Thinking about becoming a UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardener? Or maybe you haven’t yet heard of our program that was started locally in 2018. We interviewed one of our volunteers, Rosalinda Ruiz, to find out why she became a Master Gardener and what she likes best about it.
Why did you become a UCCE Master Gardener?
I’ve been a Nutrition Educator with the UC CalFresh Nutrition Program for 6½ years. When I learned about this program, I thought it would be a perfect match to learn more about gardening and became a Master Gardener in 2019.
In my role as a nutrition educator, I visit schools, community centers, and other organizations and help them learn healthy grocery shopping habits and meal planning and preparation. As a Master Gardener volunteer, I help create social media content for our Instagram channel. One of my favorite things to do is to create short, educational videos that show people how to garden. I love that I can use my talents and do something I enjoy that benefits the program. You can visit our Instagram account and see my posts and the videos I’ve created @UCMGStanislaus.
What’s your favorite vegetable?
I have to say cauliflower. You can do a lot of different things with it. One of the recipes I like to make is cauliflower tacos. I have a teenage son, so I want to make food he likes that is also healthy. Cauliflower tacos are tasty and make a good vegetarian option, too. They are also super simple and have a lot of flavor. First, cut the cauliflower into small, taco meat size pieces. Then roast them in the oven. Take them out when they turn brown. You can read the rest of the steps and even see pictures on the website at https://eatfresh.org/recipe/main-dish/cauliflower-tacos
Interested in Becoming a Master Gardener?
I think people interested in gardening and volunteering would benefit from being in the program. Visit our site to learn more about who we are, what we do, and to apply. The deadline to apply has been extended to September 3, 2021. If you don’t want to apply online, you can download and print the application, or ask us for a copy. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=49132
