UNR Extension brings free education in gardening, self-sufficiency and more to Carson City and beyond
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 02/18/2021 - 9:20am
While many think of the University of Nevada, Reno being specific to the Biggest Little City, the UNR Extension Office right here in Carson City is as local as they come, and its mission is bringing agriculture, horticulture, community development and more to the capital city and its surrounding regions.
During the pandemic, many people both locally and across the county became aware of how fragile our food system is and while the valleys used to produce all of the food needed for its residents, the region now relies heavily on a food transportation system. This past year, there has been a major uptick in interest regarding self-sufficiency, causing both a seed and chicken shortage for people who want to take food production into their own hands.
Dr. Lisa Taylor heads the Extension Office in Carson City, and acts as an assistant professor and extension educator for the college of agriculture, biotechnology and natural resources for the Carson City/Storey County Extension.
“We’re here as an information source,” said Taylor, “and we act as a conduit to a variety of different groups and services. Our primary responsibility is in six areas relating to the primary research we conduct.”
Those six areas are agriculture, community development, health and nutrition, horticulture, natural resources, and personal and family development.
“We provide education, both informal and formal, that is relevant to individuals or groups for whatever they request,” said Taylor.
One such way the community has benefitted during the pandemic is the Extensions “Grow Your Own” program.
“It’s a program we offer in the evenings, and this year we went to Zoom because of the pandemic,” said Taylor. “We had 300 to 400 people involved in that on a nightly basis, twice a week for one month. Platforms like Zoom have really allowed people to think about those vehicles that can connect them with new ways to learn and connect with no-cost training.”
Grow Your Own is a program that allows people to learn directly from Extension’s Horticulture Specialist, staff members and Master Gardeners from the Washoe County Office who can answer questions and teach on topics relevant to local gardening and agriculture such as how to choose fruit trees, how to prepare soil, how to check soil health and more.
The next Grow Your Own series will take place via Zoom beginning April 6 through April 29. More information can be found here: http://www.growyourownnevada.com/horticulture-programs/home-horticulture...
Online beekeeping lessons hosted by Dr. Lindsey Chichester have also been a recent addition to the Extension’s education series, which teaches bee enthusiasts how to care for the region’s pollinators as a way to increase their gardening yield as well as helping to increase the bee population.
Extension is also in charge of Carson City’s Community Garden, which still has about five beds available for the upcoming season.
“When you have a community garden, you have a fixed area where you pay a very minimal amount to use the soil, the water and access the expertise to focus on your goal,” said Taylor. “It’s a great opportunity.”
The cost for a 4’ x 14’ bed is $20 for the entire season.
“We try to encourage people to think about not only growing for themselves and their families but we’re also focusing on eliminating food waste and increasing donations of food to our local food banks and the senior center,” said Taylor.
Taylor said that they want to donate more food to the community, and to help those who want to begin gardening or to return to gardening without the large costs that come with setting up a gardening area at people’s homes.
“There’s some people who started very young and moved away or started busy lives and maybe want to pick up gardening again, and we’re here to help,” said Taylor.
Extension also works closely with the Carson City Fair Board, offering 4-H Clubs for the region’s youth, host the Capital City Farm Days event, and partner with many other events and local organizations that align with their goals such as Juntos: For Together We Will Learn, which is a part of their Hispanic outreach program.
“So many people have roots in agriculture but as it relates to their everyday lives, they don’t realize that the food they eat, the clothes they wear, it’s all connected to those roots,” said Taylor.
Going forward, Taylor and the Extension hopes to connect with more of the community and offer additional educational opportunities, and to encourage more people to volunteer.
“We’re a land grant institution,” said Taylor. “We’re here to help, we’re here to support and to provide accurate research-based information, and we’re here to help people increase their quality of life.”
To learn more about the UNR Extension Office for Carson City and Storey County, you can visit https://extension.unr.edu/carson-storey.aspx
