The 2023 UC Master Gardener Conference offers a wide variety of session topics to keep attendees inspired and engaged. Please find buttons below that are linked to the presentations and resources shared by presenters. Missing presentations are due to the speaker not wanting it posted.
Tuesday, October 3
Intensive Session, 2 pm - 4 pm
Intensive session class size is limited, you must pre-register online to reserve your seat.
| Topic | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Navigating Fire in your Master Gardener Role | Yana Valachovic, Forestry Advisor, Humboldt & Del Norte Counties | Aspen |
| Cultivating Safer Gardens: Pesticide Education Workshop |
Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Associate Director for Urban and Community, UC Integrated Pest Management Lauren Fordyce, Community Educator for Urban and Community, UC Integrated Pest Management |
Ponderosa |
| Creating Effective Signage for your Master Gardener Garden |
Chrissy Freeman, UC Master Gardener Volunteer, Nevada County Sandy Irber, UC Master Gardener Volunteer, Nevada County |
Ballroom |
| Implementing a "Trees for Tomorrow" Project in Your County | Janet Hartin, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Riverside, Los Angeles & San Bernardino Counties | Alder |
| Branching Out: Mastering Tree Identification | Igor Lacan, Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Advisor, Bay Area | Big Pine |
Wednesday, October 4
Plenary Session, 10 am - 3:30 pm
Open seating, no pre-registration required.
| Topic | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome and Conference Kickoff |
Missy Gable, Director, UC Master Gardener Program |
Ballroom |
| Celebrating Volunteer Work | Glenda Humiston, Vice President, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources | |
| Celebrating our Transformative Impact | Missy Gable, Director, UC Master Gardener Program | |
| From Tradition to Tomorrow: Celebrating Wá-šiw Culture | Herman Fillmore, Culture and Language Resource Director, Washoe Tribe California and Nevada | |
| Lunch | Granhall | |
| The Invincible Garden Ladies | Abra Lee, Horticulturalist, Longwood Fellow, Author, Storyteller | Ballroom |
| UC Master Gardener Volunteer Honorees | Missy Gable, Director, UC Master Gardener Program |
Thursday, October 5
Session 1, 10 am - Noon
Open seating, no pre-registration required.
Session 2, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Open seating, no pre-registration required.
Friday, October 6
Discussion Interest Groups, 10 am - Noon
Open seating, no pre-registration required. Choose any group to informally discuss ideas, share stories, network and problem-solve with fellow volunteers. Each group has a knowledgeable facilitator to help guide the discussion.
| Topic | Facilitator | Location |
|---|---|---|
| A. Demonstration Gardens | Tracy Celio, Program Manager Central Sierra, UC Master Gardener Program | Mountain |
| B. Speakers Bureau |
Randy Musser, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Orange County |
Mountain |
| C. Program Leadership | Yvonne Rasmussen, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Napa County | Mountain |
| D. Youth Farm Day/School Garden | Marcy Sousa, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, San Joaquin County | Lake |
| E. Social Media | Melissa Womack, Assistant Director of Impact & Communications, UC Master Gardener Program | Lake |
| F. Plant Sales | Dawn Kooyumjian, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties | Bay |
| G. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice | Valeria Borel, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Los Angeles County | Bay |
