Associate Professor of Practice based in the Lane County Extension Office
Since joining Oregon State University Extension in 2019, Erica Chernoh has worked with Master Gardener volunteers in Lane County to support sustainable gardening education and community outreach. Before coming to Extension, her career included teaching at a community college, working with farmers overseas, and supporting agriculture through the organic industry.
I spoke with Erica Chernoh about her path to horticulture education, what makes the southern Willamette Valley a great place to garden, and the volunteers who make the Master Gardener program possible.
Quick Facts
Position: Associate Professor of Practice in Horticulture
Region: Lane and Linn County
Years with Extension: Since 2019
Favorite insect: Syrphid flies (hover flies)
Beginner plant recommendation: Zucchini, radishes, beans, or peas
Background
Erica’s interest in gardening began at home, where she helped care for fruit trees with her dad.
“I just remember always having fruit trees and… working with my dad, pruning them.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical geography, but while in college she found herself drawn toward agriculture. Working at her university’s student farm and taking soil science classes inspired her to pursue horticulture.
After college, Erica joined the Peace Corps and served in Guatemala in an agricultural program, working as an integrated pest management (IPM) volunteer. She later worked in the organic industry before earning a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of California, Davis.
Throughout her career, education has remained a common thread. Before joining Extension, she taught at a community college and worked with farmers through international development programs. She says the Master Gardener program offered another opportunity to share her enjoyment of gardening and horticulture with others.
Gardening in the South Willamette Valley
The southern Willamette Valley offers gardeners a long growing season and some of Oregon’s most fertile soils. According to Erica, the region avoids some of the challenges faced in other parts of the state, such as the harsh winter freezes common in Central Oregon or the persistent coastal rainfall. Those conditions allow gardeners to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, making the area an excellent place for home gardening.
Favorite Garden Lesson
Like every gardener, Erica has had her share of setbacks.
Living in the South Hills of Eugene, she says deer are one of her biggest gardening challenges. She also remembers unsuccessfully trying to grow passion fruit while living in California.
“We all have garden fails every year, right?”
Whether it’s deer, slugs, cabbage moths, or simply trying a plant that isn’t suited to the location, she says gardening always provides opportunities to learn.
Supporting Volunteers
Erica says she’s continually impressed by the dedication of Master Gardener volunteers and the time they invest in serving their communities. She especially appreciates their curiosity and willingness to keep learning.
“They’re lifelong learners.”
Whether researching a new plant problem at the plant clinic or learning about an unfamiliar species, volunteers bring an enthusiasm that she says is contagious. Erica also values how connected volunteers are within the community.
“I learn from our volunteers a lot of times.”
Community Partnerships
Erica highlighted several long-standing partnerships that help expand gardening education in Lane County.
One is with GrassRoots Garden and Food for Lane County. GrassRoots Garden, an urban farm that grows food for the local food bank, was started by Master Gardener volunteers about 35 years ago. Volunteers continue to support the site by maintaining compost facilities and herb beds, while Extension also teaches pruning classes there.
She also recognized the City of Eugene as an important community partner. Together, Extension and the city maintain compost facilities at community gardens and use those spaces to offer composting workshops for the public.
Quick Questions
Favorite insect
Erica’s favorite insects are syrphid flies, also known as hover flies. She appreciates them because they’re pollinators, beneficial insects, and often mistaken for bees.
“They’re kind of like a Swiss army knife of insects in a way. And they’re just really cute”
Plant recommendation for beginners
In midsummer, Erica’s first recommendation is zucchini. She also suggests radishes, beans, and peas as good options for beginning gardeners, noting that they’re generally easy to grow, provided slugs don’t get to them first.
This is part of a series of stories we are featuring about the people of the OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer program in celebration of our 50th anniversary. With +1,800 amazing volunteers and 30 faculty and staff we hope you are as inspired as we are by their dedication joy and impact that they make across the state.
If you’d like to share your Master Gardener story, we’d love to hear from you! Submit your volunteer story here: https://beav.es/mgstory
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Are these suggestions for growing different plant good for the High Desert ESD?