Growing & Belonging learning levels

The concepts of growing and belonging are essential to the success of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program. We subscribe to a philosophy of personal and communal growth—in our gardens and ourselves. We offer programs and services that welcome and serve Oregonians interested in gardening, regardless of their income or education level, physical or cognitive ability, age, race/ethnicity, or any other protected aspect of their identities.

None of us are born ready to educate and support such a diverse audience. In fact, mainstream U.S. culture—our media, educational systems, and social and political structures—often nudge us not to think far beyond our families or neighborhoods. Due to human nature, personal comfort, and/or social engineering, we often spend time with people who look, think, and act very much like ourselves.

In addition, the U.S.’s economic realities, social mores, and cultural practices are evolving rapidly. It can be hard to keep up with all the subtle changes in language and appropriate behavior.

Despite these internal and external challenges, Master Gardener volunteers must be ready to welcome and serve participants with diverse interests, experiences, needs, and perspectives. Accordingly, we require all volunteers (new trainees as well as returning) to pursue at least one hour of continuing education each year that will help them support the Master Gardener program in becoming a more equitable and welcoming space for all Oregonians. Because Master Gardener volunteers tend to be intellectually curious, we encourage them to go beyond that minimum requirement, learning about new cultural topics and perspectives that interest them and are relevant to their county’s program.

We call these our Growing & Belonging learning opportunities. You can read more about the words we use, and their intentions, here.

Scaffolding volunteers’ learning

Every volunteer comes to these learning opportunities with different life experiences, interests, and exposure to the ideas and concepts within Growing & Belonging. To allow each volunteer to scaffold their learning appropriately, we assign each Growing & Belonging opportunity described on this blog to a specific learning level. These are labeled Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4.

These levels aren’t designed to be exclusively sequential. Volunteers need not complete opportunities in Level 1 to advance to Level 2. If you’re a volunteer who has lived experience with these concepts or who has pursued similar learning opportunities elsewhere, feel free to dive into opportunities at Level 3 or 4. If you’re a volunteer who, for example, feels very comfortable being inclusive in one aspect of individual or identity (e.g., gender expression) and would normally tackle Level 3 or 4 opportunities, feel free to pursue Level 1 and 2 opportunities in areas where you’re less comfortable (e.g., disability).

Level 1: Foundational Awareness

Audience: Master Gardener volunteers new to specific Growing & Belonging concepts

Description: Level 1 opportunities support volunteers in developing an understanding of the elements necessary to fostering welcoming and inclusive learning environments. Level 1 learning opportunities raise volunteers’ awareness of common barriers to inclusion and introduce them to fundamental terms and ideas. Such learning opportunities include, but aren’t limited to:

• recognizing and addressing implicit bias
• understanding privilege of various kinds
• identifying and remediating microaggressions
• understanding the difference between equality and equity
• using contemporary language related to aspects of individual identities, such as gender expression and disability

Resources at this level provide a gentle introduction to these concepts, with an emphasis on personal reflection and foundational knowledge.

Level 2: Building Understanding

Audience: Volunteers with some familiarity with Growing & Belonging concepts who are ready to deepen their understanding and connect Level 1 concepts to our programs and services

Description: This level goes beyond the basics to explore the impact of Growing & Belonging on communities and organizations. These learning opportunities may include opportunities to grapple with such topics as:

• systemic inequality and its impact on volunteer programs and access to garden spaces, knowledge, and tools
• the history and impact of discrimination in horticulture
• strategies for promoting equity in gardening and community spaces

Resources at this level encourage critical thinking about one’s role in perpetuating or challenging inequality. Volunteers will learn simple, beginning strategies for engaging in inclusive practices within garden education and the Master Gardener program.

Level 3: Advanced Exploration

Audience: Individuals who are well-versed in Growing & Belonging concepts and eager to explore more complex and nuanced subjects

Description: This level delves into advanced and emerging topics, encouraging volunteers to engage with challenging and innovative ideas. Opportunities may include such topics as:

• queer ecology,
• decolonization in environmental practices
• traditional ecological knowledge
• intersections of identity, power, and nature.

Resources at this level invite deep reflection, discussion, and exploration of how these concepts can inform and transform gardening practices and community engagement.

Volunteers pursuing opportunities at Level 3 should be familiar—through focused learning or lived experience—with relevant foundational concepts expressed through Level 1 and 2 opportunities.

Level 4: Applying Growing & Belonging Principles

Audience: Volunteers with a solid understanding of Growing & Belonging concepts who are interested in applying these principles in their work and community engagement

Description: This level focuses on practical application, exploring how Growing & Belonging principles can be integrated into everyday practices and decision-making. Topics may include, but aren’t limited to:

• inclusive community engagement
• allyship
• creating accessible gardening spaces
• addressing environmental justice

Resources at this level provide case studies, best practices, and actionable steps for incorporating equitable and inclusive practices into gardening programs and outreach efforts.

Selecting your opportunities and getting credit for them

• Some of these topics may be very familiar and relatable to you because of your lived experiences. We always welcome your perspectives on how these are explored through horticulture and the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. If you have thoughts or feedback you’d like to share, please send them to Leslie Madsen, the statewide program manager.
• We encourage volunteers to select Growing & Belonging topics with which they are unfamiliar, then grow from there. It’s normal to feel a little uncomfortable when you’re first learning about different aspects of human identity. These zones of discomfort, if we enter them with genuine curiosity and more than a little humility, are where the most learning and growth happen.
• Remember, the levels aren’t designed to be strictly sequential. If you have a background with people experiencing homelessness, for example, you might feel ready for a Level 4 workshop related to gardening with that population. At the same time, you might get more out of a Level 1 webinar on language around disability, gender, or race.
• After each Growing & Belonging learning opportunity, reflect on how the topic connects to the Master Gardener program in your county. Share with your program coordinator any topic-relevant ideas or suggestions for growing or improving the Master Gardener program in your county. To get continuing education credit for the Growing & Belonging opportunity, you must share this take-away from your learning with your program coordinator. (Ask your coordinator whether they prefer to receive this information from you via email or another method.)
• For your annual Growing & Belonging education credits, you aren’t limited to the opportunities curated by the statewide program. You’re welcome to find your own opportunities. However, after each learning opportunity, you must provide ideas or suggestions as detailed in the bullet point immediately above.
• If you come across excellent learning opportunities you believe should be showcased by the statewide Master Gardener program, please email Leslie Madsen, the statewide manager, to let her know you’d like to see them included.