In June, we introduced the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC (CFHL, UC) and UC Master Gardener Program Train-the-Trainer Partnership in Growing Healthy Communities Together.
Today, we offer a close-up of this unique collaboration in the form of an Advanced Gardening Skills knowledge share co-delivered by CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE nutrition educators and UC Master Gardener Program volunteers at a food bank in the heart of the Central Valley.
Hosted by The Emergency Food Bank of San Joaquin County, 23 CFHL, UC nutrition educators from across California gathered on August 27, 2025, to participate in an Advanced Gardening Skills training co-led by UC Master Gardener Program volunteers and the CFHL, UC Garden Project Manager, Karina Hathorn, in Stockton, California.
The mission of the Emergency Food Bank is to build a stronger community by providing a safety net of healthy food, nutrition education, and hope to residents of San Joaquin County who find themselves in need. In addition to staple food assistance, the Emergency Food Bank offers a mobile farmers market, nutrition and health education programs, and fresh, seasonal produce grown onsite in a community garden supported by the UC Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County.
The 200 square foot garden features 15 raised beds, a variety of fruit trees, composting systems, and a shaded outdoor classroom. UC Master Gardener volunteers in San Joaquin County grow a variety of culturally relevant foods year-round. In 2023, the garden produced 1,125 pounds of fresh produce. The harvest is distributed directly to food bank clients and incorporated into nutrition education classes hosted at the Food Bank.
A treasured community hub, the garden served as the perfect setting for the Advanced Gardening Skills training. UC Master Gardener volunteers delivered engaging, hands-on activities on topics such as trellis building, pest management, plant problem diagnosis, vermicomposting, irrigation systems, and tool safety and care.
After getting their hands dirty in the garden, participants learned to get their hands clean! CFHL, UCCE staff demonstrated how to deliver a garden-based healthy recipe lesson for children. This included teaching proper handwashing techniques, safe harvesting practices, and hygienic food preparation methods to prevent foodborne illness—all in the context of a working garden.
Participants left the training with practical skills and inspiration they will use to deliver garden education at schools, senior centers, and community gardens in their own communities. The attendees expressed excitement about integrating these practices into existing programs and building stronger relationships with community partners.
“My favorite part was the irrigation segment. We dug into practical details—watering schedules, emitter choices, pressure regulation, and mulching—that I can take straight into school gardens.
This training will help me support schools with actionable fixes, safer demos, more consistent harvests—and ultimately, more students and families engaging with fresh produce.”
-Vladimir Paredes, CFHL, UCCE Community Nutrition Educator, Santa Clara County
Training participants represented CFHL, UC Programs in Alameda, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Merced, Tulare, and Kings Counties. This collaborative training not only advanced professional skills but also fostered a deeper sense of purpose and connection among attendees, strengthening their shared commitment to health equity, sustainability, and food access for communities.
The CFHL, UC, and UC Master Gardener Train-the-Trainer partnership continues to highlight the powerful connection between gardening and nutrition education. Together, the programs are building healthier communities by improving educational resources for CFHL, UCCE staff, and expanding access to historically underrepresented audiences for UC Master Gardener volunteers.
Want to learn more? Contact your local UC Master Gardener program to learn about volunteering opportunities, workshops, and community gardens in your area.
