Learning in the Field

One of the strengths of UC Cooperative Extension is that each advisor’s program is grounded in local conditions while still benefiting from collaboration across the state. There is a great deal to learn simply by observing how experienced advisors approach their work.

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to spend several days in Southern California with the former UC Cooperative Extension Production Horticulture Advisor Gerry Spinelli after attending the San Diego CAPCA Nursery & Greenhouse Seminar. My goals were fairly straightforward. I wanted to see nursery production systems that were both similar and different from those on the Central Coast, meet growers and industry professionals, and gain ideas that would help shape my own Extension program. While the conference provided valuable professional development, some of the most meaningful insights came from simply observing Extension at work.

During the week, we visited several commercial nursery operations, including a couple that had requested assistance with irrigation issues. Neither visit ended with a quick diagnosis or an immediate solution. Instead, the conversations focused on understanding the problem. We asked questions, looked at irrigation equipment, discussed what had changed, and worked with the growers to narrow down possible causes. By the time we left, we hadn't solved either issue, but we had helped identify what information was needed and what steps should come next.

That process struck me because it reflects what good Extension is all about. While we certainly provide research-based recommendations, our role isn't always to arrive with an immediate answer. More often, our role is to help growers work through complex problems by asking the right questions, gathering information, and connecting observations to science-based solutions.

Of course, irrigation happened to be the topic because that's Gerry's area of expertise. Yet the experience was about much more than irrigation. It was an opportunity to observe how technical knowledge, strong relationships, and years of trust come together to support an industry. Gerry's ability to communicate fluently in Spanish allowed conversations to flow naturally, but what stood out most was the rapport he had built with the growers we visited. The discussions were technical, practical, and often accompanied by laughter, a reminder that successful Extension programs are built one relationship at a time.

Another observation that stayed with me was the role water plays in Southern California nursery production. Prior to this position, I worked for Ohio State University Extension, a state where water is generally plentiful. I expected irrigation to be important, but I hadn't appreciated just how central it is to nearly every management decision. Conversations about injector calibration, distribution uniformity, and water recycling weren't isolated topics. They were woven into nearly every discussion we had throughout the week.

At the San Diego CAPCA Nursery Greenhouse Seminar, the range of topics reflected the complexity of nursery production systems. Presentations covered integrated pest management, sanitation, biological control, diseases, regulations, and emerging pests, highlighting the many factors growers must balance in their operations. While irrigation was one piece of that larger picture, it was clear that successful production depends on integrating multiple management strategies. It was interesting to hear these challenges discussed in the conference setting and then see many of the same concepts being applied in commercial nurseries.

Perhaps the greatest value of the trip, however, came from the opportunity to collaborate. Whether walking through nurseries with advisors, exchanging ideas with specialists, meeting growers at their operations, or talking with industry representatives at CAPCA, the week reinforced that Extension is not a solo effort. Strong programs are built through partnerships, shared ideas, and a willingness to learn from one another.

As I continue developing my own Extension program on the Central Coast, I'll certainly carry home new ideas about irrigation management and nursery production. More importantly, I'll carry home a renewed appreciation for spending time where the questions originate, in growers' operations, working alongside the people we serve. The experience reinforced that the strongest Extension programs are built by spending time with growers, understanding their challenges, and developing solutions together.

Acknowledgments

My sincere thanks to Gerry Spinelli for coordinating this visit and for the opportunity to learn alongside him. I am grateful to the teams at Altman Specialty Plants, Sunlet Nursery, Weidner's Gardens, and the other nursery operations that welcomed us and generously shared their time and expertise. Thank you as well to UC Cooperative Extension Advisors Grant Johnson, Natalie Levy, Chris Shogren, and Lydia Tymon for their collegiality and conversations. I also appreciate the opportunity to meet soil scientist Bill Darlington, who generously shared his time and insights at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center. Finally, thank you to Extension Specialist Don Merhaut for his hospitality, thoughtful conversations, and for generously sharing his perspectives on California's nursery industry and Extension programming.