My name is Nick Sakovich; I am retired from the University of
California Cooperative Extension. I held the position of Citrus and Avocado
Farm Advisor in Orange County, California and later in Ventura County as Citrus
Advisor. I was also Administrator for the UC Master Gardener
Program in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Prior to that, I worked as a
technician in the Orange County Department of Agriculture plant pathology
laboratory.
As Farm Advisor,
my job was research and education. My students were the commercial growers of
the county. I conducted research in sub-tropical agriculture, directed seminars
and conferences and taught various courses. My writings are published in
professional journals, trade magazines and newsletters.
After 25
years with the University, I retired in Hawaii and joined the University of
Hawaii Master Gardener Program. Since 2007 I have been writing a weekly
gardening column in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. The entries on this website are based on those articles. On occasion I teach
horticultural classes through the University of Hawaii Continuing Education
Department.
My goal in
producing this site is basically
what I have been doing all my professional life – sharing science based
information to anyone who wants to learn.
There are
many gardening books and websites. Many are based on opinion and
experience. These two characteristics are good, but even better when
backed by scientific research. On this site, I
share information that has been substantiated by scientific research. If
it is my opinion, I will simply say so, but you won’t find much of that. The
information I convey is either based on research I have conducted or am
familiar with or information which I have gathered from various university
websites. This material is mostly applicable
to the tropical and subtropical world.
You may
email me at askthegardenguy@earthlink.net
