The Latest Dirt - September 2024
New Volunteer Training Schedule Unveiled
By Dorothy Abeyta and John Fike
The New Volunteer Training team headed by John Fike and Dorothy Abeyta prepares to launch 17 weekly training sessions for the Class of 2025. The sessions occur Thursday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the UCCE Bisso Lane Office in Concord. Thirty trainees selected by Janette Drew and the recruitment team will begin their UC Master Gardener journey starting September 26, 2024.
The six-hour sessions allow time to interweave both lectures and hands-on workshops. Within this format, we’ve implemented several changes from previous years. 1) This year, each mentor teams up with a “shadow” who learns what it takes to be a mentor and who will hopefully step into that role in future NVT classes. 2) In addition to our shadows, we welcome active CoCoMGs to stop by for a visit. Due to limited room capacity, all visiting CoCoMGs must request a specific class in advance. Sorry, no drop-ins are allowed. 3) Digital microscopes will enhance the learning experience! Dissecting flowers and fruits, watching bad bugs be eaten alive by good bugs, getting up close to fungi! Such excitement!
After a brainstorming session with our UCCE Advisors and staff, we determined that our curriculum will focus on Integrated Pest Management in every facet of the training. It’s not about memorizing facts, identifying a disease or insect, or pulling up information on the UC IPM website (though there will be plenty of that). Instead, the trainees will explore problem-solving approaches that start with understanding healthy plant systems, which will allow the trainee to discern and diagnose a plant problem based on observation of the abnormalities in the system, not just the plant. The process is not new but focuses on a holistic approach to solving plant problems. Realizing how environmental/cultural conditions impact disease/pest problems facilitates a better understanding of pathology and promotes a more thoughtful approach to pest or disease management.
Please make a reservation to visit one of our courses. Email request to: mgcc.nvt2025@gmail.com