The Monterey Bay Green gardener Program

History of the Green Gardener Program

The goal of the program is to educate and certify local gardeners in resource efficient and pollution prevention landscape management practices. This program began as the Green Gardener Certification Program in Santa Barbara County on March 2000. In 2005, with support from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Ecology Action collaborated with the Santa Barbara Program to standardize the bilingual (English/Spansih) curriculum, implement the program in the Monterey Bay area, and export the curriculum to other public agencies in need of a bilingual ecological landscape training program.

Find a certified Green Gardener in your area now.

 

Ecology ActionEcology Action

Ecology Action is a nonprofit environmental consultancy, delivering cutting edge education services, technical assistance and program implementation for initiatives that assist individuals, business and government to maximize environmental quality and community well being.

 

Who are the Instructors and What Topics are Covered?

Green Gardener instructors are either landscape contractors or experts in the field. The certification level training consists of a ten-week series and is offered in both English and Spanish. The advanced curriculum is an additional ten-week series. 

The curriculum covers the following topics:
   
Certification Leval Curriculum Topics
ADVANCED Curriculum Topics
Soil Health
Sustainability/ Green Design
Fertilizers and Water Quality
Efficient Irrigation Design and Technology
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Efficient Irrigation Scheduling
Irrigation I -Soils and Water
Integrated Pest Management for Weeds
Irrigation II-Efficient Irrigation Scheduling
Integrated Pest Management for Vertebrates and Biological Control
Irrigation III-Irrigation Troubleshooting
Advanced Natural Pruning
Natural Pruning
Soil Food Web/ Compost Tea/Soil Fertility
Mulches & Compost
Successful Plant Installation
Plant Selection for Water Conservation
Abiotic Disorders
Air Quality + Final Exam
Sustainble Hardscapes

Check out a sample of our curriculum

Individual Certification

The Green Gardener Program certifies and promotes individual graduates.  In order to become certified, gardeners attend the certification level series which consists of ten class sessions for a total of 20-30 hours of instruction. Gardeners must obtain a passing score on a final exam that covers all core subjects and must complete a comprehensive self-evaluation of their landscape practices.

Interested in Implementing this Program in Your Area? For a program resource package please contact:

Sherry Lee Bryan
Senior Program Specialist
Ecology Action
Email
Phone:  831-426-5925 x114
Fax:  831-425-1404

Other Resources and Useful Links

CLCA - http://www.clca.org/clca/about/chapters/cc.php
The California Landscape Contractors Association is a non-profit trade organization of licensed landscape and landscape-related contractors.

ELA - http://www.ela-ecolandscapingassn.org/
The Ecological Landscaping Association is a nonprofit, member-based organization of landscape professionals, homeowners, and community groups who believe in using landscape practices that are environmentally safe and beneficial.

Home Composting - www.compostsantacruzcounty.org 
The Santa Cruz County Public Works Department funds an excellent program with regular training events, including the Certified Master Composter Program where you can learn techniques to convert food and yard waste into a valuable soil amendment.

Monterey Bay Master Gardeners - http://montereybaymg.ucdavis.edu/
This program is an excellent local resource for continuing horticultural education. Check the schedule for trainings and apply online to attend.

 
Ecology Action
This program is coordinated by Ecology Action
and funded by the State Water Resources Control Board.
 California State Water Resources Control Board