The UCCE Sutter-Yuba Master Gardeners strive to develop gardeners and make a difference.
Cheryl Hawk of Master Gardeners said some of the group's 2023 highlights include developing and helping plant raised garden beds at Casa de Esperanza, which supports people affected by abuse, hosting a workshop at Habitat for Humanity's Harmony Village and delivering more than 800 pounds of produce from their learning garden to vulnerable people.
Their learning garden is located at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City, and Hawk said they teach the public how to do things well in the garden.
“They teach everything from watering to water-efficient landscaping to summer pest control to companion planting,” Hawk says. “We have groups of 35 to 40 people. At first, we had three or four people come and we thought, 'We don't know if this is going to work,' but it turned out we have quite a following now.”
Hawke said gardening makes her feel better, and there's a mental health aspect to this that people don't always consider.
“There's really no greater joy than sticking your hands in the dirt and helping teach someone about something you're passionate about,” Hawk said. “Our goal is to have a garden in maybe every senior center, every hospital, every school. It takes a lot of time and effort, but you have to get buy-in. The head of each organization has to say, this is really important.”
They are learning gardens and want to make the most of the space.
Mark Davenport, one of the UCCE Sutter Yuba Master Gardeners working on this, said they're growing the hardy, nutritious vegetables they can in the space, like cucumbers, squash, sweet potatoes and carrots.
Davenport is an active member of the Master Gardeners and is a Gold Badge member, which requires completing at least 1,000 volunteer hours.
“I've always gardened,” Davenport said. “I have pictures at home of me in diapers putting seeds in the ground with my dad.”
Davenport lived with a roommate and also did some gardening.
“I grew vegetables. I had roommates who had no idea what vegetables were or where they came from,” Davenport said.
Using fresh ingredients in your cooking makes it feel special.
“My mom and my grandmother taught me how to cook. They taught me how to can. My grandma and grandpa would go to the Poconos and bring back raspberries and blackberries and plums,” Davenport said. “The other day I made spaghetti (makes rustling noises as hands reach for vegetables).”
