BCMGA Biweekly Update, January 14, 2025

President’s Message - From Paula Lupcho

🪴 Happy New Year everyone.  The holidays are over and Master Gardener activities for 2025 are already underway.  The primary winter activities are Gearing Up for Gardening and Insights into Gardening.  Both of these educational events provide continuing education hours that are applicable for recertification.  Gearing Up started last week and will continue through February on Tuesdays at noon at the Corvallis Public Library.  This is a well-attended, free lecture series.  

Insights is a one-day educational conference on Saturday, Feb. 8.  Registration opened on Jan. 2 and registration has been brisk. Register ASAP for the best selection of classes. The program has an outstanding array of topics and speakers. More information on both of these events can be found in this newsletter.

Another winter activity that extends into the spring is the propagation of plants for the plant sale in May. This is already up and running, and it is a great educational opportunity to learn more about propagation techniques for natives, vegetables, and herbs. It’s also loads of fun.  Look for sign-up emails from Leslie Hauser, our fearless volunteer coordinator.  

I am looking forward to another great year of Master Gardener programs, events, and education.  We come into the Master Gardener program for the education, but we stay because of the terrific people who are a part of Benton County Master Gardeners!

Insights into Gardening Conference – Saturday, February 8, 2025

Location: LaSells Stewart Center, Oregon State University

🪴Join us for the 34th Annual Insights into Gardening Conference! This is BCMGA’s premier educational event, offering 16 diverse classes designed for gardeners of all experience levels. Attendees can earn Continuing Education hours while exploring a variety of topics. Registration is $45, with an optional lunch available for $17. Learn more and register starting January 2nd at www.bentonmg.org/iig.

We also need volunteers to help make this event a success! Whether you’d like to bake cookies, monitor doors, or assist with cleanup, there’s a role for everyone. Sign up via SignUp Genius.

Questions about volunteering? Contact Susan Hoffman at shoff@peak.org or text/call 541-602-4504.

BCMGA News

🪴 Remember to renew your BCMGA Membership. This membership is separate from your recertification with OSU. If you have not renewed and paid your dues you can do so through the Square Site. Membership is $15 plus a 0.76 processing fee or $10 for Associate Members. 

🪴 Dahlia Digging Season has arrived. Please contact Chere Pereira if you have dahlias to donate and we can set up a time at Nellie’s to wash and dip them.  Be sure to label them carefully and if you don’t know the name, mark the color (and size and a description such as ball type or cactus type if you can).

🪴 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. 

Volunteer Opportunities

These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours

🪴 Plant Problem Scenario (PPS) sessions will be held for the Master Gardeners’ class of 2025 on the evenings of March 15, April 2, 10 & 24 at the Central Electric Training Center in Tangent OR.  Plant Problem Scenario Training is an educational program designed to teach Master Gardener trainees interview skills and diagnostic techniques. This is accomplished 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. Sign up links coming soon. Questions? Contact Deb Kern (NewfandCardi@gmail.com) 

🪴 Propagation Workshops at PHS are currently full. If you would like to be notified when new dates are posted please reach out to volunteer coordinator Leslie Hauser.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Approved for CE by OSU Extension

🪴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

If you are planning to attend could you stay a few minutes afterwards and help clean up and put away chairs? https://www.signupgenius.com/go/GUFG#/

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Favorite Garden Tools

  • Presented by Sharon Knight from Garland Nursery. Explore the diverse world of garden tools to make gardening more enjoyable.

• Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Composting Tips, Tricks and FAQ

  • Explore the basics of composting and learn how to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient rich soil with Stefan Seiter from OSU Crop and Soil Science.  

🪴 Seed Library Lecture Series - Public Seed Library is a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library with educational support from BCMGA. In addition to the lectures, look for more volunteer opportunities with PSL in 2025. 

• Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM Growing Herbs from Seed 

  • The Thyme Garden's co-owners and herb experts Emily Stimac and Bethany Glanville will share how to start and grow herbs successfully from seeds in containers or garden beds, herb companion plants, and when and how to harvest the herbs as leaves or seeds for use.

• Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM Companion Planting of Flowers and Herbs

  • Come learn how to wisely plant 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! This presentation will cover how worm castings improve soil and garden growth, how to simply build a functional worm bin, how to feed your worms, and maintain your worm farm year round. 

🪴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 

🪴Applications are open for the 2025 Linn and Benton County Master Gardener Training Program! The application is open until January 20th . If you know of other people who may be interested in applying for the 2025 Master Gardener Program, please direct them to this link to apply: https://beav.es/GYB. If you have questions about the application please rech out to Annie O’Shea at osheaa@oregonstate.edu.

🪴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.