Six ways University of Arizona employees can get involved with Cooperative Extension
The People's Demonstration Garden at the Tucson Extension Office offers expert advice from a Master Gardener and opportunities to learn about plants that do well in the desert environment.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
For over 100 years, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension – a cornerstone of the institution's land-grant mission – has helped communities thrive by connecting local needs with university expertise. Since 1914, Extension has been a vital resource, offering research-based programs across all 15 counties and many tribal communities. From promoting healthy lifestyles to fostering sustainable environments, Extension's work supports strong families, vibrant local economies and thriving communities.
University President Suresh Garimella highlighted Cooperative Extension's important role in the university's engagement mission in an op-ed published June 24 on the Arizona Farm Bureau blog.
The Tucson Village Farm hosts camps, classes and produce markets, providing a reconnection to healthy food.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
"This work sustains one of Arizona's most vital industries, but it does not come from one-size-fits-all programs," Garimella wrote. "It's the result of deep, ongoing engagement, such as the kind found in Cooperative Extension, which combines research with community engagement and science with lived experience."
While often associated with agriculture and 4-H, Extension's programs extend far past the farm. In Southern Arizona and beyond, they support early childhood development, food and nutrition, environmental stewardship, financial literacy and more. Whether through classrooms, community centers, gardens, kitchens or homes, Extension meets people where they are.
For University of Arizona faculty and staff, here are six things you may not know you can take advantage of through Cooperative Extension right now.
You can email a Master Gardener with all your plant-parent questions – and they'll actually reply.
Master Gardeners are highly trained volunteers who invest their time and talents in helping their fellow Arizonans grow things in our unique climate. Led by Extension's horticulture experts, Master Gardeners receive 16 weeks of training on desert soils and native plants, attracting and supporting pollinators, combating common garden pests and more. They periodically lead free, hands-on classes, and their website hosts a monthly gardening guide and other educational resources. If you need more help, you can submit your questions and get advice from a Master Gardener in your community.
Last year, Tucson Village Farm served 11,000 youth and 8,000 adults through educational programs, camps and markets.
Tucson Village Farm is a working urban farm located just a few miles north of the main U of A campus. Its mission is to reconnect our community to a healthy food system with seed-to-table programming for toddlers, kids, teens and adults. Between summer camps, field trips and cooking classes, there are tons of opportunities for kids of all ages to get their hands dirty on the farm. You can also peruse the Midweek Market every Wednesday afternoon or catch Market on the Move every second Saturday.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program offers free cooking demonstrations.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program can help you expand your cooking repertoire this summer – for free. You can dip your toe in with an online cooking demonstration from the video library or take the plunge and sign up for a weekly Summer Nutrition Series of in-person classes. The EFNEP website also has tons of healthy recipes, tips for stretching your food budget and information on important food safety practices.
Pima Family Engagement Program offers kids' classes in yoga, fine arts, gardening and nature crafts.
As part of Garden Discover Days, kids and adults can get hands in the dirt and learn where the food on your plate comes from.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Since 2015, the Pima Family Engagement Program has served more than 6,000 families with research-based tools to nurture kids and create a rich learning environment at home. They provide resources for parents and caregivers, including English- and Spanish-language classes about how the brain develops in early childhood, how to use play for teachable moments and how to handle hard conversations. Beyond that, families can share in fun activities like Garden Discovery Days, Musical Expressions and Kids' Yoga.
The Garden Kitchen can help you start a community garden.
You may already know about The Garden Kitchen's cooking classes, recipes or Plaza Mobile Market, but did you know they also help support community gardens across Pima County? They've partnered with nearly 40 community gardens to help with garden installations, gardening classes and technical services. You can visit The Garden Kitchen on Thursday mornings to learn gardening skills and help with the harvest or visit its website for more information on other community gardens in your area. And if you prefer the kitchen to the garden, there's always the popular knife skills class.
The Invasive Species Program helps protect Arizona from non-native invaders.
The Invasive Species Program offers home inspections to identify and help you manage invasive plants, as well as presentations to homeowners associations and other organizations about how to prevent and control invasive species. One of the most common offenders in southern Arizona is stinknet, which causes problems for homeowners and the environment alike. The program offers online resources and a library of information to help you learn more about how to protect your home and the surrounding landscape from these non-native species.
Programs enrolling this fall
Beyond these six programs, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension offers resources and opportunities across the state. From financial literacy classes to 4-H agriculture, welding, STEM and youth leadership development, the slate of programs available continues to grow. Many programs, including 4-H, will begin enrolling in the fall. Extension has offerings in every county and many tribal nations, ensuring that resources are available to all Arizonans.
Discover more about what's happening near you and find available educational materials by visiting the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension website, view a photo gallery showcasing Extension programs and learn more about Extension's history, services and impact in the video below.