SCMG Home Visits

Please print home visit form to record events of visit, date, address, name of client and other pertient information for SCMG records.

Please feel free to contact the Sandoval County Extension Office for more information at 867-2582

Protocol:
1. At beginning of year, pick up Home Visit binder from Extension Office or previous year's coordinator.
2. At the specified Training Session, make presentation regarding Home Visit team organization. Collect names and contact information of potential team members during the training session when sign-up are done.
3. During growing season (March- October), receive home visit requests, usually from hot line volunteers, grower's market contacts, or from Extension office.
4. Call client to find out problem(s), address, directions to house, and client availability for possible home visit dates/times. 5. Confirm that client is the owner of the property! If client rents, advise renter to gain permission from owner prior to visit. Proceed with visit only after renter verifies that owner has been notified. When in doubt contact the Extension agent.
6. Call team member(s) to arrange for 2 or more Master Gardeners for the visit. Let team members know the gardening problems.
7. Call client to confirm visit date/time.
8. Fill out top half of Home Visit report.
9. On date/time of home visit, assemble visiting team and meet with client. Take along baggies for plant/disease/insect samples, camera if you need to show photos to Extension agent, and any reference books that can help with disease/insect diagnostics and control and plant identification.
10. Help client with all issues for which you know the answers. Look for any additional problems that the homeowner did not point out. Do not engage in any of the gardening activities yourself. It is the client's responsibility and the county doesn't need the liability. We also do not train hired gardeners; we advise the homeowners so they can give instructions to their gardeners.
11. If you are unsure of the correct solution, take photos and/or samples and discuss it with Extension agent.
12. Never give an exact cause of plant decline or death. Give probable causes only, since one can never be sure of an exact cause.
13. Never give the report to the client, or anything in writing.
14. Call client if follow-up was necessary.
15. Fill out bottom half of Home Visit report.
16. Submit monthly short reports to the Board. Submit articles for the newsletter as you feel inclined.
17. After the Home Visit season ends (end of October) write Home Visit Summary and submit to Extension office and the current Board President. The President can receive an email copy, but the Extension office needs a hard copy along with all of the completed reports for the year.