I am a Master Gardener in Phoenix, Arizona, and am also a student
working toward a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling as well as being
employed full time. I am using horticultural therapy in my internship
with developmentally disabled dually-diagnosed clients in a day treatment
center and group homes. I have studied botany and horticulture during my
undergraduate program. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru working in agricultural
extension with the support of the USDA. I’m also a community garden
supporter, and interested in ecopsychology and in healing gardens. (We’ll
be building a Medicine Wheel garden at one of the group homes.)
In my Master Gardening classes in Phoenix, and other extension
classes I’ve taken over the years, I’ve met a variety of people
from all walks of life, all colors, all income levels, and with many
interests. I wouldn’t put them in the narrow category of white,
upper middle class, and they definitely had a range of interests.
Jean Gray
Graduate Programs Advisement Coordinator
Ottawa University, Phoenix
-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia Price
[mailto:skyprice@iserv.net]
Sent: Monday,
December 01, 2003 7:55 AM
To: Jim Call;
community_garden@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: [cg] Master Gardeners
as a CG resource
I
don't know all that much about Master Gardeners, though I have observed in
conjunction with putting on a Native Plant conference for the past 11 years
that the interest of many seems to be more in pretty plants. However, I can say
that in Grand Rapids (MI) the MG program recently taught a community gardening
seminar which was very well-attended and resulted in starting a garden near the
learning center where it was taught (with their continued help); that in some
cases a Master Gardener is the main person carrying on the work of a given
community garden; and that a Master Gardener devoted many hours to
investigating the status of existing community gardens in the city (and finding
new ones) for our Food Systems Council.
In another nearby town, a community garden in a low income neighborhood had a
lot of trouble with the MG employee and the garden master has no kind words to
say.
As with a lot of things, it seems to be a mixed bag, but I think the pendulum
may be swinging toward more MG involvement with community gardens.
Cynthia price
Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council
----------
From: "Jim Call" <jimcall@casagarden.com>
To: <community_garden@mallorn.com>
Subject: [cg] Master Gardeners as a CG resource
Date: Sun, Nov 30, 2003, 9:59 PM
I sent this posting a
while back and forgot to include the listserv address so I apologize for the
late response to Diane's posting.
This is the portion of Diane's posting I am addressing...
Almost all Extension MGs in MN are
white, middle to upper middle class, and interested primarily in their own
landscapes, with "the environment" coming in second. My experience of
coordinating community projects for three years showed me that school projects
and long term community projects just didn't excite many MGs, at least in
Ramsey Cty., which includes St. Paul.
===============================================================================
My posting sent Nov 18th. (plus a little more)
===============================================================================
In reference to Diane's words about Master Gardeners being involved, we have
the same problem here in Huntsville. Our MG association, which is the largest
in Alabama is composed of the same type individuals as Diane has described. I
have given no less than 6 presentations to MG groups across Alabama about the
CASA Community Garden over the last 5 years, and not 1 shovel has been turned
to start a CG. This past Oct, the Birmingham MG group came up and I spoke them
on site. They were so impressed that some wanted to drive back up (100 miles)
on Plant Day in the spring to see how we plant our CG.
I am not trying to be mean here, (just realistic), I have found that most of
these folks Diane and I have described love to work in the gift shop at our
local Botanical Garden (BG), do PH soil testing at the Plant Sale (BG), be
involved with the Galaxy of Lights Show (BG), and so on. Most are not
"community" volunteers. Most are interested in flowers, herbs, roses,
ferns, daylilies (at the BG), their own landscapes and not vegetables. Most of
our local membership do not care about doing a garden project with the
homeless. Over 70 % of our MG association's budget and volunteerism are focused
on our BG and not supporting the community. When faced with this startling
fact, some say "well the BG serves the community and it is a
non-profit". Yes, it is a non-profit and but you still have to pay to get
in (not open freely to the community). Most of the BG membership are the same
as Diane and I have described. Our BG Director's salary is $100,000.00 (more
than our Mayor's salary).
MGers are great reference resources and
good for short term committments. A few of our best
volunteers are MGers, but these are only a handful. Most of our CG volunteers
do not know anything about gardening. Zero. But they are great because they are
there to help. You can't ask for anything more.
If you want to see who helps in our CG over the years, please review...
http://www.casagarden.com/memories.htm
<http://www.casagarden.com/memories.htm>
If you want to see who receives our harvest, please review...
http://www.casagarden.com/mission.htm
<http://www.casagarden.com/mission.htm>
Recently, our MG association sent out an email to its membership asking
everyone to purchase an Angel for the Christmas tree at our public library. I
responded saying I thought that was a good idea, but.... since we are Master
Gardeners, why don't we purchase a living Christmas tree and plant it at the
Veteran's home, Senior Center, or a playground, etc.? Lets brighten up
someone's holidays for years to come by planting a tree. Why don't we for once "get our hands
dirty"? Our MG Exec. Committee thought that was an excellent idea and will
bring it up at the next meeting. Duh... Sometimes, I think MGers need to get
back to the garden and away from the meeting rooms. Use your knowledge to help
others less forturnate. As a MGer working as a volunteer in the local BG gift
shop is not my idea of using your passion for gardening to help beautify your
community or helping others in need.
For example, 2 MGers from another county came to our garden about 4 years ago.
One was recording everything I said (I talk fast for a southerner) while the
other was videotaping and shooting pictures of the garden. They went back and
created a Powerpoint presentation and contacted their Mayor and a few council
members. They gave them a great presentation and the Mayor was so excited, he
gave them a list of possible city property sites to be used as a CG. When this
proposal was brought up to their MG membership, they voted it down because
"our association's mission is not to provide free labor". So it was
dropped.
Make a difference,
Jim Call, CASA Community Garden Volunteer Dir.
1999 Alabama Master Gardener of the Year
