1. Partnering for pesticide reduction Growing with Master Gardeners™ Carl Grimm Senior Solid Waste Planner METRO Resource Conservation and Recycling

2. Presentation plan 1.Behavior change vs. upstream change? 2.Growing a partnership 3.A few tools of change 4.Our training for change 5.What are we learning?

3. 1. BEHAVIOR CHANGE VS. UPSTREAM CHANGE? We know we can’t shop our way out of the pesticide problem …and that upstream work is essential. We also believe “behavior change” work can help…

4. Behavior change grows communities of care Community support is needed for future policy success …and for cultivating community norms Helping individuals reduce their exposure to toxics

5. Metro, meet OSU OSU, meet Metro Regional government Urban planning origins Hazardous waste reduction goal Land-grant university Agricultural origins Education goal Growing a partnership for pesticide reduction

6. Dancing the advocacy- education fence line How we’ve moved forward, in and out of the comfort zone Establish our common ground Develop common work collaboratively Metro largely provides resources OSU largely provides services

7. Our common ground Protect human and environmental health Make Integrated Pest Management (IPM) information easily accessible Ensure that information shared is based on scientific research

8. 2. A FEW TOOLS OF CHANGE Outreach kit Pesticide-free pledge Free coupons Grow Smart Grow Safe and the pesticide hazards “cheat sheet”

9. Table banner How-to booklets and rack Organic lettuce seeds E-newsletter signup Tabletop signs Outreach kit

10. Pesticide-free pledge and prompt Facilitating commitments Generating social norms Measuring impact (as best we can)

11. Free coupons and seeds Generating reciprocity Removing barriers

12. Grow Smart, Grow Safe King County, Thurston County, Washington, and Metro partnership Resident-friendly interface for hazard rankings and alternatives Free iPhone app now available, plus www.growsmartgrowsafe.org www.growsmartgrowsafe.org

13. Pesticide hazards “cheat sheet” Combines Thurston County hazard ratings with some Grow Smart, Grow Safe tool elements with use information for Master Gardeners Piloted last year, revision in works

14. Thurston County IPM chemical reviews Science-based reviews combine hazard and risk ratings. Powers “cheat sheet” and Grow Smart, Grow Safe.

15. E-newsletter Helping participants move up the ladder of commitment with monthly tips and commitment opportunities

16. Western Oregon IPM Resources Collaborative Exploring development of region- specific urban IPM web resource for Master Gardeners, governments and pest management professionals

17. 3. OUR TRAINING FOR CHANGE The softest side, and essential In Master Gardener trainings Setting clear expectations Role playing Be ready!

18. Field support for Master Gardeners Popping in on volunteers at work Coaching and mentoring Bringing resources Collecting pledges and emails Taking pictures Expressing appreciation!

19. 4. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING? As usual… Counting beans: EASY Measuring behavior change: HARD Measuring waste diversion: HARDEST

20. Bean counting *Metro contacts are for fiscal year; Master Gardener contacts are for previous calendar year.

21. Audience research Region-wide surveys Participant surveys Volunteer focus groups and surveys Learned: Suburban pet owners and parents are key audiences Almost every household uses pesticides About 40% use green alternatives (organic or other) Health, water, and children are key motivators for change Master Gardeners value the cobranded materials, especially the hazards “cheat sheet”

22. Pesticide HHW diversion cost guestimate* Diversion cost estimated as annual program cost ÷ cumulative diversion Disposal cost assumes 5% annual increase Diversion estimate assumes Pledgers would have used HHW disposal for pesticides and will not after pledging and disposing one load Frequency and quantity of disposal would have been average 5% recidivism rate *Based on best estimates as of September 20, 2013. Results may change as the analysis progresses.

23. Estimated value of reduced pesticide impacts? Human health Water quality Wildlife = PRICELESS?

24. Recommendations Connect with your Extension Service Start simple Build on common ground Give time for working out details Involve key players early and often Provide adequate funding Build on existing resources

25. More information Carl Grimm 503-797-1676 carl.grimm@oregonmetro.gov www.oregonmetro.gov/garden Weston Miller 503-706-9193 weston.miller@oregonstate.edu www.metromastergardeners.org