ONTARIO, Ore. — When Russell Smith-Ollivierre arrived in Eastern Oregon for a new job with the Oregon State University Extension Service, he immediately noticed 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.
“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.”
After a needs assessment showed strong local interest, Malheur County became the newest location in Oregon to offer Master Gardener volunteer training.
Master Gardener volunteer training is conducted locally by OSU Extension educators with guidance from the statewide office. Trainees complete online coursework and attend in-person workshops that vary by county.
Through a partnership with OSU Extension and community collaborators — including the city of Ontario, the Malheur Education Service District’s Frontier STEM Hub, Treasure Valley Community College and the Four Rivers Cultural Center — the program was shaped around regional needs and growing conditions.
Course content included botany, pesticide understanding, entomology, integrated pest management, soil health and plant pathology. Guest speakers, demonstrations and hands-on workshops rounded out the curriculum.
“I had zero gardening experience and little science experience. This program is definitely accessible to anybody,” said trainee MacKay Stephens.
In late winter, trainees practiced pruning during a community-led workshop.
“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.”
Participants complete 40 hours of classes and 40 hours of Master Gardener volunteer service to earn certification.
Growing community involvement
Trainees have already contributed to local tree plantings, rose pruning projects and work at the community food pantry garden. Local resident Mark Clark donated a 1-acre plot for a community garden demonstrating companion planting, including sunflower–pumpkin pairings that support pollinators and biodiversity.
“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,’” Clark said. He and his wife Sharon Katz have long collaborated with OSU Extension and were eager to support the program.
Volunteers also plan to staff an informational booth at the Ontario Saturday Market and host a plant clinic.
“I’m grateful this program exists in our county,” Stephens said.
From the Caribbean to Eastern Oregon
Smith-Ollivierre’s background prepared him well for building a program from the ground up. Originally from Barbados, he owned a 4-acre farm, taught high school agricultural sciences, consulted with farmers and worked for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture teaching aquaponics and aquaculture.
“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,” he said.
After nearly a decade in teaching, he sought a new challenge — one that ultimately brought him to Malheur County in 2023.
“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 trainee Emerald Lewis. “We are super lucky to have him in the area.”
Previously titled OSU Extension establishes Master Gardener program in Malheur County
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