This is the first of a series of short articles about the benefits Alameda County Master Gardeners have received from the establishment of a statewide office and the hiring of a statewide coordinator in 2006. We were very fortunate to be able to hire Pam Geisel, a longtime farm advisor and local MG coordinator in Fresno County for this role.  She has been excellent-- knowledgeable, politically savvy, forward-thinking and very competent. I have had the privilege of serving on a state advisory committee to Pam the past four years and have been able to see from the inside just how she and her office work to support and improve all county programs.

Of the many benefits that can be credited to the state office and...