ASHS 2015 Annual Conference

With input of 90 Extension Specialists, Agents, and Master Gardener Volunteers, the North Carolina Extension Master Gardener Manual—historically a 674 page black and white document with line drawings in a three ring binder—has been transformed into a dynamic, digital tool with integrated databases and color images.  Previously restricted to students in the Extension Master Gardener Class, the new manual is available on-line to the public.  This new tool is functional in a variety of new ways.  The manual is instantly searchable and Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can now refer clients directly to information in the manual. The QR codes in the database can be provided on tags on shrubs in demonstration gardens and plant sales to direct customers to specific information.  Agents may use all or parts of the manual to teach a variety of courses to consumers and professionals.  The transformation was accomplished over a year-long focused effort and is changing the way consumer horticulture is managed in North Carolina.  For example, instead of the traditional strategy of recruiting and training Extension Master Gardeners, which in some cases resulted in very small classes and in others resulted in turning away many interested applicants, agents are now offering an Extension Gardener Course (with most of the content previously taught only to Extension Master Gardener Volunteers) and then allowing graduates to apply to become volunteers.  Class sizes are increasing, resulting in broader impact as well as a more effective selection process for volunteers.