We are the UC Master Gardener Program of

We are the UC Master Gardener Program of Riverside County Advice to Grow By…Ask Us! Sept 14, 2016 Cathy Konyn UC Master Gardener

Overview Today’s Goal: Offer a unique look the UC Master Gardener Program of Riverside County Topics: • • • Our Office Program History and Today Outreach Efforts Core Projects Spotlight Project or Outreach Effort 2

UCCE Riverside County • Etaferahu Takele - County Director • Janet Hartin - MGP Advisor Two offices • 21150 Box Springs Rd, Moreno Valley, CA • 81 -077 Indio Blvd. Indio, CA 3

Program History • First Master Gardener Class • 43 grads April, 1980 • Started by Ted Stamen • 2011 -Yearly trainee classes • 2013 – Classes in Palm Desert 4

Today • 230 active UC Master Gardener volunteers – 17 Gold Badge – 7 Platinum Ottillia Toots Bier – class of 1983 2015 -16 • 21, 191 Volunteer Hours • 4, 248 Continuing Education Hours Duke Petersen – class of 1982 5

Our Website • ucanr. edu/sites/Riverside. MG/ • • • Water-Wise Gardening Speakers Bureau WMWD workshops/tours Grow Lab Internet Resources Informacion en Español 6

Outreach Efforts Like us … • facebook. com/MGPRiverside/ Tweet us … • twitter. com/mgpriverside Gardening with Lucy • City of Riverside • Vegetable gardening Gardening Advice Column • Toots Bier • Press Enterprise • OC Register 7

Core Projects • Two Helplines • Speakers Bureau – 124 events • Information Tables – 195 events © University of California 8

Partnerships Western Municipal Water District UCR Botanic Gardens Moorten’s Cactus Garden Living Desert • Gardening workshops • Trained docent tours • Information tables

Community and Youth/School Gardens Throughout Riverside County • Hands-on instruction • “Toolboxes”: – UCCE researched based gardening knowledge – Reference materials – Contacts

Gold Miner Project • • 2010 focus in Riverside 9 events outside Gold Miners seek events outside 141 events outside in 2015 • Won Search for Excellence 2014 11

Other Desert Projects • Weekly Farmers’ Market Tables • Gardening Classes at the Braille Institute • Docent Guides at the Coachella Valley Preserve • Monthly Public Classes at Cathedral City Library

Riverside Master Gardeners Also Have Fun • Plant Exchanges • Potlucks & Socials

Continuing Education Tours. . .

. . . and working together

Thank you! Cathy Konyn Riverside County MGP 16