2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Master gardeners can influence the reach of research through citizen scientist training. With almost 2500 active master gardeners in Iowa, the potential for impacting the reach of applied research is substantial. This study focused on the collaboration between U.S. Dept. Agr. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and Iowa Master Gardeners, whose perceptions as citizen scientists were evaluated through their involvement in local food donation projects. Master gardeners collected yield data on various cultivars of vegetables raised at seven home demonstration gardens for donation to local food pantries. Overall 9284 pounds of fresh produce were donated from the demonstration gardens. Online surveys, given to participants in these projects, were used to analyze Iowa Master Gardeners’ knowledge of research objectives and methods, including bias and its effects on research reliability, and collaboration success. After participation in the project 89.7% of respondents could decipher bias during data collection. Results from the surveys indicate that for continued success Iowa Master Gardeners need more training in team building, communication among partners, data collection, and food safety. We have noted several benefits and barriers in training Master Gardener volunteers as citizen scientists. The primary benefits were: 1) the connections master gardeners made with food insecure individuals, 2) awareness of food security issues in their local communities, 3) recognition of the scientific process as citizen scientists, and 4) the positive impacts of master gardeners on food insecurity. The primary barriers of involving master gardeners as citizen scientists were: 1) amount of time needed to train master gardeners in collecting data, 2) reluctance to thoroughly measure and record tedious data, and 3) finding times when more than one master gardener was able to harvest from the rural garden. Future studies will identify master gardeners’ perceptions about scientists, as well as strategies to improve team building, data collection, food safety, and communication skills.