Southern Nye County Programs
Master Gardeners in Nevada
Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans. They are volunteers who learn advanced plant science skills from at least 50 hours of classroom instruction by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) professionals. After training, Master Gardeners volunteer a minimum of at least 50 hours a year to pass along their newly acquired knowledge through the media, talks and workshops. They answer phone calls, send out informational materials and develop community gardens.
Issue:
Many new residents in Nevada do not know how to garden in our arid conditions, variable growing seasons and thin, rocky soils.. Experienced and novice gardeners alike around the state have trouble growing plants and vegetables in Nevada, and this creates a big demand for plant science knowledge.
What Has Been Done:
Master Gardeners educate through the media, talks and workshops. They answer phone calls, respond to emails, send out free informational materials to the public and develop community gardens. They also teach in the schools and at garden clubs, senior centers, hospitals, child-care centers, nurseries and farmers markets.
Impact:
More than 1,000 Master Gardeners have been trained in the Southern Area of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension since the program started in the 1990s, and dozens more are added to the count every year. In 2010 alone, 300 certified master gardeners in Clark County taught classes, answered consumer questions over the phone and in person, supported community gardens and horticulture events, and acted as docents at public parks, among other activities. Each master gardener in the South Area completes a 72-hour course, passes a comprehensive final, and contributes at least 35 hours annually to one of over 30 approved projects in addition to obtaining at least 15 hours of continuing education.
Master gardeners in the Las Vegas area contributed a total of 38,104 hours (worth $794,472 at the national standard of $20.85 per hour) in 32 different community programs such as staffing Desert Green landscape professional training, guiding community gardens, assisting at schools, and operating the Master Gardener orchard. The 2010 average contribution was 125 hours per person.
In the Western Area that includes Washoe, Storey, Douglas and Carson counties, Master Gardeners volunteered over 9,000 hours (the equivalent of 5 full-time employees), had face-to-face conversations with nearly 14,000 people and answered nearly 13,000 phone calls and emails.
See Also: For additional information, please visit our Master Gardener website.
Contacts:
Southern Area: Clark County, Las Vegas
Angela O`Callaghan, Social Horticulture Specialist, 702-222-3130
Lori Leas, Community Based Instructor, 702-257-5501
Northern Area: Washoe, Storey, Pershing, Humboldt, Lander, Elko, Douglas and Carson
Heidi Kratsch, State Horticulture Specialist, 775-784-4848
Wendy Hanson Mazet, Master Gardener Coordinator, 775-784-4848
Central Area:
Lyon County: Marcia Moffitt, 775- 463-6541
Mineral County: Kellie Zuniga, 775-945-3444
No. Nye County: Debby Woodland, 775-727-5532
| Programs | Program Information |
|---|---|
4-H Youth Development 4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. | |
Desert Green, Commercial Water Conservation Training Desert Green is in its eleventh year and is designed to educate commercial clientele in the Green Industry as well as others who have an interest in water conservation issues. A committee representing the industry implements the training. Desert Green is chaired by one industry representative and one UNCE representative. The program is presented once a year, with 36 classes taught in a two-day period. A committee of industry representative reviews evaluations from the previous year to decide future educational direction and topics. During the evaluation process, the program is reviewed, modified and revised according to the needs of the clientele. As part of the marketing of this program, two articles citing the importance of Desert Green appear in regional trade publications. | |
Master Gardeners in Nevada Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans. They are volunteers who learn advanced plant science skills from at least 50 hours of classroom instruction by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) professionals. After training, Master Gardeners volunteer a minimum of at least 50 hours a year to pass along their newly acquired knowledge through the media, talks and workshops. They answer phone calls, send out informational materials and develop community gardens. |
Statewide Programs *Statewide programs may not be available in all counties
| Programs | Program Information |
|---|---|
| Cattlemen’s Update | |
| Food Safety Project | |
| Grow Your Own, Nevada | |
| Herds and Harvest | |
| Invasive Species (Weeds) | |
| Nevada Radon Education Program | |
| Nevada State GEAR UP | |
| Nevada Youth Range Camp | |
| People of the Land | |
| Pesticide Safety Education Program | |
| Riparian and Watershed Assessment and Management | |
| Risk Management | |
| Stronger Economies Together | |
| Weed Prevention and Management |
