A Growing Body of Evidence.
Photos by Paige Green
The UC Master Gardener Program Offers Science-Based Solutions to Your Gardening Questions
A flourishing garden—whether on a large lot, small patio, or even a community garden plot—holds enduring appeal for so many of us. We dream of picking fresh plump tomatoes or clipping lettuce leaves or flowers from our neatly maintained patch out back. It’s an attainable goal, and no matter the scale, a little help from a friend is always welcome along the way. Fortunately, gardening friends are easy to find through the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County.
The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County is a workforce of well-trained garden enthusiasts who volunteer to dispense science-based information, advice, and resources to all local gardeners, online or in person, free of charge. “If we can’t answer the question, we know where to find it,” said Clio Tarazi of the Sonoma County Master Gardeners.
Want advice on which fruit tree to plant in your specific microclimate or how to identify a particular pest munching on your precious roses? Maybe you want to learn about irrigation or native plant gardening. Ask the Master Gardeners.
The Master Gardener volunteer program operates under UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE). The story of UCCE dates all the way back to 1862, when Abraham Lincoln’s congress provided land and funding to establish the California University system to teach and conduct science-based research and education. A stipulation of the funding was that the public have access to the research via outreach programs. Today, that outreach, known as the UC Cooperative Extension, exists in each of California’s 58 counties and oversees the Master Gardener and 4H programs alongside advisors who work with commercial agriculture to help develop smart water strategies, wildfire education, preservation of farmland and more.
Master Gardener programs differ from county to county, but Sonoma County’s chapter is particularly robust with a broad collection of offerings, from in-person classes to online help, information desk, and even home visits and speakers for events or meetings—all free of charge. It feels like a gift to have all these programs at our fingertips.
Mimi Enright is the coordinator of the Sonoma County Master Gardeners, a position she has held since 2013. “Sonoma County has approximately 230 master gardener volunteers, a large enough group that allows us to engage with exciting projects and partner with local organizations,” shared Enright. “We’ve been around long enough that a lot of what we do now works like a well-oiled machine. With summer around the corner, we’re kicking into high gear with classes, workshops, our booth at the county fair, and preparing for our big Jamboree event.”
On a recent sunny spring day, Tarazi and fellow gardener Pat Decker took a break from a busy volunteer workday at the 2-acre Los Guilicos Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in eastern Santa Rosa to share details of what’s up with the program and the Los Guilicos site. Six other Master Gardener demonstration gardens are located throughout the county.
Decker shared, “What blows me away about Master Gardeners is that we have people who know how to do anything and everything. If you ask me about the most important asset we have in addition to the UC staff, it’s the people who bring incredible knowledge, skills, and abilities. Point them in any direction and they take off.”
Tarazi added, “We worry that people see our table at a farmers market and think their question is too basic. We’re not all-knowing, but we know how to look it up. Our mission and our work is to get you the information and get you started while promoting sustainability practices.”
Much of the Los Guilicos garden burned in the Glass Fire of 2020, and restoration of the garden and other infrastructure is still happening. It is bustling with the tasks of planting a native hedgerow and a new fruit orchard, presenting classes in the shaded structure, and the ongoing development of the youth garden.
Decker coordinates the youth program. “Teaching the next generation is the strong purpose behind our youth program,” she shared. Perhaps surprisingly, an impediment to hosting school field trips is the cost of buses to transport them to the site. “We have received a donation from a generous donor to provide free bus transportation for school groups. We believe that making the investment in our youth will pay off when they have interest in the environment and sustainable practices.”
That support extends beyond the children’s program to include help from the business community through specific volunteer workdays as well as donations of supplies and materials. “We receive donations from businesses and individuals who understand that if we’re not taking care of each other, then we’re not providing people their basic needs,” offered Decker. Materials include items like lumber, irrigation supplies, seeds, compost, and 5-gallon buckets used for free garden kits. “It’s amazing. I don’t think that we stand back to really look at the contribution that volunteers make.” Master Gardeners also help with planning special events, grant writing, web maintenance, and social media in addition to staffing information tables at farmers markets and the Sonoma County Fair.
While Master Gardeners are typically retirees, the program also attracts families and younger people. As we sat talking, a young woman named Carly Everidge walked by holding a grass-stained weed whacker. With a big smile, she shared, “I recently moved back to the county where I grew up, and I wanted to meet new people, so I became a Master Gardener. I’ve met great people and am learning more about gardening. It’s been great.”
Board member Dan Schurman shared: “My journey with the Master Gardeners started simply, looking to meet new people in Sonoma County. But what I discovered was an organization that’s essential to the fabric of our community. This is more than a garden club; it’s a powerful force for change.
“We take the latest science and turn it into practical, free education for everyone—from demonstration gardens to online videos that reach thousands. Our mission touches the future: we teach children the magical connections that make up our environment and empower families without garden access to grow their own healthy food.
“My decision to get involved crystallized when I saw the sheer excitement on a young boy’s face as he proudly won a worm bin. That moment showed me the pure, fundamental impact of our work. I want to keep cultivating that curiosity, feeding that self-sufficiency and building community one hopeful garden at a time.”
Gardening is a year-round activity in Sonoma County, and the warm days of early summer invite us all to spend time outdoors. Connecting with nature via gardening is perhaps the best way to remember what’s really important in this topsy-turvy, unpredictable time. No matter your level of gardening skill, the Master Gardeners of Sonoma County would be delighted to help you become a better gardener.
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The Master Gardener website is packed with easy-to-find information, including listings of upcoming events and workshops: ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma