The Latest Dirt - Jan 2024

NVT Co-Leads Dedicated to Building Confidence

By John Fike

Leading a project like New Volunteer Training has a myriad of aspects associated with it, ranging from challenge to fun. There also is a daunting feature given the complexities of managing both online Zoom and in-person components. However, if we can loosely interpret a famous statement by Isaac Newton, we can see further and, hopefully, succeed because we are standing on the shoulders of giants. That means we have solid templates to help us, developed by former Leads who ironed out wrinkles, found the most expedient ways to develop curricula, and pointed out those pitfalls, black holes, and swamps better left alone. Our colleagues’ historical precedents and experiences over the past decade or more have provided us with critical insight as we engage the newest UC Master Gardener trainees. Because these trainees will hopefully infuse the program with enthusiasm as well as new ideas and perspectives, it is incumbent upon us to make sure that their experience, while rigorous, is engaging, enlightening, and enjoyable. We are committed to providing the appropriate information and preparation so that our new trainees will be outstanding volunteers to the communities within Contra Costa County.

The challenge to leading an educational program such as this is that the academic experiences of the trainees range from minimal science exposure to advanced degrees in biological, chemical, or physical disciplines. Fortunately, regardless of background, everyone shares a common passion for gardening. So our approach stresses the conceptual basis of better gardening/horticulture/pest management: the ‘so what?’ of their learning. Appreciating or understanding the multitude of details will come later because one of the goals of the NVT program is to teach how and where to find those details. We have structured our hands-on activities toward problem-solving and working in groups, both critical components of the Master Gardener experience. We are dedicated to teaching and building confidence so that when our new colleagues don their UC Master Gardener badges, they will be comfortable when a client walks up, hands them a leaf, and asks, ‘What’s eating my plant?’