Santa Barbara County Green Gardener Program

1. Santa Barbara County Green Gardener Program California Irrigation Institute 2008 Conference January 31, 2008 Helena Wiley von Rueden Senior Program Specialist Santa Barbara County Water Agency

2. Program description A bilingual training program in resource efficient and pollution prevention practices for landscape maintenanceprofessionals

3. Program goals • Increase efficient use of water & other resources and reduce pollution on landscape sites • Provide an economic incentive for gardeners to participate in training program • Educate the public as to the benefits of sustainable landscaping • Improve appearance and health of local landscapes

4. Background: our community Our community • Population: ~400,000 Countywide • 8 incorporated cities • Rainfall: 18” rain per year • Water Sources: include two USBR reservoirs (one for groundwater recharge only), State Water, local groundwater supplies

5. Background: water conservation • Santa Barbara County Regional Water Efficiency Program began in 1990 • GG program began in 2000 • 17 water providers plus County Water Agency • 7 California Urban Water Conservation Council members

6. Background: landscape community • Small to medium size firms • High end landscape architecture and design firms • “One man” landscape maintenance contractors and gardeners • Large percentage of gardeners Spanish speakers without significant landscape training

7. How GGP works • 2 locations: Santa Barbara and Santa Maria community colleges • 3 bilingual Standardclasses per year • 1 English Advanced class per year • 10 weeks, once class per week (2.5 hours per class) • Classroom and field exercises • One main bilingual instructor, plus guest speakers • $35 materials fee

8. Standardized Curriculum • Standardized curriculum includes: • PowerPoint slides • Teacher materials incl. field exercises • Student binder and materials Example slide from irrigation class

9. Curriculum Topics • Topics include: • Soils • Irrigation: water, soil, plant interactions • Irrigation: scheduling • Irrigation: troubleshooting • Fertilizers • Compost and mulch • Integrated pest management • Pruning • “Right plant, right place” • Air quality Example slide from irrigation class

10. Student Materials • Student binder • Soil probe • Catch cans • Green Gardener hat • Graduation certificate • Green Gardener ID card

11. Graduation • Guest Speakers • Families Invited • Hats! • Food!

12. Marketing • Logo • Radio ads to promote class • Community college class schedules • Flyers

13. Promotion of Gardeners • Green Gardener List • Distributed by water purveyors, nurseries, landscape supply stores • Green Gardener Website • www.greengardener.org • Radio ads after each class to promote the list • GG hat, certificate and card • Provides incentive for gardeners to enroll, customers to hire

14. Continuing Education • Annual renewal process for ID card and GG listing on website • 2 hours continuing education • Video • Classes through various providers • Customer surveys • Self Assessment Tool

15. Change from Certification Model • No longer a “certification” program • “Certification” implies a guarantee of service • Certification implies a tested level of knowledge • Fair testing is difficult given language and education barriers • “Certification” available through other programs

16. New “Training” Model • List valued by customers and gardeners with or without the word “certification” • Training model can be a stepping stone for landscapers to gain more education • Graduation remains contingent on attendance rather than testing, maintaining access for all

17. Results • 17 Standard classes 2000-2007 • 5 Advanced classes 2000-2007 • 813 Standard Green Gardeners • 523 Private Contractors • 83 Agency Staff • 51 hobbyists • 214 up-to-date with continuing education requirement • 122 Advanced Green Gardeners

18. Funding • USBR and State grant funds to develop program ($$$) • Develop standardized curriculum • Initial consultant time • Web design • Advertising and development of marketing materials – brochure, fliers, etc. • Self Assessment Tool • Currently funded through local partnerships ($) • ~$20,000 annual budget, not including staff time

19. Partnerships • Diverse partners have shared goals of efficient resource use, education, sustainable landscaping, and community development • Combining landscape education programs increases audience and impact of message Private Companies Golden State Water Company La Cumbre Mutual Water Company All Around Landscape SupplyAqua-Flo Supply Ewing Irrigation Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Water Districts Carpinteria Valley Water DistrictGoleta Water DistrictMontecito Water District Public Agencies City of Santa Barbara City of Santa MariaCity of Buellton City of LompocCity of Solvang County of Santa Barbara Water AgencySanta Barbara County Air Pollution Control DistrictCounty of Santa Barbara Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division Colleges Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Barbara City College Non-Profits Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

20. Next Steps • Revamp Advanced Class offering • Link to City College Environmental Horticulture Program • Continue to improve continuing education program • Increase promotion of the GG list • Increase bilingual promotion of the class and program

21. For more information… • Helena von Rueden, Santa Barbara County Water Agency • (805) 568-3541 • hvonrue@cosbpw.net • Visit www.greengardener.org