University of California Cooperative Extension 2022 Master Gardener Graduation

June 12, 2022 | California – After 25+ years of being a true, non-stop “in the dirt” gardening enthusiast and environmentally conscious citizen, I took the plunge during the pandemic along with my fellow classmates to become a Master Gardener! After 27+ weeks of horticultural training, tests, and 50+ hours of volunteer work within the community, I finally graduated from the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program.

I look forward to continuing to participate in diverse and cutting edge scientifically (and culturally) backed programs to serve much needed communities throughout California and beyond. During my tenure thus far, I have volunteered to help build monarch sanctuaries, assisted with visually impaired access to gardening, helped prune at botanic gardens and citrus groves, helped school aged children and families plant edibles for their home gardens, created a presentation on increasing diversity in horticulturally deplete segments of California life, and so much more!

My hope is to aid in addressing food deserts across the country and abroad — what the pandemic exacerbated for everyone is that access to fresh produce is largely impacted by access to CLEAN water, resources, and training.

For a nice write up on our graduation by the Desert Sun, click here.