Cultivating Young Minds and Green Thumbs: A Partnership Blooms at May Ranch Elementary

Contributed by Kelli Hague-Shaw, UC Master Gardener of Riverside County

The learning environment at May Ranch Elementary School, Val Verde USD, extends beyond traditional classrooms, reaching into a vibrant space where young students discover the wonders of growth and the joy of hands-on learning. This incredible journey into the world of plants has been made possible through a dedicated partnership with our local Master Gardeners and the truly essential efforts of one remarkable individual: Lois Schneider.

Lois' organizational prowess was instrumental in setting up and stocking seeds for everything we see today. This includes not only providing the necessary materials for cultivating plants but also establishing a truly unique feature: the May Ranch Elementary School Seed Library. Her keen eye for detail and her dedication to sourcing the right materials meant that the seed library was set up for success from day one.

The May Ranch Elementary School Seed Library is more than just a collection of seeds: it's a living, breathing educational tool. With careful guidance, students learn about seed saving, biodiversity, and the importance of open-pollinated varieties. They understand the cycle of growth from a new perspective – not just planting a seed but becoming stewards of future generations of plants. The library encourages a culture of sharing and responsibility, allowing students to "borrow" seeds to grow at school or home, and then, ideally, to bring back seeds from their successful harvests to replenish the library for future students. This innovative approach fosters a deeper connection to gardening and empowers students to be active participants in preserving plant heritage.

The gardening program at May Ranch Elementary with its invaluable seed library is now a hub of activity. Students learn about plant life cycles, sustainable practices, and the importance of healthy habits through direct experience. They get their hands actively planting various specimens, observing the magic of growth firsthand. The results of their efforts often make their way into classroom discussions or are shared within the school community, creating a tangible connection between their work and its positive outcomes.



This flourishing program serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when passionate individuals and dedicated organizations come together. The Master Gardeners' expertise and ongoing guidance have been invaluable, providing the horticultural knowledge that helps our young gardeners thrive. And at the heart of it all is Lois, whose organizational skills and unwavering commitment have truly made the May Ranch Elementary seed library a place where young minds and green thumbs are cultivated in equal measures. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and for the bountiful harvest of knowledge and joy she has helped us sow.

The Master Gardener Helpline Today

Contributed by Jane Payne, Project Coordinator, UC Master Gardener of Riverside County

One Project Team Handles All Riverside County Inquiries

·Volunteers from across Riverside County volunteer on the Helpline and handle all inquiries from the entire Riverside County.

Work Remotely

·Volunteers work from home and answer email inquiries sent to anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu and anrmgindio@ucanr.edu (which is forwarded to the main email account). Voicemail messages are forwarded from the Helpline number, (951) 955-2647.

·Three shifts are available per week on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays (except for holidays).

Our Volunteers

·Currently we have 17 Volunteers; 6 of whom are from the last training class!

·Volunteers include: Susan Bookman, William "Bill" Floyd, Linda Freeman, Alex Groves, Jill Hishmeh, Alex Kagdis, Brenda Kooiman, Nick Koranda, Patricia Malone, Skylar McDonald, Shirley Mirch, Vern Shattuck, Dell Jean Van Fossen, Thomas Vineski, Julie Weatherford and Lisa Wright.

What We Do

·We research and reply with research-based information to inquiries.

·Each volunteer works in the Helpline Outlook account responding to emails and returning calls to the phone messages. The volunteers work on their own. They have a lot of resources, and the Project Coordinator is available to help as needed.

Who We Serve

·Over the past four years our number of inquiries have increased from 377 to 503 inquiries in 2024-2025.

·Inquiries are primarily received via email and from females with plant problems. Each inquiry generally has multiple parts/questions and each inquiry is unique. The questions are generally landscape problems or information requests. 

·Questions are seasonal:

1. Winter: vegetable gardens, rose care, citrus, etc.
2. Spring: plant and tree selection and care, weeds, etc.
3. Summer: pollinators, irrigation, heat stress, etc.
4. Fall: tree care, pruning, tree and plant replacements, etc.
5. Year round: fertilization, soil testing & amendments, arborist, pests, tree and plant ID

Why Volunteers Like Working the Helpline

#1 Learning: “Enhancing their learning”, “Expanding their knowledge”, “Doing the research”

#2 Serving: “Serving the community”, “Providing research-based information”

#3 Flexibility: “Flexibility& convenience of working remotely”

Contact: Jane Payne, janepayne3@verizon.net

Outstanding Volunteer for Recognition: Linda Freeman

Name of Project: Riverside County Remote Helpline

Name of Project Coordinator and Contributor: Jane Payne

Name of Volunteer: Linda Freeman

Reasons for Recognition

Knowledge & Experience: Linda graduated in the class of 2018, starting as an active volunteer working at Information Tables. In June 2023, she began working consistently on the Remote Helpline devoting over 200 hours. She is a member of several garden clubs. Although her passion is roses, she is also interested in citrus, container gardens, herbs, flowering annuals and perennials, succulents, wildlife habitats and much more. She is very interested in maximizing small space gardens and helping mobile home gardeners.

Quality Advice: Linda is an avid learner with a broad interest in all aspects of gardening. Although Linda may know the answer to the Helpline questions, she always adds attachments or links to the research. She also thoroughly answers the question. Her background in customer service gives her the skills to genuinely Greet, Engage, and Thank the inquirer. She shared this GET technique, and we incorporated it in the Helpline Volunteer training and expectations. If you want to gauge the quality of her advice, read the customer comments from the inquiries she answered in June: “Wow! Thanks again – this is great!” “Wow – above and beyond expectations, and I can’t thank you enough! Gardening here has been really challenging, and you gave me a lot of good advice.” “This was so helpful! Thank you!!!”

Going Above & Beyond: While working on the Helpline, Linda voluntarily compiled a list of links to research-based information on all aspects of growing roses for use by our Helpline volunteers. She also volunteered to share the IPM information on Integrated and Sustainable Pest Management to the Riverside County Helpline Volunteers in October 2024. Linda routinely shares UC ANR research-based knowledge online to Facebook Hemet/San Jacinto Gardeners, Valley Beautiful Backyard Gardeners of So Calif, Temecula Valley Rose Society, and Heather Estates Gardeners.

Dependable: Linda will sign up for future shifts several months in advance, which gives her time to adjust her work schedule. She never misses a shift, is very organized, and always completes every task associated with working the Helpline. Aside from doing such an outstanding job, Linda is a pleasure to work with.