Gardening with the Masters

New Mexico State University COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE U.S. Department of Agriculture

An Ongoing Lecture Series Sponsored by the Sandoval County Master Gardeners Admission is FREE and all are invited to attend

For More Information, Call Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Office, 867-2582

Gardening with the Masters is an ongoing lecture series sponsored by the Sandoval County Master Gardeners

Topics have included: Xeriscaping, Edible Landscaping with Herbs, Indoor Plants, Landscape Design, Tree Pruning, Growing Grapes, Care and Pruning of Roses, Landscaping with Native Grasses, Growing Tomatoes, Soils and Soil Preparation

Location: MEADOWLARK SENIOR CENTER - 4330 Meadowlark Lane from Hwy 528, Rio Rancho. (Southern runs west; Meadowlark runs east from Hwy 528)

Dates: Lectures are on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Lectures are held every month except January, July and September.

Time: 7:00-8:30 PM (Volunteers report for pre-lecture set up at 6:30 pm)

Audience: Gardening With the Masters lectures are FREE to the public and all are invited to attend. Meadowlark posts a sign-up sheet at the center for interested seniors in advance of each lecture.

Volunteer tasks:

One to two months in advance of each lecture: Select topic of lecture and contact speakers. Generally how this is done is that the contact person at the Meadowlark Senior Center calls the Sandoval County Extension Agent. The Extension Agent and the Gardening with the Masters volunteers select topics based on what the seniors or other audience members have requested. Topics tend to be seasonal and include topics which have been well received in the past. The Extension Agent selects and contacts the speaker(s).

One month in advance: The Extension Agent or a volunteer writes a brief description of the topic and the lecturer for a press release. Elizabeth Hackett in the Extension Office sends out the press release to the Meadowlark Newsletter, as well as to local newspapers. Flyers are distributed to a variety of locations in Corrales, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo and Placitas.

On the night of lecture: MG volunteers bring an Extension Office sign-up sheet and any equipment needed for the lecture and help the lecturer with set-up 30-45 minutes before the lecture. Volunteers greet and sign in participants as they arrive. Volunteers stay to help clean up after the lecture. Clean up is minimal.

After lecture: Volunteers return any borrowed equipment to the Extension Office.

Hours earned: 3 hours Master Gardener Volunteer Credit for each lecture, which involves staying from pre-lecture set up to post-lecture clean up. 1.5 hours of Master Gardener Continuing Education Credit is also available for attending each lecture. Both Volunteer Credit and Continuing Education Credit for the same lecture is not allowed.

If you are an individual who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, please call: