Master Gardener Program Research Articles

Adaptation and study protocol for harvest for health together Arizona: A mentored community garden intervention for survivors of cancer

BackgroundCurrent health behavior recommendations for skin cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship are the same for survivors of other cancers; they include eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing ultraviolet (U.V.) exposure. Few interventions exist to support health behaviors beyond U.V. exposure. We adapted Harvest for Health, a home-based mentored gardening intervention for cancer survivors, for implementation in Arizona as a community-based intervention. MethodsStakeholder-informed adaptations for Harvest for Health Together Arizona (H4H2-AZ) included updating intervention materials to be relevant to the arid desert environment, emphasizing the importance of sun safety in cancer survivorship, and shifting from a home-based to a community-based delivery model. Participants will be enrolled in cohorts aligned with growing seasons (e.g., spring, monsoon, fall) and matched to an individual 30 ft2 community garden plot for two growing seasons (6 months). Original intervention components retained are: 1) Master Gardeners deliver the intervention providing one-to-one mentorship and 2) gardening materials and supplies provided. This pilot six-month single-arm intervention will determine feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an evidence-based adapted mentored community gardening intervention for survivors of skin cancer as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes are to explore the effects on cancer preventive health behaviors and health-related quality of life. DiscussionThis pilot single-arm intervention will determine feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an evidence-based adapted mentored community gardening intervention for survivors of skin cancer. If successful, the intervention could be widely implemented throughout existing Master Gardener programs and community garden networks for survivors of other cancers. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05648604. Trial registered on December 13, 2022.

Dynamic Volunteer Engagement and Impactful Educational Outreach Taking Us into the Next 50 Years of the Extension Master Gardener Program

According to the 2021 Extension Master Gardener (EMG) National Summary, the EMG Volunteer Program had an estimated 84,700 volunteers throughout the United States. These volunteers helped communities garden and grow food, provided opportunities to engage in activities that improved physical and mental health, and worked on projects that addressed environmental issues. In total, these programs contributed 3.1 million hours of education to local communities and $88 million dollars in value to the public. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for the program, with many states implementing reduced requirements and increased flexibility for volunteers. The workshop “Dynamic Volunteer Engagement and Impactful Educational Outreach Taking Us Into the Next 50 Years of the EMG Program” at the 2022 ASHS conference discussed how to engage EMG volunteers despite the limitations of limited in-person contact. The workshop featured three Extension educators and EMG coordinators who shared their experiences and strategies for engaging volunteers during the pandemic. Topics discussed included engaging volunteers in local food systems and community gardens, engaging students in horticulture at an earlier age, and digital volunteer opportunities. Overall, the workshop provided valuable insights and facilitated discussions on how to adapt and continue the EMG program during challenging times.

Prison-based environmental training programs: who is being transformed?

Adult environmental education and training programs (environmental programs) are used to promote environmental stewardship in the United States (US). One unique setting for these programs is US prisons. Prison-based environmental programs vary widely, from Cooperative Extension Service programs (e.g. Master Gardener programs) to STEM lecture series to environmental literacy and job training programs to conservation research programs. Scholars have examined how these programs impact people who are incarcerated, but there is little research on how these programs affect the programs’ non-incarcerated facilitators (e.g. program administrators, educators, scientists, etc.). In this exploratory study, we use semi-structured, in-depth interviews to examine the experiences of some individuals engaged in implementing prison-based environmental programs. Our findings show how participants’ efforts to “transform” people who are incarcerated led many of them to their own transformations in how they perceived (1) people who are incarcerated, (2) their environmental programs, and (3) the broader carceral system.

Building Volunteer Engagement in the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program from the Ground Up

This study was designed to assess key volunteer attitudes and perceptions about local and state Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteer programs. EMG volunteers in Tennessee completed a total of 759 surveys between January 22 and March 10, 2020. Survey responses showed there was a strong positive perception of local EMG groups and the connection with the University of Tennessee system overall. When respondents were segmented, answers to key questions showed illuminating differences between volunteers with positive and neutral or negative views of the program. The variations in answers show areas of potential emphasis to support healthy local group culture and broader efficacy of the EMG program.

Southwest Harvest for Health: Adapting a mentored vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors in the southwest

Few diet and physical activity evidence-based interventions have been routinely used in community settings to achieve population health outcomes. Adapting interventions to fit the implementation context is important to achieve the desired results. Harvest for Health is a home-based vegetable gardening intervention that pairs cancer survivors with certified Master Gardeners from the Cooperative Extension Service with the ultimate goal of increasing vegetable consumption and physical activity, and improving physical functioning and health-related quality-of-life. Harvest for Health has potential for widespread dissemination since Master Gardener Programs exist throughout the United States. However, state- and population-specific adaptations may be needed to improve intervention adoption by other Master Gardener Programs. Our primary objective was to adapt this evidence-informed intervention that was initially incepted in Alabama, for the drastically different climate and growing conditions of New Mexico using a recommended adaptation framework. Our secondary objective was to develop a study protocol to support a pilot test of the adapted intervention, Southwest Harvest for Health. The adaptation phase is a critical first step towards widespread dissemination, implementation, and scale-out of an evidence-based intervention. This paper describes the adaptation process and outcomes, and the resulting protocol for the ongoing pilot study that is currently following 30 cancer survivors and their paired Extension Master Gardener mentors.

Sowing Seeds of Evaluation: A Pilot Study Measuring Master Gardener Program Public Benefit

We conducted an evaluation pilot study to measure the influence of the statewide University of California Master Gardener Program on participants who attended its public education events. We discuss (a) steps for developing a statewide evaluation and (b) findings from the event follow-up survey we used to evaluate public education participants' self-reported behavior changes. Our findings suggest that volunteer-led public education events resulted in participants improving science-based gardening practices. Our approach has implications for other states' Extension programs; sharing program evaluation measurement strategies and data across states can facilitate better communicating Extension's benefit to the public, thereby addressing a need identified in the literature.

Farm-Based Programming for College Students Experiencing Food Insecurity

Student food insecurity is a concern at colleges and universities across the country, and Extension professionals can bring unique solutions to this growing problem. At Rutgers–New Brunswick, visitors to the Student Food Pantry receive vouchers for fresh produce to be redeemed at the New Brunswick Community Farmers Market. The Rutgers Gardens Student Farm makes weekly deliveries of fresh produce to the pantry, which is available at no cost to students. With creativity, Extension efforts such as master gardener programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, and family and community health sciences programs can play an important role in alleviating college student food insecurity.

Perceptions of Environmental Health and Willingness to Compost Fresh Cut Floral Waste by Retail Flower Shop Owners

In the United States there has been a push to convert industries to a more environmentally sustainable business attitude in recent years. Environmentally sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but there is increasing evidence these practices lead to an increase in customer loyalty. The trend of self-regulation, willingly imposing more stringent environmental policies than required by the government, is progressing toward a time where environmentally friendly practices will be a competitive necessity for businesses to survive. The main purpose of this research was to investigate the perceptions of environmental health of retail flower shop owners and their willingness to recycle fresh cut floral waste produced at retail flower shops for use as compost and to determine if there is a statistical correlation between environmental awareness and willingness to compost fresh cut flower waste. A mailing list of retail florists from across the United States was compiled. A total of 1974 florists from all 50 states were sent a standardized e-mail explaining the purpose of the study. Embedded in the e-mail was a hyperlink that redirected willing respondents to the survey. Each person on the mailing list was emailed one time. Of the 300 retail florists who took part in the survey, a majority, 190 (63.33%), were ranked as having “high concern” for environmental health. A majority of florists 247 (82.33%) “agreed” or “strongly agreed” to collaborate with Master Gardener programs and other organizations if it meant they could recycle their floral waste through composting. Through the creation of industry- and state-sponsored certifications, florists could brand and promote their business as more environmentally conscious by composting their floral waste. This could possibly, in turn, stimulate sales and increase profit margins while having the added benefit of reducing the amount of waste entering landfills.

Engaging Communities in Challenging Times: Lessons Learned from the Master Gardener Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Problem The centrality of community engagement to the success of higher education is incontestable. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic emerged in early 2020, organizations and institutions, including universities had to suspend most community engagement activities, which is predominantly done in-person, across states in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This was a call for strategic rethinking to remain mission focused in adverse situations. The Recommendation I recommend the modified Framework for University Community Partnership (UCP) and scenario planning, a widely utilized support scheme for strategic decision making to human resource development (HRD) practitioners as pivotal for community engagement. This article seeks to help organizations adjust effectively to the “new normal.” The Stakeholders This article seeks to provide the impetus for higher education institutions to effectively develop community engagement processes in the post-COVID-19 era. Furthermore, the article is written to benefit HRD professionals, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and other community engagement programs.

Self-efficacy Is a Valuable Predictor of Extension Master Gardeners’ Likelihood to Continue Volunteering in the Program

In the United States, more than 80 million households participate in some type of gardening activity, including lawn care, vegetable gardening, and flower gardening. This considerable interest in gardening has led to the demand for accurate information about horticultural topics, trends, and research. One credible source for this information is the Extension Master Gardener (MG) Program, of which volunteering is a foundational component. Descriptive characteristics of Purdue Master Gardener (PMG) and PMG interns, characteristics of program participation, and volunteer behaviors were measured through an online survey questionnaire. Demographics, attitudes, self-efficacy, participation in the PMG program, and prior volunteering experience were measured and relationships between predictive variables and total volunteer hours were explored. Overall, the data revealed participants (N = 673) had strong positive attitudes about volunteering. Participants also reported having increased self-efficacy through participation in the MG program, and attitudes and self-efficacy were highly correlated. Based on the results and theoretical framework, a model was developed that can be used to predict volunteering behaviors within MG programs. The predictive model for volunteering behavior revealed that the number of years as an MG and the participant’s level of self-efficacy were good predictors of the total number of volunteer hours.

Asynchronous Volunteer Engagement in Online Continuing Education Using Virtual Communities

The Wisconsin Master Gardener Program team used the Google+ Community platform to provide an engaging online discussion forum for asynchronous continuing education experiences. Applications of such a tool for volunteer online education have numerous benefits, including the capacity for asynchronous posting, ease of posting, privacy options, wide availability, and the potential for internal troubleshooting.

To build a walled garden

Through cooperative ventures around the state, the UC Master Gardener program brings horticultural knowledge to Californians in jails, detention centers and treatment facilities.

Assessing the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program Using Both County Coordinator and Extension Volunteer Perspectives

The Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program is a vital contributor to Tennessee Extension residential and consumer horticulture education and outreach. In 2014, 2,480 volunteers statewide completed service and education requirements to achieve or maintain certified EMG status. These volunteers, led by Tennessee Extension agent county coordinators, contributed over 178,800 hours of service while recording over 30,300 hours of continuing education. These totals illustrate both the contributions of EMG volunteers to horticulture outreach and their desire for education to enhance their own knowledge and skill. Understanding the most needed areas of training for EMG volunteers to support their education and outreach to residents is critical to the growth and impact of the program. Therefore, a study was undertaken in 2015 to survey both EMG volunteers and coordinators to determine educational needs for volunteers as well as the preferred training delivery methods. Respondents consistently rated horticultural training in edible and ornamental crops as well as pest and disease management as high priorities. Similarly, hands-on and in-person presentations and printed materials were rated as highly important training methods. Results indicate potential training priorities for the future but also suggest a need to explore differences between coordinator and volunteer perspectives in some areas.

Motivation and Retention of Iowa Master Gardeners

Recruitment and training of new volunteers is necessary to grow a Master Gardener organization, but retention of current individuals has advantages. Aligning reasons for volunteering with recruitment and continuing education topics with the interests of volunteers is essential in a successful recruitment and retention plan. The objectives of this study were to determine the motivations for volunteering in the Iowa Master Gardener program and to identify popular continuing education topics, preferred delivery methods, and social media usage among this audience. Learning about gardening and horticulture was the most important reason Iowa Master Gardeners volunteer with the program. In addition, altruism is important to these volunteers, but they do not recognize the full impact their projects have on their local community. They have a strong interest in learning about native plants and sustainable horticultural practices. The most preferred delivery methods were live presentations and workshops. Video presentations and webinars were generally less preferred. Respondents used certain social media sites, such as Facebook and Pinterest, some or a lot. Although this study was limited to Iowa Master Gardeners, results regarding motivation factors align closely with previous studies. We speculate that the results for advanced training topics, delivery methods, and social media usage would similarly align for Master Gardener programs across the country.

Extension Master Gardener Social Media Needs: A National Study

An online survey was conducted to assess the feasibility of providing training on the use of social media for the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program. Volunteers (n = 1,275) and coordinators (n = 111) responded. Findings indicate the existence of sufficient interest in a nationally coordinated social media training. Inclusion of social media as a qualifying activity in EMG programs should be explored. Findings support inclusion of volunteers in future surveys and the possible need for increased involvement of volunteers in setting program direction. Training is being developed on the basis of the data. Future surveying of the EMG population by using random sampling to more accurately define the audience is strongly encouraged.

UC ANR: The original incubator

Editorial UC ANR: The original incubator T here’s a lot of excitement in California today about how connecting people and businesses with resources, informa- tion and each other can help to generate new ideas and fuel economic growth. Across the state, governments, univer- Glenda Humiston sities, philanthropic organizations and the Vice President private sector are establishing business UC Agriculture and Natural Resources incubators and economic development clusters to capitalize on the power of net- works and partnerships. The Shared Value Initiative (sharedvalue.org), a fast-growing movement in the business world, argues that some of the best opportu- nities for innovation and new markets are to be found in identifying and addressing unmet social needs. As an organization with a traditionally rural focus and roots in the 19th century, UC ANR might appear stuck on the sidelines of these trends. But I’d argue that we have a central role in turning ideas into successful, socially beneficial enterprises — and that we’ve been at it for a long, long time. For a century, farmers, ranchers and natural re- source managers have relied on research and new technologies disseminated through UCCE. With UC ANR’s help, growers have increased yields, improved water-use efficiency, reduced pesticide loads, made food safer, expanded export markets and become more environmentally and economically sustainable. 206 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE • VOLUME 69 , NUMBER 4 California communities and the economy have ben- efited from successful new industries, healthy ecosys- tems and sustainably managed landscapes. If UC ANR isn’t an incubator, I don’t know what is. Furthermore, I would argue that the partnership of our land-grant university system with Cooperative Extension is the original and most productive incuba- tor that the world has ever seen. UC ANR works on the most critical issues of our time: food production, environmental sustainability, health and youth development. Providing leadership and helping to drive progress in these areas requires UC ANR to leverage its assets with a wide array of external partners, projects and resources and increase public awareness of how well-managed agricultural and natural resources contribute to California’s well- being. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; each region or sector needs tools and strategies to meet its particular goals and needs. As California seeks accord among diverse interests and competing goals, UC ANR must provide knowledge to improve the quality of decisions as well as leadership to help communities find consensus on difficult issues. As the new vice president of UC ANR, perhaps my most important responsibility is to build collabora- tions with communities, businesses, organizations and individuals around the state and the nation. This collaborative mission has guided my professional career. UC ANR has many opportunities to enhance how it serves its mission, supports its clientele and expands the reach of its programs. Capitalizing on these op- portunities will require new collaborations — and perhaps unlikely-looking allies. Some partnerships may involve a single UC institution; but I have found that, in most cases, connecting multiple institutions and interdisciplinary resources proves to be much more powerful. Here’s a small taste of the types of partnerships and opportunities I’m talking about: • Building Healthy Communities. Foundations and other philanthropic organizations not only fund but, increasingly, engage directly in community Elena Zhukova I n August, Glenda Humiston started as the new vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). As the head of UC ANR, Humiston oversees UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), the Agricultural Experiment Station and the division’s many statewide programs, from 4-H to UC IPM to the UC Master Gardener Program. Humiston came to UC ANR from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she was California state director for rural development from 2009 to 2015. Previously, she was deputy undersecretary for natural resources and environment at USDA from 1998 to 2001. She holds a doctorate in environmental science, policy and management from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree in international agricultural development from UC Davis and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University.

The First Nationally Unifying Mission Statement and Program Standards for Extension Master Gardener Programs at Land-Grant Universities

Started in 1973, by 1996 the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program had been independently established in all 50 states. It was not until 2006 that an Extension Master Gardener National Committee was formed to facilitate cooperation, communication, and collaboration among EMG programs. In response to requests from EMG coordinators, a task force was appointed to develop nationally relevant resources and a set of national program standards to support and guide EMG Programs. Here we report on the development and adoption of national program standards and a unifying mission statement for EMG Programs in the United States.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Concerns about Water Quality Issues of Master Gardener Program Volunteers

To respond to residents’ informational needs, the Cooperative Extension Service offers a variety of volunteer training and certification programs. Who participates in such programs? What types of audiences are being reached? Do such programs increase knowledge and change behavior of the volunteers? In this article, we attempt to answer these questions by summarizing existing studies and using responses to a regional public survey, and by focusing on the Master Gardener program and surface water quality issues as examples. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Tatiana Borisova, Michael Smolen, Maria Pilar Useche, Jon Calabria, Nickola Sochacka, Damian Adams, Diane Boellstorff, Jason Evans, and Robert Mahler, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, May 2014.

Nature's Notebook and Extension: Engaging Citizen-Scientists and 4-H Youth to Observe a Changing Environment

Extension, with its access to long-term volunteers, has the unique ability to teach citizen scientists about the connection between climate variability and the resulting effects on plants, animals, and thus, humans. The USA National Phenology Network's Nature's Notebook on-line program provides a science learning tool for Extension's Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and Master Water Steward training programs, engaging volunteers to contribute to a scientifically rigorous data resource. We give examples of how Extension programs in Arizona, Florida, and Maine are currently incorporating Nature's Notebook, and encourage use of the program in other Extension locations.

Developing an Instrument to Examine Master Gardeners’ Participation Motives

Nonformal education is learner–centered and provides knowledge in a practical manner to participants. Master Gardener is a nonformal extension horticultural program that includes extensive requirements to earn certification. The purpose of this study was to examine the Mergener Education Participation Scale (M–EPS) to evaluate adult motivations to participate in the Florida Master Gardener program. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling and the Tailored Design Method was employed for data collection with a mail survey. The response rate was 86.79% (N = 530). Through principal component analysis, the reliabilities of the new factors were higher than the reliabilities of the factors associated with the M–EPS. Reliabilities of the new factors were: Other’s Perceptions .93, Vary Routine .91, Community Service .90, Socialization .87, Learning .84, and Professional Enhancement .82. Researchers should employ the constructs identified by this study to assess adult motives to participate in other Florida Master Gardener programs.