Developing a Sustainable and Organic Master Gardener Horticulture Production Manual

Project Overview

EW99-008
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 1999: $22,483.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2001
Matching Federal Funds: $5,500.00
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $16,500.00
Region: Western
State: Montana
Principal Investigator:
Helen Atthowe
Email
Missoula County Extension Service

Commodities

  • Fruits: apples, apricots, berries (other), cherries, grapes, pears, plums, berries (strawberries)
  • Vegetables: asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucurbits, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), onions, parsnips, peas (culinary), peppers, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips, brussel sprouts
  • Additional Plants: herbs, native plants, ornamentals

Practices

  • Crop Production: conservation tillage
  • Education and Training: extension
  • Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement
  • Pest Management: allelopathy, biological control, biorational pesticides, botanical pesticides, compost extracts, cultural control, economic threshold, field monitoring/scouting, flame, genetic resistance, integrated pest management, mulches - killed, mulches - living, mating disruption, physical control, mulching - plastic, prevention, row covers (for pests), smother crops, traps, mulching - vegetative, weather monitoring, weed ecology
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management, permaculture
  • Soil Management: earthworms, green manures, organic matter, soil analysis, composting, nutrient mineralization, soil quality/health

    Abstract:

    This program provided extension and NRCS personnel, the Montana Nursery and Landscape Association, and Master Gardeners with documented sources of information on sustainable approaches and methods for production horticulture. We completed n extensive review of the sustainable and organic agriculture research literature. We utilized this literature review to publish a 740 page manual and to produce an EPA-funded interatic CD-ROM data base on least-toxic option pest management. One hundred copies of the manual were printed and will be distributed to 70 Montana county agents during a training session at MSU extension annual conference in March 2002.
    The MT Nursery and Landscape Association has incorporated sections of our manual into their Certified Plant Professional manual. Copies of the CD-ROM data base will be ditributed at a 4 hour training session on least-toxic pest management options at the MT Nursery and Landscape Association annual meeting in January 2002. A training session will also be presented on least-toxic pest management options at the MT department of Agriculture pesticide recertification training in Feruary 2002.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.