President’s Message
🌱I hope this message finds you well and filled with the same excitement and anticipation as we get small peeks at spring on the horizon.
First and foremost, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to our new trainee class. Your enthusiasm for learning and passion for gardening are truly inspiring, and I'm thrilled to have you join our community. To our veteran Master Gardeners, I invite you to step forward as mentors or ambassadors on this journey. Your guidance and support will be invaluable as we nurture the growth of our newest members. Please reach out to Alan Taylor our Mentor Coordinator, alantaylor@alyrica.net
The greenhouse in Philomath is buzzing with activity. The rows of pots outside and seed trays inside are growing rapidly as we prepare for our BCMGA Plant Sale in May. This beloved event is not only a highlight of our gardening calendar but also a wonderful opportunity to share our knowledge and love for plants with the community. Your participation in the seeding and transplanting process are vital to its success, so make sure that you check out the link to the SignUp Genius below.
As we head into our busy season, keep watching this newsletter for information on upcoming activities. If you have any items that you would like included please email me brenda.bye@gmail.com and Dianne McLemore bcmganewsletter@gmail.com. Together, let's nurture growth, foster learning, and celebrate the joy of gardening.
BCMGA Membership Meeting - Monday March 25, 2024
🌱Co-Vice Presidents Lynn Trimpe and Michelle Brown welcome all BCMGA members to the next membership meeting for socialization and Continuing Education credits. Coffee and tea are provided and feel free to bring a treat. Raffle prizes for in-person attendees.
Location: Extension Building, Sunset Room
Use East side entrance (other doors locked at night)
Format: Hybrid meeting (in-person and via Zoom)
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:00 p.m.
March Program, March 25, 2024 Topic: Introduction to OSU’s Solve Pest Problems Project, presented by Ebba Peterson, with the Oregon Integrated Pest Management Center. Solve Pest Problems is a user-friendly, online resource addressing pest issues around the home and garden. SPP has close to 200 peer-reviewed pages covering the management of problem weeds, household insects, mice, rats & other wildlife, as well as a number of plant pests and diseases. You can also find guides on how to use pesticides safely around your home and family. Learn more about SPP and how to manage pests around your home with reduced risk to people, pets, and the environment.
April Program, April 15, 2024 Topic: Strawberries 101 for Home Gardeners with Erica Chernoh, who works out of Lane County Extension and is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the OSU Horticulture Department. Growing strawberries in the home garden can be a fruitful endeavor but comes with a few challenges. This presentation will focus on site conditions, cultivar selection, and planting, growing and harvesting strawberries. Whether grown in the ground or a container, strawberries are an excellent choice for home gardeners.
**If you have ideas about speakers/topics for future membership meetings, please contact Lynn Trimpe trimpelynn@gmail.com or Michelle Brown michellegbrown88@gmail.com with your suggestions. Our last two presentations have been posted on our YouTube channel.
2024 Linn and Benton County Master Gardener Training Program - Continuing Education
🌱 The Trainee Class of 2024 are starting their educational journey to become Certified Master Gardeners. Our Program Coordinator, Otillia Schreuder has been working diligently on the course for this year. Current Master Gardeners are invited to attend training lectures, which have been approved by OSU for Continuing Education.
Location: Central Electrical Training Center Auditorium
33309 OR-99E
Tangent, OR 97389
Format: 5:30-7:00 PM, In-Person only at this time. Trainees will have additional
activities to complete at the end of these lectures.
Dates: Thursday, March 7, 2024 Soils with James Cassidy
Thursday, March 14, 2024 Insects with Rich Little
Thursday, April 4, 2024 Water with Darren Morgan
Hope Grows Here - Volunteer Opportunity
🌱 Hope Grows Here is a gardening program for cancer survivors in partnership with the Moore Family Center in the College of Health, OSU Extension, and Samaritan Cancer Resource Centers. Master Gardener volunteers are encouraged to volunteer as mentors and educators for cancer survivors learning to grow home vegetable gardens in community gardens throughout Linn & Benton counties.
Garden Mentor: As a Garden Mentor, you are paired with participants in a 1:1 or small group setting. Mentors meet regularly throughout the summer gardening season from May to September for ½ hour each week. It is a time commitment of around 12 hours in total. This opportunity allows volunteers to directly work with individuals and provide impactful gardening opportunities!
Garden Educators: As Garden Educators, you will work directly with the Hope Grows Here study manager to develop and deliver four basic gardening classes during March and April. Classes will be delivered remotely, and recorded. It is a time commitment of around 12 hours in total. This opportunity allows volunteers to provide quality garden education to cancer survivors!
This project is approved for Master Gardener volunteer hours. More information about this project can be found here. If you are interested, please reach out to Candace Russo at candace.russo@oregonstate.edu. Thank you for helping provide quality gardening information to the local community!
BCMGA News
🌱 BCMGA’s Annual Plant Sale We're calling on all Master Gardeners, Associates, and the class of 2024 to volunteer for our annual Plant Sale. It’s BCMGA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. You will earn volunteer hours, expand your plant knowledge, connect with fellow Master Gardeners, and have a lot of fun. We need your help to make it a success! Please get these dates on your calendar:
Friday, May 3 - 8:00a-12:00p and 12:00p - 4:00p volunteer shifts for Set up
Saturday, May 4 - 8:30a-12:00p and 12:00p-3:30p volunteer shifts to help with the SALE
Leslie Hauser, Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, is already organizing lead volunteer positions. In just a few weeks she will be sending all members detailed information on this year’s sale plus how to volunteer. Whether you enjoyed a specific role last year or have your eye on a new one, feel free to let Leslie know your preference and availability now. lesliehauser107@gmail.com or 702-340-6513.
🌱 Clinic Table at the Farmer’s Market BCMGA is looking for veteran Master Gardeners looking to staff the Saturday Market Clinic Table. If you have any interest please brenda.bye@gmail.com
🌱 Ask Extension is looking for Master Gardeners seeking additional insect training. This is a great opportunity for MGs looking to get more direct services hours from home on a flexible schedule. Reach out to Otillia Schreuder if you are interested.
Volunteer Opportunities - These Opportunities have been approved by OSU Extension
🌱 Veggie & Herb Propagation Workshops at the Philomath High School Greenhouse
It's 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 sign up for one slot only for now, as this is a popular activity. If you are a mentor, you are welcome to bring your trainee! This is a great opportunity to learn how to start veggies and prepare them for transplanting to the garden.
🌱 Public Seed Library is a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library with educational support from BCMGA. Please see the Sign Up Genius as there are 2 unfilled spots for upcoming Plant Clinic and Seed Rack Stocking.
🌱 Master Gardener Desk (Office Plant Clinic): Winter hours are now in effect. The desk will operate on a Tuesday & Thursday schedule. A Signup Genius has been posted.
Alan Taylor, Mentor Coordinator, would like to let people know that certified MGs could come in at other times to work on voicemail or email submissions. To get refresher training on working at the desk contact Alan Taylor (alantaylor@alyrica.net ) to arrange for a trainer. Without an advertised “open desk” it should give some opportunities for quiet time to get these things done.
Find more opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
Continuing Education Opportunities - These have been approved by OSU for Continuing Education
🌱 Public Seed Library Lecture Series - Has been approved for Continuing Education by OSU Extension.
Thursday April 4 from 1:00 to 2:30PM at the Corvallis-Benton Public Library
Practical Composting for Home Gardens with Frederick Livingstone. Learn how to work with the space & materials available to you to build and maintain a garden composting system to maximize your garden's productivity.
🌱 Growing Oregon Gardens: Level Up Series 2024 Get one hour of CE credit for attending free gardening webinars from OSU. Check out the website for more details. Recordings of past talks are also available for credit.
🌱 Anytime. Recordings of Zoom Master Gardener training from Curry County with guest lecturers from OSU and beyond, are available for any volunteer to take as continuing education. Trainees are also welcome to watch and supplement their classes. More links are being added weekly, see the current list log on their website.
🌱 Webinars. Opportunities from across the state are listed on the OSU Master Gardener Program’s event page. Record each as one hour of continuing education.
Extension News
Need help finding information from Extension? Here are some important links to access information.
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
Have a gardening question? Get help at:
Interested in gardening classes and events?
Want to partner with Master Gardeners? Please contact Otillia Schreuder to get connected: otillia.schreuder@oregonstate.edu
Current volunteers:
Need information about training, volunteering, or logging hours? First check the Volunteer Sourcebook and website https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/activebentonlinnmg/
Need a sign-up, promotions, or printing for an upcoming event?
First, use the Event Checklist to collect all needed information
Need to update your contact information? Need a badge?
Contact Otillia Schreuder otillia.schreuder@oregonstate.edu
Community Events - These Events are NOT Approved by Extension for Continuing Education
🌱 Grand Prairie Albany Gardening Club - First Quarter Talks
Meets on the second Thursday of the month at 1PM at the Albany Public Library
For more information contact Sheryl Casteen casteen@aol.com