate and SoilsWater and IrrigationVegetable GardeningTurf Care and MaintenanceBackyard Fruit Tree CarePlant Propagation and
CompostingBasic EntomologyPlanting, Staking, and PruningPlant DiseasesNative Plants and Wildfire
Defensible SpaceIPM and Pesticide SafetyLandscape Plant MaterialsWildlife and Damage Control
Certification Requirements50 hours approved volunteer
service within first year25 hours of approved volunteer
service and 6 hours of Continuing Education each subsequent year to maintain certification
Volunteer Service OpportunitiesOffice Phone Lines (Prescott and
Cottonwood)Public Event Outreach (Farmer’s
Markets, Festivals, Garden Fairs, etc.)
Conference Planning/DeliveryMuseum Outreach: Landscape
Maintenance and InformationSpeakers BureauEdit/Contribute to Monthly
NewsletterOfficers/Committees in Master
Gardener AssociationPlant Sales/Nursery Events
Master Gardener AssociationOrganized in 2001Monthly Meetings with Continuing
Education and Business MeetingCoordinates Recognition, Annual
Picnic, School Programs, Projects, and Activities
Networking and SocializingInput for Program Planning (serves
as Horticulture Program Advisory Board)
2002 – First Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Appointed (Beverly Emerson)2003 –Office/Phone Help Line Coordinators Appointed2004 – Volunteer Projects Committee Established in MGA2007 – Mentoring Program Established for New Master Gardeners2008 – Fundraising initiated: Monsoon Madness Yard Sale
1999 – Master Gardener Web Site Created (electronic reporting, newsletters, course applications, and other resources)2000 – Arizona Highlands Garden Conference Started (a yearly event that now rotates between four Northern Arizona counties)2001 – Master Gardener Association (MGA) Organized
About the Authors1 Associate Agent, ANR, University of Arizona
Cooperative Extension, Prescott, ArizonaE-mail: [email protected]
2 Yavapai County Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator (unpaid position), University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Prescott, Arizona
Map of Yavapai County showing the two major population centers.
Master Gardeners providing horticultural information at the Prescott Farmer’s Market.
2007 Yavapai County Master Gardener class photo.
Website: cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/mastergardener/
Capacity Building Landmarks
Results/Discussion
Over a ten year period, Yavapai County Master Gardener volunteer hours per year increased by 550%, number of clients served per year increased by 235% and the number of active Master Gardeners increased by 124%. In addition, the value of Master Gardener service to county communities increased by 771% ($24,868 to $216,541/yr).
Formalized volunteer coordination was provided by a volunteer coordinator (a volunteer position) and committees within the Association. These were critical to achieving increased volunteer engagement.
Through expanded educational opportunities, recognition, and social interaction, Yavapai County Master Gardeners are more likely to remain engaged and provide science-based horticultural information to their communities.
Yavapai County Master Gardeners socializing before a Master Gardener Association meeting.