Academics | Extension | Research

Jon Traunfeld began his career with Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE) in 1989 as the Urban Gardening Coordinator in Baltimore City. His program focused on helping Baltimore City residents understand the benefits of community gardens. While he worked in Baltimore City, 112 community gardens were established on 12 acres of vacant city-owned land that produced food for approximately 1,200 families. He provided educational and technical assistance to community gardeners and established longstanding relationships with city agencies in support of community gardens. In 1994 he was recognized by the Mayor Kurt Schmoke through the Federal Urban Gardening Program.

In 1994 Mr. Traunfeld became a Regional Specialist, supporting horticulture across Maryland. Working with fellow faculty members at the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), he developed a model for delivering research-based information and answers to gardening and pest control questions through fact sheets and publications, websites, and personal telephone consultations with Master Gardeners, professionals in the “green industry,” MCE faculty and staff, media representatives, and the general public. Mr. Traunfeld has focused his educational programming in fruit and vegetable culture, Integrated Pest Management, plant problem diagnosis, composting, soils, and fertilizer. He trains the consultants that work with the phone lines 5 days a week. Volunteers answered 14,260 phone calls and 3,158 questions over the website in 2005.

Mr. Traunfeld also serves as the State Coordinator for the Maryland Master Gardener (MG) program. This program trains interested residents to become volunteer horticulture educators for Maryland Cooperative Extension. The program has grown from 3 training sites with 204 volunteers in 1994 to 14 active county/city training programs with 950 volunteers in 2004. The economic value of the volunteer hours is estimated close to $1 million. Under Mr. Traunfeld’s leadership a State Master Gardener Advisory Committee has also been established.