ONTARIO, Ore. – When Russell Smith-Ollivierre arrived in Eastern Oregon for a new job with the Oregon State University Extension Service, he knew something was missing.
“Gardening has been a part of my life for a while, so when I came here and I realized that Malheur County didn’t have a Master Gardener program, it struck me as something that needs to be here,” said Smith-Ollivierre, who joined OSU Extension in 2023 as a general agriculture educator.
After performing a needs assessment, Smith-Ollivierre determined there was enough interest for Malheur to become the latest county in Oregon to have a Master Gardener program.
Master Gardener volunteer training is conducted by local OSU Extension educators, with support and guidance from the statewide office. Master Gardener trainees access online classes and participate in local, in-person workshops. Every county has a different timeframe and application process, with some trainings in late winter, and some in spring.
Malheur’s educational program covered the basics of botany, understanding pesticides, entomology — Smith-Ollivierre brought pinned insects to a class — and integrated pest management. Soil health and plant pathology are also covered. Sessions included guest speakers and demonstrations that were accompanied by workshops.
“I had zero gardening experience and little science experience. This program is definitely accessible to anybody,” said MacKay Stephens, a Master Gardener in training.
In late winter, the Master Gardener trainees practiced pruning various plants at a workshop led by a community member.
“We try to get them to do as many hands-on activities as possible,” Smith-Ollivierre said. “You tend to retain more when it’s hands on.”
To become a certified Master Gardener, participants complete 40 hours of training classes and 40 hours of Master Gardener volunteer service.
“They have been giving back to the community and very willingly so,” Smith-Ollivierre said. “They’re really enthusiastic about it.”
Volunteers have taken part in tree plantings and rose pruning within the community, as well as the local food pantry garden. The program has also received a 1-acre plot from local resident Mark Clark to turn into a community garden space.
“There is a story that there was a sticky note on Russell’s computer when he got to Malheur County that read ‘contact Mark Clark,’” said Clark, who with his wife Sharon Katz has worked closely with Extension for many years and were happy to work with Smith-Ollivierre on the donation.
The volunteers-in-training plan to host an informational booth at the Ontario Saturday Market to offer gardening information and to provide more information about the program, in addition to a plant clinic.
“I’m grateful this program exists in our county,” Stephens said.
From the Caribbean to the range
This work fits in with Smith-Ollivierre’s expertise. Originally from Barbados, he had his own 4-acre farm on the Caribbean Island. He started his career as an educator as a high school agriculture teacher and worked as a consultant for local farmers.
“I did two workshops where I helped farmers in Barbados with sustainable management practices,” Smith-Ollivierre said.
Over the course of nine years, Smith-Ollivierre taught agricultural sciences, horticulture and aquaculture. Smith-Ollivierre also worked for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, teaching post-high school youth about aquaponics and aquaculture.
Smith-Ollivierre also managed the school gardens where he worked.
“We had two gardens at our school and we were entered at many school competitions. We came first for four consecutive years against 15 other schools,” Smith-Ollivierre said.
After years of teaching Smith-Ollivierre wanted to try something new: “I felt as though I needed a new journey.”
That journey would bring him to Malheur County in September 2023. The adjustment from consulting and teaching agricultural sciences to Extension work was all about transitioning skills and knowledge to a new environment, Smith-Ollivierre said.
“It’s interesting to see how he takes what he knows and applies it to Malheur County,” Stephens said.
“The transition was very natural and organic,” Smith-Ollivierre said, “I was a bit nervous but things went really well.”
“Russell has tons of knowledge and is very community oriented,” said Emerald Lewis, a Master Gardener trainee. “We are super lucky to have him in the area.”
