Organization Details:

UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development & Master Gardener Programs

The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program engages youth in reaching their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.
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Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County
Mission Statement

The Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County, as representatives of -, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners Program, that is locally co-sponsored by the Santa Barbra Botanic Garden (SBBG), will provide: 1) accurate, scientifically based horticulture information to our communities and 2) community/public service while furthering our own knowledge by using the resources of our sponsors.

Description:
4-H youth development programs are exciting, learn-by-doing educational programs, designed to help youth develop into responsible, self-directed, productive citizens of their community. The goals of youth development are to improve the well-being of youth and society through the use of research-based educational experience.

Santa Barbara County's 4-H:

• Serves over 2,500 youth annually
• Supports 24 4-H units located throughout the county
• Involves over 400 adult volunteers in educational programs
• Has developed successful, innovative and collaborative programs, such as Neighborhood GreenNet and Agua Pura
  
  

Our Youth Development Advisor and staff manage the 4-H club and after-school programs, develop new programs to meet emerging needs, and collaborate with other youth-serving organizations, connecting them to the resources of the University of California.

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What is the Master Gardener Program?

The Master Gardener is a volunteer certificate program in service to the community that has developed in response to meet the growing interest of home gardeners for accurate, current horticultural information. The Master Gardener program also offers its participants a sense of community spirit and pride, and personal accomplishment and intellectual stimulation.

The Master Gardener programs occur in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In California, the Master Gardener program is part of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension (UCCE). In Santa Barbara County the program is co-sponsored and jointly administered by a cooperative agreement between UCCE and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Why do we need a Master Gardener program?
Gardening is the number one hobby in the United States. As a result, there is a critical need for volunteers to communicate accurate and current research-based horticultural information to home gardeners and horticultural professionals.

What do I need to do to become a certified Master Gardener?
Following a review of application materials, orientation, interview, and acceptance into the program, trainees attend 80 hours of classes that provide the most current, accepted practices in horticulture. The University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors and Extension Specialists, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden staff, agricultural commission personnel, and other community experts teach classes.

In exchange for the 80 hours of training, a Master Gardener trainee agrees to serve at least 80 hours as a volunteer during the training year. Certified Master Gardeners serve as volunteer agents of the University of California.

What is a volunteer commitment?
By acceptance into the Master Gardener Program, you will be committing to volunteer service. The program is designed to provide you with the resources to use in Master Gardener activities, including work in the community at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and with the University of California Cooperative Extension. Master Gardeners maintain their active status by attending supplemental trainings and monthly meetings, participating in volunteer activities and projects that complete the required number of annual volunteer hours.

How do I qualify?
All you need is a desire to expand your knowledge of horticulture and an enthusiasm for giving your time to share your horticultural skills with the community.

What are some Master Gardener volunteer opportunities? Some examples are:
Master Gardener Helpline
Master Gardener sponsored events
Volunteer work at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
School gardens
Volunteer work for UCCE
Programs in public education and community service
Community Events (e.g. Earth Day, Home & Garden
Show, Sustainability Fair, etc.)
Chumash Garden
Olivas Adobe Herb Garden & other local gardens
Mission Rose Garden
When can I use the title "Master Gardener?"
The title, "Master Gardener," is to be used only and exclusively while serving with University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and not for commercial purposes. Persons are expected to identify themselves as Master Gardeners only when performing volunteer work in this program.

History:
The 4-H Program was started in 1913 in California. The first 4-H groups were organized in Santa Barbara County in 1925. The 4-H Youth Development Program is in every county in California. You will recognize 4-H by its green clover. What you may not know is that 4-H is for everybody, for all young people in California, whether they’re in small towns, big cities, or anything in between. Today, 4-H in California is 130,000 young people learning, achieving, and giving back to their communities, supported by 20,000 caring and enthusiastic adult volunteers.

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The Master Gardener Program started in 1972 with Cooperative Extension in Washington State.
The Master Gardener program grew out of a need to meet the increase in questions from home gardeners for horticultural information. Trained Master Gardeners play a vital part in providing consumers with up-to-date, unbiased, reliable knowledge.

The Master Gardener program is also a fun and useful volunteer activity that has given its participants a sense of community spirit, accomplish-ment and intellectual stimulation.

There are Master Gardeners programs in over forty states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The local program started in September, 1989, and is administered by the University of California Cooperative Extension in Santa Barbara County.

Contact people:

Zelda Hughes, (phone), (email) Michael Marzolla, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (805) 692-1731

Address:

305 Camino Del Remedio Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (See a map)

Web Site: http://cesantabarbara.ucdavis.edu

Directions:

FROM THE SOUTH: 101 to El Sueno exit; El Sueno, turn left to Calle Real; Calle Real to Camino del Remedio, turn right, look for the sign on your left that says UC Cooperative Extension and PHD Loading... FROM THE NORTH: 101. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Public Health Department, 5 minute walk

Last updated on March 17, 2009