The Tennessee Extension 1Master Gardener Program NATALIE BUMGARNER Extension Specialist University of Tennessee This chapter includes some content from Chapter 1 of the previous TEMG handbook.
Cover photo by Brandon Dill for UTIA 1-2
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE TEMG PROGRAM 1-5 Purpose...1-5 Value of the Program to Tennessee...1-6 Beginning the Extension Master Gardener Journey...1-6 EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER BACKGROUND 1-8 Program History...1-8 University of Tennessee Extension Its History and Mission...1-8 THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM WITHIN TENNESSEE EXTENSION 1-12 UT Extension and the Extension Master Gardener Program...1-12 Within Extension...1-12 At the County Level...1-12 At the Regional Level...1-12 At the State Level...1-12 At the National Level...1-12 Role of Local TEMG Coordinators and Associations...1-13 Relationship of Extension Master Gardeners to Other Programs...1-13 Junior Master Gardener...1-13 THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN THE TEMG PROGRAM 1-14 The Role of the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Extension...1-14 The Role of TEMG Volunteers...1-14 Information Resources and Materials...1-14 Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Handbook...1-14 Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Website...1-15 Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program Guide...1-15 University of Tennessee Extension Website...1-15 Evaluating Materials for Personal Education and Teaching Purposes...1-15 Is the Information Backed by Solid Agricultural or Horticultural Research?...1-15 What is the Source of the Information?...1-16 SUMMARY 1-16 1-3
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) growing on an arbor Photo by Kathy Jacobs 1-4
The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener (TEMG) program is an essential part of the University of Tennessee s Extension efforts to serve Tennesseans involved in residential and consumer horticulture. The TEMG program relies on a talented and dedicated team of trained volunteers to extend the reach and impact of the University of Tennessee (UT) Extension and Tennessee State University (TSU) Extension (together referred to as Tennessee Extension). This chapter will introduce you to the TEMG program, the crucial role volunteers play in horticulture Extension, and the value the program provides to the state. It also gives a brief history of Extension and the Extension Master Gardener program to help you better understand how these programs build upon the agriculture research and Extension components of Tennessee s land-grant universities. INTRODUCTION TO THE TEMG PROGRAM Purpose Across the state, questions from residents about ornamental landscape plants and lawns as well as vegetable and fruit gardens are among those most often received in UT Extension offices. However, there are limits to the number of people who can be served and educational programs that can be delivered by full-time Extension personnel to this ever-expanding number of residents seeking horticultural guidance and information. To meet these needs, the TEMG program trains knowledgeable and committed volunteers to work with Tennessee Extension in providing the public with sound, researchbased information on a variety of horticultural topics. TEMG volunteers broaden the impact of Tennessee Extension by carrying out a wide range of horticultural training and teaching activities in their communities. TEMG 1-5
volunteers provide a valuable link between current horticultural research, Tennessee Extension personnel, and the residents of Tennessee. Your active participation in this unique volunteer training and service program can produce valuable benefits for two important reasons. First, you have a passion for learning about horticulture and sharing your knowledge with others, and that is the heart of the program s effectiveness. Second, this program is based on the research and outreach expertise of Extension professionals across the state. The dedication and experience of volunteers combined with the educational resources available via Extension can have an exceptional impact. Value of the Program to Tennessee The primary value of Tennessee Extension Master Gardeners is in extending the capacity of Tennessee Extension to serve people in urban, suburban, and rural areas. In Tennessee, the strength of the TEMG program lies in the ability of local volunteers to address local needs using the training and resources of Tennessee Extension. TEMG groups work closely with county Extension agents (called county coordinators ), who serve as the leaders of the local TEMG groups. These agents understand the residential and consumer horticulture needs of the area, and they guide local TEMG groups to expand and enhance the horticulture education capacity of county offices. TEMG volunteers contribute time, resources, experience, and knowledge to provide information that addresses the horticultural and gardening needs and interests of Tennesseans. The TEMG program is a unique volunteer opportunity because Extension invests at least 40 hours of research-based horticultural training in each volunteer. In return, that volunteer provides at least 40 hours of service through the local Extension Office during the same year to become certified. In following years, Extension Master Gardeners can remain engaged with Extension and have the opportunity to continue to add to their horticultural knowledge with continued training and service in the community. These Extension Master Gardeners are liaisons for the local Extension office and represent Tennessee Extension during their period of service. Although numbers vary over time, there are typically almost 40 TEMG groups in Tennessee with nearly 2,500 active Extension Master Gardeners. These volunteers donated more than 178,800 hours of service valued at over $3,600,000 in 2014 (www.independentsector. org/programs/research/volunteer_time.html). Beginning the Extension Master Gardener Journey An Extension Master Gardener in training will be considered an intern until completion of the certification requirements. These requirements include horticultural training and volunteer service to your community. The TEMG program is composed of the three critical elements shown in the figure below. During training, the intern will learn Community outreach and service Three critical elements of the TEMG program Initial training and preparation Ongoing education and skill development 1-6
MISSION VISION SLOGAN VALUES The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener program seeks to improve the lives of Tennesseans by promoting environmental stewardship, noncommercial food production, and human health and well-being through residential and consumer horticulture education delivered by a dedicated and skilled volunteer network. The TEMG program provides innovative, research-based, and usable residential and consumer horticulture information to all Tennessee communities and residents. Helping Tennessee Grow Better Communities. The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener program adheres to these values: Providing research-based residential and consumer horticulture education in a responsive and timely manner to augment and extend Tennessee Extension programs and achieve the Extension mission. Collaborating with Extension personnel and local municipal and nonprofit groups to offer educational leadership for better horticulture practices and programs in communities across Tennessee. Fostering a vibrant and effective learning environment that supports committed and engaged volunteers and attracts new Extension Master Gardener volunteers to the program. Encouraging environmental stewardship, noncommercial food production, and youth education in communities and cities across Tennessee through engaging education and outreach programs. Investing in educational tools and events that provide information to meet present needs while laying the foundation to serve Tennessee residents and communities in the future. more about the volunteer opportunities and practices of TEMGs in your area. As you begin your Extension Master Gardener journey, you will find there are many resources available to assist you in providing volunteer service. The fact that you are a Master Gardener does not mean you have to know everything! This manual has much of the basic information you will need, and other TEMG materials provide information and links to other Extension resources. The TEMG program fosters continued learning and requires volunteers to complete at least 8 hours of continued education each year to augment their initial training. Specific information regarding the Master Gardener 1-7
certification requirements can be found in UT Extension publication W-199, Tennessee Master Gardener Volunteer Handbook. As a Tennessee Extension Master Gardener volunteer you will participate in a practical and intensive training program learn more about Tennessee plants, gardening, and environmental stewardship share your horticultural knowledge with others invest in horticulture outreach and education in your community. EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER BACKGROUND Program History The Extension Master Gardener program had a true grassroots beginning. It was developed to meet an overwhelming local horticultural need. David Gibby, an Extension agent in Washington State, envisioned the concept of the Master Gardener volunteer program in 1972. Its primary purpose was to train and empower horticultural volunteers. These volunteers were essential to the Extension mission because agricultural Extension agents were unable to keep up with the questions and needs of their residential and consumer horticulture clientele. The program is now internationally recognized and is provided by land-grant universities across the country. Davidson County, in the Nashville area, organized the first Tennessee Master Gardener training program in 1986. Extension specialists and county agents studied this pilot program and evaluated the programs of other states to develop the current statewide curriculum and standards for the Tennessee program. Dr. David Sams, Professor and Extension Specialist, compiled the first Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook in 1989. Since that time, the program has added groups around the state in addition to formulating training programs and materials and hosting many events for Extension Master Gardener volunteers. The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener program now has nearly 40 groups around the state with volunteers from more than half of Tennessee counties. Master Gardener volunteers in Tennessee are participants in the agricultural history of our state. For a more complete understanding of the organization and mission of the TEMG program, it helps to understand the origins of Tennessee s land-grant universities. University of Tennessee Extension Its History and Mission To fully understand Extension and the role of Extension Master Gardeners, it is necessary to grasp the distinctive purpose and history of the universities with which all TEMGs serve. Universities that have Extension systems are known as land-grant institutions. Tennessee has two land-grant universities: the University of Tennessee (UT, an 1862 land-grant institution) and Tennessee State University (TSU, an 1890 land-grant institution). At UT, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) includes four units designed to serve Tennesseans: teaching, research, Extension, and veterinary medicine. At TSU, teaching, research, and Extension are located within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Sciences. Land- grant universities, colleges, and other institutions were established through the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. The Morrill Acts directed that federally controlled lands be given to the states to develop or sell to fund the establishment of state landgranted colleges. It was clear the United States would require a strong agricultural, scientific, and engineering foundation to support development of the growing nation. These colleges were created to provide muchneeded education for students in these areas. At that time, the mission of the land-grant system was to provide education in agricultural science and engineering to respond to the developing industrial revolution and the resulting changes in society. Since that time, new knowledge about economic development, youth development, family and consumer 1-8
Important Dates in Tennessee's Agricultural and Horticultural History 1862 The federal Morrill Act provided resources for states to develop land-grant colleges to provide education in the agriculture and mechanical fields. The University of Tennessee is the land-grant institution in our state founded under the 1862 Act. 1890 Through a second Morrill Act, Congress provided for the establishment of an additional 17 colleges in the southern states for education of African-Americans. Tennessee State University is the land-grant institution in our state founded under the 1890 Act. 1905 The Tennessee Nursery Association was established to advance the state horticultural industry and professional standards; the nursery industry was born in middle Tennessee but has since spread statewide. 1973 David Gibby, Washington State County Agent, hosted the first Master Gardener training class. 1994 Native American land-grant colleges were created in the northern portion of the midwestern states. Tennessee does not have any 1994 land-grant colleges. 1887 The Hatch Act provided for the establishment of research facilities in each state to develop the new knowledge needed to improve agriculture and the local economy. 1899 Nine southern members of the American Association of Nurserymen organized the Southern Nurseryman Association, which held its first southern meeting in Chattanooga. 1914 The Smith-Lever Act provided for the establishment of the Cooperative Extension Service to distribute information developed by the land-grant universities and research stations to the people where they lived. 1986 Davidson County hosted the first Tennessee Extension Master Gardener training program. 1-9
The University of Tennessee s ten research centers are designed to meet the needs of producers and consumers in specific types of production and areas of the state. science, food science, and nutrition have been developed at land-grant institutions to meet the changing needs in the states and country. Extension programs have been created to carry or extend that knowledge beyond the campuses to state residents who can apply it directly on their farms and in their homes and businesses. In 1887, the Hatch Act established Agriculture Experiment Stations in each state. Experiment Stations were added to land-grant universities to perform research in support of enhanced development and productivity in related industries. In Tennessee, our Agricultural Experiment Station, centered at UTIA in Knoxville, has locations around Tennessee focusing on specific areas of need in various parts of the state. These centers are now known in Tennessee as AgResearch and Education Centers. (See listing on facing page.) The third component of the land-grant university outreach was added in 1914 by passage of the Smith-Lever Act. This legislation officially created the Cooperative Extension Service. The Extension mission is to disseminate information developed through research conducted at land-grant universities and state Experiment Stations to residents and producers in the state to enhance agricultural productivity, improve lives through family and consumer sciences, and support economic growth through resource development. University of Tennessee Extension is the off-campus educational unit of the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), which is part of the University of Tennessee system. The TEMG program is operated and supported by UTIA through UT Extension. In many counties, Memphis West TN Ames Milan Jackson Nashville Middle TN Highland Rim Dairy Murfreesboro TSU Extension personnel collaborate with UT personnel to deliver Extension outreach to residents. Together, these two universities and their personnel form the statewide Tennessee Extension organization, which is funded by federal, state, and local governments. With an office in every county, Tennessee Extension brings research-based information about agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and resource development to the people of Tennessee where they live and work. Because Tennessee Extension emphasizes helping people improve their lives and livelihood wherever they are located, most Tennesseans have contact with Extension agents located in one of the state s 95 counties. Extension educators in your county include agriculture agents, family and consumer science agents, and 4-H/youth agents. Agriculture agents are responsible for animals and livestock, crops and nursery production, environmental management and natural resources, lawns and gardens, and farm management. County family and consumer science agents help clientele with family economics, health and safety, human development, nutrition, and food safety issues. 4-H/ youth development agents are involved with youth outreach programs through which young people are encouraged to participate in skill-building activities that promote learning by doing. Extension agents are supported by area and state specialists and faculty members in all of the above subject areas as well as by the educational and research resources and activities of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), other land-grant universities, and county Extension personnel throughout the TENNESSEE Plateau Chattanooga Forest Resources Knoxville East TN Johnson City Greeneville 1-10
Description of AgResearch and Education Centers Operated by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture AMES Located at the Ames Plantation about 60 miles east of Memphis, this historic facility has forested land and row-crop areas in addition to beef cattle and horse production. Ames also raises flight-conditioned quail suitable for restocking areas where quail habitat is not a limiting factor. DAIRY This Center near Lewisburg conducts research on use of forage in dairy rations, dairy cattle breeding and genetics, dairy reproduction, mastitis and udder health, water quality, and dairy waste management. EAST TENNESSEE/UT GARDENS The main office and seven research units of the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center are located south and east of Knoxville. Research areas of emphasis include turfgrass management; soybean, corn and wheat breeding; switchgrass production and processing; organic vegetable crops and season extension; plant diseases; weed management and control; reproductive management in beef and dairy cattle; row crop and forage variety testing, and more. In addition, the Knoxville branch of the UT Gardens, which is the Tennessee State Botanical Garden and a certified arboretum, is located on the UTIA campus. FOREST RESOURCES Headquartered in Oak Ridge, the Center s three forest units develop new technologies applicable to modern forestry, wildlife resources management, and environmental stewardship. This unit is also a certified arboretum. GREENEVILLE This Center conducts research on all aspects of burley tobacco production; variety testing, pest management, and breeding of field crops important to the agriculture of Upper East Tennessee; and animal genetics. HIGHLAND RIM This Center conducts cow-calf research emphasizing forage utilization and breeding efficiency; beef and cattle production; tobacco breeding and management; and soybean breeding. MIDDLE TENNESSEE This Center is the site of research studies in beef and dairy cattle, commercial crops, fruit trees, and forage crops. MILAN Research in corn, cotton, soybeans, grain-sorghum, wheat, and cover crops are under way at this Center. These studies address cropping systems rotations, tillage systems, row width, plant population, varietal evaluation, date of planting, fertilizer rates and sources, remote sensing, and precision agriculture and irrigation of row crops, plus crop pests and diseases. PLATEAU AND UT GARDENS-CROSSVILLE: DISCOVERY GARDEN This Center is about equidistant from Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga and is the site of research in the production of beef, fruits and vegetables, ornamentals, field crops, and swine. It is also the home of the Plateau Discovery Gardens. This branch of the UT Gardens is managed by the Cumberland County Master Gardeners. WEST TENNESSEE/ UT GARDENS-JACKSON This Center conducts research on ornamentals, turfgrasses, and agronomic and horticultural crops. It is the site of UT Gardens-Jackson, the third UT Gardens locations and a certified arboretum. 1-11
The three regions of Tennessee Extension Shelby Lake Lauderdale Tipton Dyer Obion Gibson Weakley Madison Haywood Fayette Crockett Hardeman Western Region Carroll Chester McNairy Henry Henderson Decatur Hardin Benton Stewart Montgomery Robertson Sumner Houston Perry Humphreys Wayne Dickson Hickman Lewis Lawrence Cheatham Davidson Williamson Maury Giles nation. The stated mission of Extension is to help people improve their lives through an educational process that applies scientific knowledge to issues and needs. THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM WITHIN TENNESSEE EXTENSION UT Extension and the Extension Master Gardener Program Marshall Wilson Rutherford Trous. Cannon Macon Smith Franklin Clay Pickett Jackson Overton Fentress DeKalb Putnam White Van Warren Buren Bedford Coffee Grundy Lincoln WITHIN EXTENSION The TEMG program is a vital part of the outreach program in residential and consumer horticulture supported and managed by UT Extension. TEMG volunteers collaborate with agents and specialists to carry out education only in the area of noncommercial horticulture. Tennessee Extension agents and faculty members provide education and assistance to the commercial horticulture industry, including nurseries, greenhouses, and fruit and vegetable producers. AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TEMG is one of many programs implemented by UT and TSU Extension staff through county Extension offices. County support is visible to volunteers because county governments typically provide substantial funding for support staff, operating expenses, equipment, and office space. County UT Extension Offices design their programs to respond to local concerns and issues. Each TEMG program is managed by a county Extension agent who serves as the county Central Region Moore Marion Sequatchie Cumberland Bledsoe Hamilton Rhea Meigs Bradley Scott Morgan Roane Loudon Campbell Anderson Monroe McMinn Polk Eastern Region Blount Hancock Claiborne Hawkins Union Knox Grainger Jefferson Sevier Hamblen Cocke Greene Washington Sullivan Unicoi coordinator and has responsibility for guiding the county s TEMG program. The Extension Master Gardener program is an important component of a county s Extension outreach, but county coordinators also have responsibility for implementing and supporting several other agricultural programs in their counties. AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL UT Extension has three regional offices: Western, Central, and Eastern. Each county office program (such as 4-H and Extension Master Gardener) is supported by a regional UT Extension program leader and regional director. AT THE STATE LEVEL The TEMG Program is one of the many Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) programs provided by UT Extension and UTIA. The state coordinator for the TEMG program is a faculty member and a residential and consumer horticulture Extension specialist who reports to the head of the Plant Sciences Department and the dean of UT Extension. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL Tennessee Extension, and thus the TEMG program, fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture. As representatives of UT Extension, volunteers must follow federal guidelines and cooperate in reporting diversity information as they serve the public. National Extension Master Gardener committees and collaborations also provide educational opportunities for members and for county and state coordinators. These conferences and workshops occur at diverse Carter Johnson 1-12
locations to provide volunteers and coordinators a chance to learn about horticulture on a regional level and connect with others working in the program in the US and internationally. Role of Local TEMG Coordinators and Associations Your county agent or local Extension Master Gardener coordinator oversees the local organization to assure that the program is meeting the horticultural needs of the community. At the county level, the TEMG Tennessee Department of Agriculture UT Extension is different in form and structure from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), which provides regulation of agricultural crops including forestry, turf, and ornamentals. TDA also regulates the use of pesticides, develops procedures for controlling epidemic pests, promotes the sale and use of Tennessee agricultural products, develops Agricultural Enhancement programs to support farm development, and promotes agricultural marketing. coordinator and UT Extension Office staff are assisted by local Master Gardener organizations in coordinating TEMG programs. Local Master Gardener organizations provide financial support, other resources, and program planning assistance. As a certified Extension Master Gardener volunteer, you will work with your local organization to support the Extension outreach efforts in your county or area. More information on the roles and responsibilities of the TEMG coordinators can be found in UT Extension Publication W-199. Relationship of Extension Master Gardeners to Other Programs TEMG volunteers collaborate with other UT Extension programs (4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture and Natural Resources), various federal agencies (such as the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Natural Resource Conservation Service), state agencies (for example, the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Ecology), county and city agencies (city parks, water quality and conservation agencies, and waste management and recycling agencies), numerous local organizations (community garden clubs, service groups, schools, churches, and nonprofit agencies), and individuals. The scope of involvement varies by county and by local TEMG organization. Volunteers are encouraged to function as an educational resource for their community by participating with other community groups and programs. Junior Master Gardener Junior Master Gardener ( JMG) is a national youth gardening educational program created by Texas A&M University. JMG clubs or camps create opportunities for kids to learn more about gardening, nature, health, and the environment. The University of Tennessee Extension is a state sponsor for the JMG program. Local leadership for the JMG program can be shared with the 4-H program in the county. JMG programs can take many different forms to fit the needs of a community, including 1-13
summer camps, after-school clubs, and home schooling groups. For more information about starting a registered JMG group, visit the JMG website or contact the state coordinator. THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN THE TEMG PROGRAM The Role of the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Extension Earlier in this chapter, the history of land-grant universities was presented along with that of Experiment Stations and Extension Services. This three-dimensional combination of research, teaching, and outreach is uniquely effective because all functions are interconnected and together address the needs of producers, students, residents, and consumers in Tennessee. Research to meet those needs can take a variety of forms. All land-grant university research, though, consists of carefully controlled studies designed to provide reliable information that can be used to improve agriculture and commerce as well as human health and well-being within and beyond Tennessee. This information is then disseminated to students, Tennessee residents, scientific communities, and the general public. In addition to Experiment Station scientists, members of the teaching and Extension faculty at land-grant universities also conduct research. In fact, many Extension faculty members have partial appointments that involve research responsibilities in their specific area of expertise. Even specialists and agents without dedicated research appointments often carry out applied research or collaborate with members of the research faculty. Within Extension, faculty members and specialists often have the responsibility not only of carrying out applied research but also delivering information to agents to use when working with producers and other residents. In addition, interactions with producers and residents at Extension events provides valuable feedback that helps define future research needs and priorities. These interconnected teaching, research, and Extension roles combine to provide the highest quality and most applicable information to residents and growers in Tennessee. The Role of TEMG Volunteers TEMG volunteers play a key role in helping to deliver valuable research findings to residents of Tennessee. One of the most important things for volunteers to understand is that they speak and teach as representatives of the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Extension. This means that horticultural information taught and shared with the public through all TEMG programs, events, and service activities must be based on valid research findings. This information must also be consistent across Tennessee Extension and among all specialists, agents, and volunteers who teach and present information. Volunteers with passion, knowledge, and the desire to assist are often tempted to deliver information that is based on personal experience or observation. Delivery of such anecdotal information does not meet the standard of the land-grant university and Extension mission. The information delivered by TEMG volunteers must be supported by reliable research and must be scientifically valid. That is a high standard, but it is what sets the Extension Master Gardener program apart from other gardening organizations. Master Gardeners are not just knowledgeable gardeners, they are trained with and supported by reliable information developed through scientific research. This is not just our mission, it is also a point of pride and credibility. One of the benefits of being an Extension Master Gardener is the opportunity to be involved with research and to have access to new knowledge and practices as they become known. Information Resources and Materials TENNESSEE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK This Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook is provided to our volunteers and educators enrolled as Extension Master Gardener interns. 1-14
It is essentially a textbook that serves as a guide for training presentations. In addition, this printed manual and the accompanying web-based content is designed to provide a foundation of horticultural information useful for fulfilling your service requirements. Keep in mind that many other reliable resources (referenced in the following chapters) will also be valuable on your Extension Master Gardener journey. TENNESSEE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER WEBSITE The purpose of the TEMG website is to increase communication and information sharing among the state TEMG coordinator and leadership and the local Master Gardeners and associations. Some specific uses include providing resources and support materials, evaluating information via databases, facilitating recruitment, and publicizing local projects. Extension Master Gardeners must submit reports of their own time contributed or have that time entered by the county designated record-keeper through the state database. TENNESSEE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM GUIDE The Tennessee Master Gardener Volunteer Handbook (Publication W-199) contains guidelines and policies of the program as they pertain to volunteers and their role in the local TEMG organization. This document is updated regularly and is accessible on the TEMG and UT Extension websites. TEMG volunteers must adhere to these University of Tennessee policies to maintain certification in the TEMG program. The certification requirements listed in this handbook should be considered a minimum standard. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE EXTENSION WEBSITE The UT Extension website provides access to Extension resources and information tailored to our climates, soil, and crops. When Master Gardeners need information to deliver to the general public, this site can provide high-quality information developed by UT Extension. Evaluating Materials for Personal Education and Teaching Purposes To meet the needs of the learners you will work with, you will sometimes need to seek information from a variety of sources. As you do so, ask yourself the two following questions. IS THE INFORMATION BACKED BY SOLID AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH? Research is a word that is often used but not always well understood. In general terms, it is the study of a specific topic, area, or issue that has been carried out in a consistent, accurate, and controlled manner using methods that are designed to test a hypothesis. These tests or Understanding the Lingo: Controls in Scientific Research One of the most common tools used in many types of research is to include some test cases to which the treatment being tested is not applied. This enables the researcher to compare results obtained both with and without the experimental treatment. Proper use of controls provides comparisons to determine if experimental treatments provide advantages over other methods or products. For example, when variety trials are conducted, current varieties act as controls when they are grown using identical methods alongside new varieties to ensure that any differences can be clearly observed. 1-15
methods will then produce results that address the given issue or question. That broad definition touches on three important characteristics of research. First, research begins with a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a given observation or situation. Research begins with a hypothesis because it requires that questions and possible explanations are defined and there is a means for accepting or rejecting the proposed explanation. The second characteristic is that the hypothesis is tested using consistent, controlled tests that can be replicated by the original researcher and others. Controls are critical in research as a standard to compare with experimental results whether in plants or people. The final important characteristic is the presentation of results. The results of highquality research will be presented in a clear manner that does not distort the data or observations. The information is presented, important details and circumstances are explained, and discussion or insights may be offered that explain possible conclusions and areas for further study. Often, observations and informal evaluations are carried out and represented as research. It is important for Extension Master Gardeners to be able to recognize such information and its limited reliability. Look for the presence of controls in the study and consider whether the study could be completed again (replicated) to verify the reported results. Be cautious in reading results and the conclusions drawn, and always be on the alert for information presented in a way that pushes the reader to a specific conclusion without reliable supporting data and analysis. WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION? Research carried out at land-grant universities and Experiment Stations is performed by public employees, and findings are delivered by public institutions that will not benefit from the sale of any products tested. Private industry research plays a vital role in our nation s agricultural productivity and will continue to provide important contributions. However, as a TEMG volunteer, it is essential that you understand whether information is derived from publicly supported research or from private companies or researchers. Research from industry sources can be valid and useful, but it should be carefully evaluated for its objectivity, and the source should be known and clearly stated. As representatives of the University of Tennessee, our highest priority is to deliver information that is accurate and unbiased. The most readily accessible and reliable sources of that information are landgrant universities and Extension sources. SUMMARY The TEMG program provides training and support for engaged and committed volunteers who can then provide the public with researchbased information on a variety of horticultural topics. It is built upon the Extension mission of delivering applicable information that improves the lives and livelihoods of Tennesseans. The TEMG program relies on the research foundation of the University of Tennessee and fosters an initiative to teach others while continuing the pursuit of knowledge. 1-16
SOURCE: Pam Swoner, MGDC Davidson County Junior Master Gardener Camp 1-17
Passion flower (Passiflora spp.) Photo by Carol Reese 1-18
Getting to Know the State of Tennessee State motto: Agriculture and Commerce Major rivers and bodies of water: Tennessee River, Mississippi River, Cumberland River, Clinch River, Duck River, Kentucky Lake, Norris Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Cherokee Lake, and Tims Ford Reservoir STATE FLOWER STATE INSECTS STATE BUTTERFLY STATE AMPHIBIAN STATE REPTILE STATE AGRICULTURAL INSECT STATE WILDFLOWER STATE GAME FISH STATE BIRD STATE GAME BIRD STATE ANIMAL STATE TREE STATE SOIL TYPE STATE ROCK Iris (genus Iridaceae) Eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis) Ladybird beetle (order Coleoptera family Coccinellidae) Zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Passion flower (genus Passiflora) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) Tennessee-Dickson Limestone and agate 1-19
1-20