- Author: Leah J. Haynes
Happy New Year!
Hope you are ready for another exciting year. The Ventura County Master Gardeners posted more than 20,000 volunteer service hours in 2011. The MG website was updated and continues to improve; Speakers Bureau efforts were expanded and reached more than 11,000 home gardeners; new gardens were designed and installed; hands-on leadership training was held for existing and new leadership. Twenty-six trainees graduated on December 8, 2011. Thirty-eight new trainees were accepted and the first training class is scheduled at 1 pm on Thursday January 12. View the 2012 MG training class schedule at: https://ucanr.org/mg/calendar/eventlist.cfm?mgcat=MG Training Classes
If you would like to attend the MG training class, please contact Julian Hoyle in advance to ensure there is sufficient space. You can reach Julian Hoyle by email at jmrhoyle@verizon.net
Dr. Jim Downer needs your help! On Tuesday, January 17, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., we will be removing suckers from the roses. Rose pruning treatments will be scheduled in February. Any time spent on this project will count toward your volunteer hours for 2012. For those who are joining us for the first time, please enter HAC at the Briggs Road entrance, turn left, and drive all the way to the end of the parking lot. The rose research area is visible from the open gate on your right. Please bring sharp clippers, loppers, and sturdy gloves. It may be chilly when we start so please dress in layers. Water will be available. Please notify me at smcga87190@aol.com by January 12th whether or not you will be able to attend. If by chance it is raining on either of these days, the workday will be canceled and rescheduled for another day. Thanks to everyone for continued support!
Program Announcements:
MG Recertification is just around the corner! Remember this is a look back at your volunteer service hours for 2011. Recertification letters were sent on January 9, 2012 and must be returned by February 1, 2012.
Included in your Recertification packet is the following –
- New Guidelines for Volunteer Service, including changes in required hours for certified Master Gardeners
- Code of Conduct Agreement for your signature
- Opportunity to purchase Official Master Gardener Apparel
Be sure to review your recertification materials carefully!
- I would like to clarify information included in your recertification packet. In the Statement on Volunteering and Continuing Education Annual Requirements & Guidelines document, the period stated for completing your volunteer service hours and continuing education, should read, Certified Master Gardeners have from January 1st to December 31st to complete 25 hours of volunteer service and 12 hours of continuing education. However, the program calendar may change in the future because the MG Statewide Staff is making efforts to standardize the program. In the future, we may move to the fiscal calendar schedule that starts on July 1st and ends June 30th. At this point, we will remain with the calendar year.
- Another result from the efforts to standardize the Statewide program is a change in volunteer hour requirements. As from January 1st, Certified Master Gardeners must complete a total of 25 hours volunteer service and 12 hours continuing education, for a total of 37 hours, to remain certified. Travel time does not count at any event.
“MG Picture Day” If you would like to have your picture taken for the online MG volunteer profile. Join us on Thursday January 12th from 12:30 am to 1 pm at the UCCE office. Reservations required, let me know if you would like your picture taken at: ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu
Volunteer Opportunities:
Ventura Garden Tour: Certified Master Gardener Susan Crespi is co-chair for the Ventura Garden Tour and she needs the support of the Ventura County Master Gardeners. The tour includes 8 beautiful homes and tour hours will be held from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday May 5th. If you are interested in participating, contact Susan Crespi directly by phone at 415-7661 or email, susancrespi@yahoo.com
Earths School Garden Program Workday scheduled on Saturday, January 21st: Master Gardener Cathy Lewis has ninety volunteers coming to the gardens at Earths School. She needs the assistance of Master Gardeners to oversee the work of adult volunteers. The day will start at 9 am and concluded around noon. This is a MG Approved Site and time spent volunteering will count towards required volunteer service hours. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please contact Cathy Lewis directly at cathylewis304@gmail.com.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Mastering Your Home Garden Workshop scheduled on January 28, 2012.
- Eric Bergh from Calleguas Municipal Water District will bring us up to date on the present and future of water in Ventura County and how it impacts local gardeners.
- Landscape architect Owen Dell, author of Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies will discuss and demonstrate ideas and techniques for gardening beautifully and successfully using less water.
If you would like to attend or volunteer to support this event, contact Charlene Siegler at fauxnombre1@msn.com
Visit UCTV online website and time spent watching videos will count as CE http://www.uctv.tv/gardening/ Contact Bill Marlatt, bmarlatt@aol.com if you are unable to view the website.
Fruit Tree Pruning Demonstration & Hands-on Pruning Certified Master Gardeners will receive two hours of Continuing Education.
When: Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:00AM-11:00AM
Where: ARC in Ojai, 210 Canada St Ojai, Ca 93023
Speaker: Certified Master Gardener Charles Duncan
To register e-mail Robin Graham, stuartgraham@att.net
Fruit Tree Pruning Demonstration & Hands-on Pruning, Certified Master Gardeners will receive two hours of Continuing Education.
When: Thursday, January 19, 2012 9:30AM-11:30AM
Where: Hansen Agricultural Center
Speakers: Certified Master Gardeners, Carol Piros and Diane Ross
The presentation will include a 'hands on' activity so be sure to bring your own pruners, gloves, wear sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, dress in layers, bring your own water container and be prepared for a wonderful, informative time. To register e-mail Charleen Siegler, fauxnombre1@msn.com
Citrus Day is Jan. 26 at the University of California, Riverside from 9 am to 4 pm. Designed for citrus growers, citrus sector representatives and the general public, the tours/topics include:
- Citrus Variety Collection and the USDA National Clonal Repository for Citrus & Dates
- Citrus Scion Breeding program
- Citrus rootstock trial and use of crop sensors for irrigation
- Asian Citrus Psyllid – detection, monitoring and control
- Givaudan Citrus Flavor Design and Development
There will be a noon barbecue lunch with advanced registration only (no walk-ins) by Jan. 16. There is no charge for the program, lunch, parking and transport from parking lot 30. Register online at http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/. Parking is at Martin Luther King Blvd and Canyon Crest Dr. Map available on-line at: http://campusmap.ucr.edu/imap/index.html?loc=P30. Certified Master Gardeners will receive CE hours for time spent attending classes. Master Gardener Linda Haque is coordinating carpools and she can be reached at lhaque@earthlink.net.
UC IPM Website has been updated: If you like researching answers to your garden related questions, checkout the recent changes to the IPM website at: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu New resources will be used by Master Gardeners working the helpline desk. Solve your pest
problems with UC's best science
Happy Gardening!
- Author: Leah J. Haynes
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Chair:Chuck Andrews, chucknsusan@roadrunner.com, (805) 483-7403
The Executive Committee (EC) is led by one Chair. It consists of the Chair and each of the Standing Committee Chairs. Staff liaisons, are the County Director, MG Advisor, and the MG Program Coordinator.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
The Education Committee plans, coordinates and manages education. Examples are: Master Gardener training courses, Continuing Education and Helpline.
Continuing Education:
Co-Chair: Charleen Siegler, fauxnombre@msn.com, (805) 271-4205;
Helpline Desk:
Chair: Joe Kimbrough, kimbro@pacbell.net (805) 659-4250
The Helpline responds to all phone and email gardening inquiries from the home gardener.
Help Line scheduling:
Peggy Ellis, getpellis@yahoo.com (805) 485-2387
Joan Brown, bennett.brown64@gmail.com (805) 484-4076
Helpline
Tech Coordinator:Kei Zehr, keizehr@gmail.com (805) 498-2371
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS COMMITTEE:
The Special Projects and Events Committee proposes, develops and coordinates outreach events and projects. Examples are: Pumpkin Patch, Ventura County Fair, Home and Garden Show, Earth Day. The Committee may also facilitate MG social events.
HOME GARDENING WORKSHOP COMMITTEE:
Co-Chair: Charleen Siegler, fauxnombre@msn.com, (805) 271-4205;
The Home Gardening Workshop Committee is responsible for all aspects of the day-long quarterly public outreach gardening workshops. This includes, selecting program content, recruiting speakers, publicity, registration, food, giveaways, volunteers, and program evaluation.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:
Chair: OPEN
The Communication Committee is charged with managing the website, photographic records, including publicity, marketing and email announcements sent to general membership.
SPEAKER’S BUREAU:
The Speakers Bureau recruits speaking venues, coordinates speaking engagements, recruits speakers and provides orientation and training.
MG APPROVED SITE COORDINATOR:
Hansen Agricultural Center
HAC Garden Lead:
Judy Ascheman, , jascheman@msn.com (805) 498-6265
Kathleen Diermier, webee1@gmail.com, (805) 644-3033
CRH Lead:
Chuck Andrews, chucknsusan@roadrunner.com, (805)482-7403
Bill Dobner, billdobner@yahoo.com, (805) 498-9366
Freda Massaro, linneas@roadrunner.com, (805) 658-7952
Cathy Lewis, cathylewis304@gmail.com, (805) 498-3259
GC Leads:
Tony Hepton, heptonpac@aol.com, (805) 379-5913
Ruth Lee, ruthrob55@roadrunner.com, (805) 492-7494
Ojai Leads:
Charles Duncan, charlesbd@hotmail.com, (805) 649-4071
Robin Graham, stuartgraham@att.net, (805) 640-0569
Nancy Pederson, oxnardbutterfly@aol.com, (805) 486-9146
Ventura Veterans Center Leads:
Barbara Hill - qbarbhill@aol.com , (805) 443-2073
Tina Van Coops - vancoopsmiller@verizon.net, (805) 988-3082
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
Joanne Abing, mrsja@roadrunner.com, (805) 644-4586
(805) 320-4134, (805) 645-1450
MG PROGRAM COORDINATION:
- Posted By: Leah J. Haynes
- Written by: Annual Volunteering and Continuing Education Requirements
As of January 1, 2012, the Ventura County Master Gardener (VCMG) Program follows the University of California fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. The VCMG education program is scheduled from the second week of January until the fourth week of May.
Upon completion of the training program and passing the final exam with a score of 70% the trainees become Certified Master Gardeners.
In December, UCCE staff, MG Education Committee, and the MG Executive Committee members recognize new graduates with a certificate of accomplishment and celebration.
First year Master Gardeners are required to complete a total of 50 volunteer service hours of which 9 hours are spent at the helpline desk and 20 hours participating in the hands-on garden program. The twenty-one volunteer service hours remaining, can be spent participating in variety of approved projects and activities.
Master Gardeners in their second and any subsequent years are required to complete a total of 25 hour volunteer hours annually, and 12 hours of continuing education (CE). Completion of volunteer service hours and CE hours is necessary for recertification of Master Gardeners. Recertification documentation must be completed and returned promptly and upon request.
The following requirements apply:
- Master Gardener Trainees do not have to complete any CE hours during their first year but are welcome to attend CE lectures and events if space is available.
- Trainees are not eligible to earn CE hours.
- Certified Master Gardeners have until December 31st of each year to complete 25 volunteer service hours and 12 hours of CE.
- The Ventura County MG office anticipates many opportunities to earn CE credit. UCCE Staff in partnership with the CE Committee will identify eligible opportunities and ensure that there are adequate chances for MG’s to complete CE hours. We welcome your suggestions on possible topics for CE workshops. Send us an email at ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu with your ideas for future topics.
All scheduled CE opportunities will be posted on the internal MG website calendar. Registration for CE events is accepted by email on a first come first served basis. Certified Master Gardeners receive preference for CE opportunities. Trainees may also attend (but not received CE credit for) CE opportunities if space is available.
Volunteer Service Policy: What Counts?
Primary ways to earn volunteer service hours:
- Support and complete work assignments at MG Approved Garden Sites.
- Coordinate approved events and activities.
- Set-up and volunteer at the HGW workshops.
- Work on clerical type tasks in the UCCE offices.
- Coordinate approved speakers’ series in your local community.
- Coordinate plantings for special events and speaking engagements.
- Answer questions at the Helpline Desk.
- Attend MG committee and general meetings.
- Support approved outreach program activities.
- Distribute approved brochures and information flyers.
Continuing Education Policy: What Counts?
Primary ways to earn CE credit:
- Participation in UCCE sponsored educational activities. This is the preferred way for MG’s to earn their CE hours. It includes training classes, lectures given by UCCE faculty and advisors, as well as workshops, seminars, and conferences sponsored by the CE Committee. For MG’s who are unable to attend CE classes in-person, the UC offers a variety of web-based and other online learning opportunities (i.e. UCTV, videos on the IPM website) that are eligible for CE credit as well.
- Other educational activities approved in advance by the UCCE MGP staff. This is much more of a gray area. In order to earn credit for attending outside educational opportunities or activities, MG’s must submit a written request that includes information related to what you hope to learn, explains how it is relevant to our local area, and your willingness to share information learned with other MG’s and the general public.
Please remember that, while information from other sources can provide context for our work as Master Gardeners, our recommendations must come from UC research-based sources.
Please note that 1 hour of instruction may not equate to 1 hour of CE credit.
If there is a 4-hour garden tour that involves admiring flowers and stopping for lunch – as well as learning relevant information that MG’s can use to educate the public – only a portion of the time will be able to be counted as CE credits. The MG program will determine in advance how many hours are appropriate and publicize these on the VMS in advance of the meeting. If you want to attend a non-UC educational event and receive CE credit for it, you must notify UC Staff prior to the CE opportunity, not after you have attended the session. There may be more potential CE opportunities that fall outside of these guidelines. Don’t hesitate to contact the MG Program Coordinator at ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu with any questions or requests for CE credit, even if you’re not exactly sure whether it would be eligible. Again be sure to ask before you attend!
