The previous poster was absolutely correct. Master Gardeners are not free labor for the community but a source of education for people who have questions. The problem was in the presentation of the information and the extension agent in the county should be made aware of what happened. If he/she doesn't know, the attitude may be repeated. If you report it, please don't be angry with the MGs. We frequently get such requests and must learn the proper way to respond.

Sandy

I too am sorry for the rude response you received. The woman was correct but she certainly could have been more gracious. It's a common misconception that Master Gardeners actually work other's gardens. We definetely are an education oriented group.
Professorroush has some excellent suggestions. If the Otero Co. Extension Office or MG's can't help then drive over to Dona Ana Co. We have some excellent resources and experienced veggie gardening folks that would be glad to share tips.

I wish she had been more gracious, interested and helpful, as all of you have. I will try to find some inexpensive mulch sources... thank you!

If you have grass...I'm not assuming anything in New Mexico :)...the easiest mulch is grass clippings. Chopped up leaves also will work if you're not exposed to much wind. Even better to layer the two. You may read that the clippings shed water but since most of my garden beds are mulched with clippings and I haven't watered all year, I'd say that's essentially crap. Doesn't look great, but put it down 4-6 inches thick, an inch or two at a time, letting the grass dry, and that'll suppress weeds and conserve moisture...and grow earthworms.

As a recently retired Master Gardener, after 15 years, you have been offered excellent information here. For much of the last few years I, and many others, have been presenting workshops on gardening free for the new gardener. These workshops are mentioned in local papers in gardening columns or advice columns written by Master Gardeners. I have had audiences up to 100 at a workshop. Here gardeners are encouraged to ask their questions, where all present can benefit from the answers. Watch your newspapers or call the local county extension for a list of public workshops in your area. Al

Grass clippings do make an excellent mulch. I use them and have never had them shed water either.
Another good and usually free mulch in our area is pine straw (needles). This time of year the Afghan/Mondale pines are going through their Fall needle drop. I'm guessing that you have a lot of these trees in Otero Co., we have an oodle gob of them over here in Dona Ana.
I "curb shop" for my pine straw. People set it out nicely bagged and I drive by scoop it up! I do drive around and scope out yards with Afghan pines, noting the ones that are weedy or not. Even if you do get weeds growing through the pine straw they are often so spindly and leggy they're easy to pull out.
Good luck!

Just as a general question in line with the responses, wouldn't grass clippings as mulch throw off the nitrogen levels of the soil? I ask simply because if it does, it would mean using a less nitrogen based fertilizer to help balance fruit production on many plants.

Re; the grass clippings, read Linda Chalker-Scott's books "The Informed Gardener" and "The Informed Gardener Blooms Again". Chalker-Scott is a University professor writing to contradict some long-held gardening myths, one of which is that grass clippings or any other mulch ON TOP of the soil will deplete it of nitrogen....it simply doesn't. Now if it's mixed into the soil, it'll temporarily use up the nitrogen until the mulch is broken down but on top of the soil, it won't affect nitrogen in the soil.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings blogspot on Chalker-Scott's latest book.

Ah but if it's mixed in the soil isn't it then considered an amendment? Mulch, of whatever material, is a surface covering.
Re: Chalker-Scott's books
I've heard of these but have never met anyone who's read any. Do you recommend them?

nmgirl, you can find quite a few articles by Chalker-Scott at the link below. They are interesting reading. I haven't seen her books.

Sandy

Here is a link that might be useful: Horticultural myths

Although we don't recommend people or do gardening for others, there are several Master Gardeners in our organization who do it professionally. They can't take hours for this work but they can earn money as gardeners applying the Master Gardener practices. I have on occasion been paid for giving talks and I always turn it over to the UC system for our group.

I think people think we are free garden workers and that is not what we are trained for.

Penny N. Ca

Grass clippings as a mulch assumes the cut grass is less than an inch long. Mulching mowers simply re-cut the cut grass so the pieces are small. Such grass will benefit the lawn. Al

"Grass clippings as a mulch assumes the cut grass is less than an inch long." This is an incorrect assumption. Grass clippings of any length can be used successfully as mulch.

[[[...I got quickly and curtly shut-down and disappointed....]]]

If you go through life expecting other people to do heavy labor for you for free, you are going to go through life being disappointed often.

You might try calling some churches and see if they have volunteers that help the elderly. Other than that, if you and your friends are not capable of rototilling and you can't find anyone to do it for free (and all the money out of their own pocket to drive over, gas for the rototiller, service and sharpening for the rototiller, and their time), then figure out how to garden without rototilling.

Lots of successful gardeners are growing veggies "no till".

There is a forum right here on Garden Web that is devoted to elderly and less-abled gardeners. If you click on "enabling" you will find it. It is full of excellent advice.

It is very kind of you to volunteer and help that elderly couple. You are certainly racking up good karma points. But, while you get to give away your own time, you do not get to give away other people's time.

Your correct response would have been "Thank you. I thought it was worth my time to ask, and now I know." Instead of getting all indignant that they declined to do free work for you.

Oregon, you've made some good observations.