Marin County Master Gardeners School Garden Consultants

Master Gardener School Garden Consultants volunteer in schools that request help with starting or improving their school gardens. The Master Gardeners provide information, advice, problem solving expertise and resources for school personnel, students and volunteers involved with the school garden.

A School Garden Consultant is matched to a school based on his/her expertise and the needs of the school. The School Garden Consultant volunteers at the school for a period of time mutually agreed upon by the consultant and the school.

Master Gardener School Garden Consultants can help schools by

• Evaluating school garden sites
  
• Determining basic needs (tools, irrigation, fencing and storage)
  
• Offering suggestions on bed sizes and soil preparation
  
• Recommending plant material or seeds and when to plant them
  
• Setting up composting and vermiculture bins
  
• Suggesting approaches for weed and pest control using Integrated Pest Management techniques
  
• Suggesting resources for obtaining garden plants and materials
  
• Offering suggestions and resources for curriculum based garden activities.
  
• Informing teachers and volunteers about workshops, programs and classes sponsored by Master Gardeners and other garden based community organizations

The role of the Master Gardener School Garden Consultants does not include

• Teaching classes without a teacher being present.
  
•  Raising funds or soliciting donations
  
• Assuming responsibility for the management or maintenance of the school garden

All projects follow horticultural practices appropriate within adopted University of California Cooperative Extension guidelines and established Integrated Pest Management Techniques.

All Master Gardeners have been finger-printed and have passed background screening by the California Department of Justice.

For more information send an email to Marybeth Kampman --  her address is SchoolGardens@MarinMG.org