Marin Master Gardeners report thousands of volunteer hours maintaining Falkirk demonstration gardens

Lillian Track, a Marin Master Gardener who oversees the succulent garden at Falkirk Cultural Center, told the Park & Recreation Commission that volunteers logged more than 2,900 hours at Falkirk in 2024 and continue to sustain demonstration gardens through hands‑on workshops and plant sales. “We had over 2,900 hours that were logged specifically to Falkirk,” Track said during the Nov. 20 meeting.

Track described a network of 10 demonstration gardens at Falkirk, including native and Mediterranean plantings chosen for the county’s climate, and a historic greenhouse used to grow plants for sale and to fund programs. She cited regular Monday volunteer shifts, quarterly public workshops (such as rose pruning and propagation), and partnerships with groups such as Vanguard Property Group and library programming to expand outreach.

On finances, Track said garden fundraising from plant sales and workshops generated more than $6,000 in 2025 for plant materials. Commissioners and staff praised the program’s community value and discussed whether the Master Gardener stewardship model could be expanded to other parks.

The commission voted to receive the report. Parks staff noted the Master Gardeners’ work supports education, biodiversity and low‑water landscaping goals and that their volunteer model helps sustain small demonstration sites with limited city funding.

Next steps noted at the meeting included continued public workshops at Falkirk, maintaining greenhouse operations, and staff follow‑up on potential opportunities to extend volunteer stewardship to other city park sites.