Become a Permian Basin Master Gardener
Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider
By Emmy Ulmschneider, Permian Basin Master Gardener
I became a Permian Basin Master Gardener in 2003, and over the past 23 years, I have learned so much about plants, gardening techniques, and practices suited to our area. Along the way, I have been part of a community that shares the same interests, and my gardening knowledge has grown exponentially. The Master Gardener program is science-based and overseen by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The training program requires both research-based, factual learning and hands-on volunteer time so that when you complete the training, you are, in essence, an extension of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, capable of sharing the research-based information you have learned and practiced over the training period. The training covers a wide range of topics, from basic botany through landscape design, installation and maintenance, vegetable and fruit production, water conservation, soil and pest management, and beyond. In addition to information from field experts, you have access to the knowledge of other Master Gardeners in your area. Education and training are part of each year you are a Master Gardener, as you re-certifywith additional educational hours and volunteer time each year. But perhaps most importantly, it's the joy of bringing a vision for your landscape to life.
As I have learned and matured as a gardener, my interests have changed, and so have my gardens. When I became a Master Gardener, my yard was a typical green turf landscape with two fruitless mulberries in the front yard. Over time, I removed all the turf and replaced it with native plant gardens for wildlife and food gardens, all watered by drip irrigation. I retrofitted myself. Over the years, I have tried a wide variety of herbs and vegetables, and although I don’t grow as much as I used to, I still enjoy my favorite tastes. I have planted both native and non-native fruit trees, including figs, pomegranates, Texas and Japanese persimmons, goji berries, native fox grapes, Nanking cherries, blackberries, plantains, olives, and avocados. None of this would have been possible without the knowledge, training, and encouragement I received as a Permian Basin Master Gardener.
For me, restoring my yard to conserve water and to create a much-needed way station for our urban wildlife is now my top priority. I have over 100 native plants in my yard, some of which I have grown since 2003. I look forward to their return each spring and seeing what new vertebrate and invertebrate life comes back with them.
So, if you want to grow your interest in gardening and learn in community, consider becoming a Permian Basin Master Gardener. You will be glad you did!
For more information about upcoming Permian Basin Master Gardener training, visit: https://www.westtexasgardening.org/join. If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700. Additional information and our blog, including past articles, are available at westtexasgardening.org. Click on “Resources".
