Green Gardener Program

How It Works

Gardeners attend the Green Gardener class through SBCC's School of Extended Learning in Santa Barbara or Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

The class covers topics on resource efficient and pollution prevention landscape maintenance practices. The class is held twice per year and is taught bilingually in both English and Spanish. The class format is fifteen 2.5-hour sessions with class and field time.

After completion of the course and a final test, gardeners are issued a Green Gardener card and certificate of completion and then placed on the Green Gardener list (if providing gardening services) which is promoted to the public. The Green Gardener card is for an individual not a company, however the listing will include the certified individual's company name and issued annually with completion of 2 hours continuing education. 

Benefits of Becoming A Green Gardener

1. Improve the health, appearance and value of landscapes.
2. Improve resource efficiency and reduce pollution on landscape sites.
3. Your name and company name on the Green Gardener website and list distributed to the public.
4. Networking and local business discounts! Click here for additional benefits.
   

Materials Fee: Free!

Enrollment: Register in advance through the SBCC's School of Extended Learning. Students may also register in person at the SBCC Wake or Schott Campuses (Hours: Tuesday/Thursday from 10 am - 6pm). If space is available, students can enroll during the first week of class. Classes include Module I and II. You must enroll for each individual module if you wish to take both Modules. For assistance in English or Spanish, please call the SBCC Student Services at (805) 898-8160 or email csi@sbcc.edu, or cruze@sbcc.edu. 

Step by step guide to creating your application

Adding a class 

SBCC Career Institute Digital Badge: By enrolling in the course, students can receive a Green Gardener Certification of Completion Digital Badge that can be posted on your profile online, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.

Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria Campus, Room K-25
800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Fall 2021 classes TBD

Enrollment: Register in advance at Hancock College Community Education or receive registration assistance in person at Community Education (Building S.) on the Santa Maria campus. If space is available, students can enroll during the first week of class. You must enroll for each individual module if you wish to take both Module I and II. For questions in English or Spanish, call (805) 922-6966 x3209. 

Here is a link to a helpful video on how to register for a class at Allan Hancock College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1josFwmPu38

Green Gardener Class Curriculum 

Preview what you can learn by taking the course!

Course PDFs        Courses

English  Spanish    1. Right Plant in the Right Place (Watch in  English and Spanish)  

English  Spanish   2. Irrigation Management: Water, Plants, and Soils (Watch in English or  Spanish)     

English  Spanish    3. Irrigation Management: Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems    

English  Spanish    4. Irrigation Management: Scheduling and Irrigation Controllers (Watch in English and Spanish)                

English  Spanish    5. Irrigation Management: Design and Efficiency   

English  Spanish    6. Fertilizers and Grasscycling

English  Spanish    7. Mulches and Composts: Keeping Greenwaste On-Site

English  Spanish    8. Pruning for Plant Health (watch in English or Spanish)

English  Spanish    9. Integrated Pest Management: Pests (watch in English and Spanish)

                                  *Beneficial Insects (watch in English)

English  Spanish    10. Integrated Pest Management: Weeds

English  Spanish    11. Soil Fertility    

English  Spanish    12. Selling Water Efficiency

English  Spanish    13. WaterWise Landscaping Programs                                                

Green Gardener Resources

• California Friendly Maintenance Guide (English) 
  

Continuing Education Opportunities
Santa Barbara City College Environmental Horticulture Department
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Classes
SBCC Continuing Education Classes
Allan Hancock Community College - Santa Maria
All Around Landscape Supply (classes available) 
Aqua-Flo Supply (classes available)
Ewing (classes available) 

Green Gardener Certification Renewal Requirements  

• Two hours of continuing education for standard Green Gardeners is required in order to renew and maintain your annual Green Gardener certification.

Options for continuing education hours: 

• Local landscaping/irrigation classes – see "Continuing Education Opportunities" above
• Landscape and Irrigation videos can be viewed here or checked out through the Santa Barbara library 
• Submit 3 completed Green Gardener Customer Surveys – click here for survey
• Submit 1 completed Green Gardener Self Assessment Tool
  Green Gardener Assessment Tool - (English)
  Green Gardener Assessment Tool - (Spanish)
  
  

GG Card Renewal Forms:
Renewal Form (Bilingual)                                                       

Submitting your Renewal Information

Please submit your Renewal Form and any attachments by email to waterwisesb@cosbpw.net, or by mail to:

Santa Barbara County Water Agency
ATTN: Green Gardener Program      
Santa Barbara County Water Agency
130 East Victoria St. Suite 200
Santa Barbara, CA 93101   

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