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Annette Brecheisen From: Pleasanton City Clerk Subject: Master Garden on Bernal Property SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL Provided to the City Council From:Sandy Yamaoda After Distribution of Packet Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 9:30 PM ' -/Y-/7 To: Mayor and City Council c citvcouncil(alcityofpleasantonca.gov> Date Subject: RE: Master Garden on Bernal Property Dear Council Members Pentin and Narum: Thank you for your emails regarding adding the Master Gardener Program to the Bernal Property. I understand this will come before the Council in the future. However, I want to add1a few bits of information. • UC Master Gardeners are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension, an outreach and public service unit of the University of California (UC). Master Gardeners must complete 50 hours of training, and then continue their education for 12 hrs. annually and 25 hours of volunteer work a year. For example, in Contra Costa County the Master Gardeners have a large garden at 2405 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek with 300 sq. feet of row crops, 12-15 fruit trees, asparagus plants, grapes, potting tables, compost site, etc. • The Master Garden program consists of accessible teaching/educational gardens and are not community gardens like Val Vista Park. They are maintained by the Master Gardeners and receive funding from Alameda County. • The Master Gardeners have classes free to the public and school children, maintain gardens and answer questions at the Farmers' markets in Pleasanton and Livermore, give talks, on-site demonstrations, plant clinics, staff phone help lines, train at community gardens, fairs and nurseries, write newspaper articles, and much more. For information on the Alameda County Master Garden Program in Oakland, Livermore, Fremont see http://acmq.ucanr.edu/ • Members of the LAVGC(Livermore Amador Valley Garden Club) are Master Gardeners as are other residents of Pleasanton. As a member of Livermore Amador Valley Garden Club (LAVGC) I support the educational coals of the Master Gardener Program. Young and old Residents of Pleasanton can benefit from a Master Gardener Program on the Bernal Property without having to travel to other cities for classes. There is always more to learn about sustainable gardening practices. Here are a few things about our club (www.LAVGC.orq ): The LAVGC has been in our community for over 30 years. Many prominent members of our community and Master Gardeners are in the club. Our group has volunteered hundreds of hours to the Tri-Valley Community and we have: Maintained the Sensory Garden at the Pleasanton Senior Center, annually trimmed roses for the residents of Pleasanton Gardens, created a large well-used vegetable garden for the residents of Pleasanton Gardens, volunteered to maintain the gardens at Camp Arroyo (a unique camp experience) for children with special needs and local schools groups. Over a 4 year period grew and donated 6,343 pounds of produce to provide fresh, organic produce to those in need, etc. Since 1999 our club has donated over $8,000 to help plant 109 acres of trees to sustain our national and urban forests. I