Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Concerns about Water Quality Issues of Master Gardener Program Volunteers
Florida Master Gardeners working with children
PDF-2014

Keywords

FE942

Categories

How to Cite

Borisova, Tatiana, Michael Smolen, Maria Pilar Useche, Jon Calabria, Nickola Sochacka, Damian Adams, Diane Boellstorff, Jason Evans, and Robert Mahler. 2014. “Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Concerns about Water Quality Issues of Master Gardener Program Volunteers: FE942/FE942, 5/2014”. EDIS 2014 (4). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fe942-2014.

Abstract

To respond to residents’ informational needs, the Cooperative Extension Service offers a variety of volunteer training and certification programs. Who participates in such programs? What types of audiences are being reached? Do such programs increase knowledge and change behavior of the volunteers? In this article, we attempt to answer these questions by summarizing existing studies and using responses to a regional public survey, and by focusing on the Master Gardener program and surface water quality issues as examples. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Tatiana Borisova, Michael Smolen, Maria Pilar Useche, Jon Calabria, Nickola Sochacka, Damian Adams, Diane Boellstorff, Jason Evans, and Robert Mahler, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, May 2014.

https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fe942-2014
PDF-2014

References

Bobbitt, V. 1997. The Washington State University Master Gardener Program: Cultivating plants, people, and communities for 25 years. HorTechnology 7(4):345-347. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.7.4.345

Bonneau, L., R. Darville, M. Legg, M. Haggerty, and R. Wilkins. 2009. Changes in volunteer knowledge and attitudes as a result of Texas Master Naturalist training. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 14(3):157-172. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200902838722

Borisova, T., D. Adams, A. Flores-Lagunes, M. Smolen, M. McFarland, and D. Boellstorff. 2012. Does participation in volunteer-driven programs change household landscape management practices? Evidence from southern states. Journal of Extension 50(3):3RIB4. http://www.joe.org/joe/2012june/rb4.php.

Braker, M., J. Leno, C. Pratt, and D. Grobe. 2000. Oregon extension volunteers: Partners in action. Journal of Extension 38(2):2RIB3. http://www.joe.org/joe/2000april/rib3.php.

Chalker-Scott, L., and R. Tinnemore. 2009. Is community-based sustainability education sustainable? A general overview of organizational sustainability in outreach education. Journal of Cleaner Production 17:1132-1137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.02.022

Finch, C. 1997. Profile of an active Master Gardener chapter. HortTechnology 7(4):371-376. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.7.4.371

LSU (Louisiana State University). 2013. Louisiana Master Gardener Program: Become a Louisiana Master Gardener. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/lawn_garden/master_gardener/program/Become-a-Louisiana-Master-Gardener.htm#1

Mahler, R.L., M.D. Smolen, T. Borisova, D.E. Boellstorff, D.C. Adams, and N. W. Sochacka. 2013. The National Water Survey Needs Assessment Program. Natural Sciences Education 42:98-103. https://www.crops.org/publications/nse/articles/42/1/98. https://doi.org/10.4195/nse.2012.0025

Meyer, M.H., Burrows, R., Jeannette, K., Welty, C., & Boyson A.R. 2010. Master Gardener's confidence and use of integrated pest management. HortTechnology 20(4):812-816. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.20.4.812

Moravec, C. 2006. Continuing education interests of Master Gardener volunteers: Beyond basic training. Journal of Extension 44(6):6RIB5, http://www.joe.org/joe/2006december/rb5.php .

Peronto, M., and B. Murphy. 2009. How Master Gardeners view and apply their training: A preliminary dtudy. Journal of Extension 47(3):3RIB2, http://www.joe.org/joe/2009june/rb2.php .

Rohs, F., J. Stibling, and R. Westerfield. 2002. What personally attracts volunteers to the Master Gardener Program? Journal of Extension 40(4):4RIB5, http://www.joe.org/joe/2002august/rb5.php.

Rohs, F., and R. Westerfield. 1996. Factors influencing volunteering in the Master Gardener Program. HortTechnology 6(3):281-285. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.6.3.281

Sadof C., R. O'Neil, F. Heraux, and R. Wiedenmann. 2004. Reducing insecticide use in home gardens: Effects of training and volunteer research on adoption of biological control. HortTechnology 14(1):149-154. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.14.1.0149

Schrock, D., M. Meyer, P. Ascher, and M. Snyder. 2000a. Benefits and values of the Master Gardener Program. Journal of Extension 38(1):1RIB2. http://www.joe.org/joe/2000february/rb2.php .

Schrock, D., M. Meyer, P. Ascher, and M. Snyder. 2000b. Reasons for becoming involved as a Master Gardener. HortTechnology 10(3):626-630. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.10.3.626

Schrock, D., M. Meyer, P. Ascher, and M. Snyder. 1999. Missouri Master Gardener demographics. Journal of Extension 37(5):5RIB4, http://www.joe.org/joe/1999october/rb4.php

Simonson, D., and D. Pals. 1990. Master Gardeners: Views from the cabbage patch. Journal of Extension 28(2):2RIB3, http://www.joe.org/joe/1990summer/rb3.php .

Smith, D.H. 1994. Determinants of voluntary association participation and volunteering: A literature review. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 23:243-263. https://doi.org/10.1177/089976409402300305

Strong R., and A. Harder. 2010. Master Gardeners' teaching efficacy and demographic characteristics as volunteer educators for Cooperative Extension. Journal of Southern Agricultural Education Research 60:14-24.

University of Florida, (undated). Pasco County Master Gardeners. UF/IFAS, Gainesville, FL. http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/gardening/master_gardeners.shtml

USDA. 2009. 2009 Extension Master Gardener survey. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. (March). http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/f/f5/Extension_MG_Survey_4-9.pdf

USEPA. 2012. What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution? United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/whatis.cfm.

Wilson, J.C., and M.E. Newman. 2011. Reasons for volunteering as a Mississippi Master Gardener. Journal of Extension 49(5):5RIB1. http://www.joe.org/joe/2011october/rb1.php.

Wolford, M., K. Cox, and K. Culp, III. 2001. Effective motivators for Master Volunteer program development. Journal of Extension 39(2):2RIB4, http://www.joe.org/joe/2001april/rb4.php.

License