BCMGA Biweekly Update February 11, 2025
- Brenda Bye
- Feb 11
- 6 min read
~~~~~~~~~~~President’s Message - From Paula Lupcho~~~~~~~~~~
❄️ Once again, Insights into Gardening was a huge success. The speakers were excellent and I heard lots of positive comments as people left for the day. Thank you Lynn Trimpe and Jana Tindall (co-chairs), the Insight Committee, and all of the great volunteers who made this event the well-run conference that has become our standard. I know other chapters have used Insights as a model for creating their own events.
The 2025 training class begins this week. We are welcoming 20 people this year. As Master Gardeners, we can help them succeed by volunteering to mentor or by joining the Plant Problem Scenario team. If you are interested in mentoring, contact Shelby Schuppe. For Plant Problem Scenarios, contact Deb Kern.
On to Plant Sale!
~~~~~~~~~~BCMGA News~~~~~~~~~~
❄️ CGET Looking to Mentor New Committee Chairs - CGET seeks to educate community members about vegetable gardening. Kandi Maestri, Wendi Gale, and Cheryl Stratton have done an amazing job co-chairing this committee for the past 3 years. It’s satisfying volunteer work and appreciated by the community members. They are looking for two or more MGs who are interested in chairing CGET and can be mentored this year. Please reach out to CGET.BentonMG@gmail.com to express interest or questions.
❄️ Plant Clinic is operating on Winter Hours - There is a new Signup Genius for 2025. Come alone or bring a partner. We would love to see you at the desk on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
~~~~~~~~~~BCMGA Membership Activities~~~~~~~~~~
❄️ BCMGA Membership Meeting - Vice President, Laura Horsey, welcomes all BCMGA members to the next membership meeting for socialization and Continuing Education credits. Raffle prizes for in-person attendees.
Monday, February 17, 2025 - Popping Beans, Heatless Habaneros and the Tomato Blues: Breeding Vegetables for Sustainable Production at OSU
Location: Extension Building, Sunset Room (Use East side entrance)
Format: Hybrid meeting (in-person and online via Zoom) Password: 315151
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:00 p.m.
Dr. James R. Myers, OSU’s Baggett-Frazier Chair of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics, has developed innovative vegetable varieties with a focus on disease resistance, nutrition, and organic production. His notable releases include Indigo tomatoes, ‘Legend’ tomato, and ‘Sweet Gem’ snap peas, with new varieties like mild habanero peppers and popping beans recently introduced. Dr. Myers’ work has had global impact, shaping vegetable breeding and organic systems worldwide.
~~~~~~~~~~Volunteer Opportunities~~~~~~~~~~
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
❄️ Plant Sale Vegetable Propagation - Hooray! It's almost time to start seeding veggies and herbs for the plant sale. Work may be indoors or out, so layers and rain gear are a good plan. Tools are provided. Please see the Signup Genius to join us.
Spots fill fast so please sign up for one or two slots only. However, if you are a mentor, you are welcome to bring your mentee!
New this year we have added a "Session Leader" who can help the regular leader with instruction and quality control for all steps of the process. The session leader should arrive 15 minutes early to help with setup. Any experienced veggie growing greenhouse volunteer is welcome to sign up for this slot.
❄️ Plant Problem Scenario (PPS) sessions will be held for the Master Gardener Class of 2025 on the evenings of March 15, April 2, 10 & 24 at the Central Electric Training Center in Tangent OR. This is an educational program designed to teach Master Gardener trainees interview skills and diagnostic techniques using role-playing veteran Master Gardeners and plant problem scenarios derived from common local issues. New members are welcome! We will have practice sessions and pair new members with experienced role-players. Questions? Contact Deb Kern (NewfandCardi@gmail.com)
❄️ Public Seed Library - The PSL has been added as an official project of BCMGA under the CGET committee. The educational support offered in these volunteer opportunities are now approved for volunteer hours. If you have any questions about PSL reach out to Jill Farrow.
Pop Up Veg Garden Clinics - Join us at these fun and informal events where volunteers discuss growing veggies, herbs, and companion plants with PSL patrons. We help patrons select seeds right for them and plan their gardens, discuss soil, fertilization, watering, crop rotation, challenges, and successes. Check out the volunteer page here.
Seed Rack Stocking Events - Donations from local seed producers need to be sorted and prepared so they are available for PSL patrons. These volunteers keep things fresh and ready for the PSL Lectures and Garden Clinics. Check out the Signup Genius here.
❄️ Volunteer Opportunity at Grace Center - BCMGA is looking for volunteers to help bring gardening activities to the Grace Center for Adult Day Services in Corvallis. They have raised beds, a sensory garden, and fruit trees—including a pear tree that could use some TLC. Volunteers will work with Chase Knight, Activities Program Coordinator, to plan and develop engaging garden projects for their clients. This is a great opportunity to share your gardening knowledge and make a meaningful impact in the community!
If you're interested, contact Chase Knight at 541-754-8417 or visit the Grace Center at 980 NW Spruce Ave., Corvallis.
~~~~~~~~~~Continuing Education Opportunities~~~~~~~~~~
Approved for CE by OSU Extension
❄️ CGET Offers a Hands-on Fruit Tree Trimming Workshop - Join us Philomath Community Garden and bring any pruning tools that you have. You can learn or help the instructors Jennifer Klammer and Alan Taylor.
Thursday, March 6th, 2025 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Location: Philomath Community Garden formerly Lupe’s Garden
360 S 9th St, Philomath Oregon 97330
❄️ Gearing Up for Gardening - Free Lecture Series A perennial favorite of Benton County residents and Master Gardeners returns for 2025. Lectures are held on Tuesdays during January and February at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Check out the website: https://www.bentonmg.org/gearing-up-for-gardening
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Sidewalk Salads: Front Yard Food Gardens
Learn from Landscape Architect Owen Dell how to make a beautiful and productive garden in the front yard
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Herb Propagation
Discover simple techniques for propagating herbs for a continual supply of homegrown culinary herbs with Emily Stimac from Thyme Gardens
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Cut Flowers
Brighten up your home with your own cut flower garden. Taught by Erin McMullen of Rain Drop Farms
❄️ Seed Library Lecture Series - PSLis a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Benton County Public Library with educational support from BCMGA.
Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM Companion Planting of Flowers and Herbs
Companion flowers and herbs to attract pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden that can help increase your harvest, reduce pests, add flavor, and provide beautiful blooms to enjoy. Presented by Darren Morgan, Shonnard's Nursery Manager and educator.
Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 1:00-2:30 Simple Worm Bin Farming
Come learn from Cynthia Dort of Dort Worm Farms how easy it is to successfully turn your vegetable and fruit scraps into worm castings that are wonderful compost for your garden!
❄️ BEEvent 2025 - Linn County Master Gardeners are hosting their 11th Annual Pollinator Conference on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Registration is $35 and both in person and live streaming options are available. You can register on their website.
❄️ Spring into Gardening 2025 presented by Yamhill Master Gardeners on March 29, 2025 at Linfield University. The cost is $45 with classes on flowers, gardens and climate.
❄️ Clackamas County 10-Minute University Lecture Series for 2025 - Live webinars are presented every Wednesday from noon to one and count for 1 hour of CE. Register ahead to attend the free lecture. Lectures will also be available in video format afterwards. Go to their website to learn more. https://clackamascountymastergardeners.org/2025-webinars/
~~~~~~~~~~Extension News~~~~~~~~~~
❄️ OSU Extension Online Calendar has a calendar of Extension events throughout the state. This often includes MG lectures from other counties.
❄️ Solve Pest Problems: A new tool from OSU Extension to help manage pests around your home and garden with reduced risk to people, pets, and the environment. New entries are being added regularly on the SPP Website.
~~~~~~~~~~Community News~~~~~~~~~~
These items are not sponsored by BCMGA.
They are NOT approved for volunteer or educational credits.
❄️ Garfield Elementary School is looking for a person to help them maintain their irrigation system including someone who can replace PVC, fix and exchange drip tape, etc. for the system. You could work on your own with minimal hours to help maintain their educational garden especially during the summer break. You would have to fill out the Corvallis School District Volunteer Background Check. You may contact Susan Hoffman, 541-602-4504, shoff@peak.org for further information and be referred on to the school contact.
❄️ Benton Soil and Water Conservation Annual Winter Native Plant Sale is still open until February 24, 2025. If you were inspired to plant more natives after the last Membership Meeting you can place your order online and pick up your plants on March 1, 2025.
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