President’s Message
🌻 During my recent vacation in Massachusetts, I was able to visit the National Hydrangea Test Gardens. I always find such inspiration and joy visiting other gardens. I feel thankful for the community members who have opened their gardens to the Master Gardeners through the years.
September and the start of school is just around the corner. The school garden teams are planning their fall growing and learning schedules and I encourage anyone with an interest to get involved. Our BCMGA Picnic is also planned for September 16. We have some amazing cooks and bakers in this organization and I’m looking forward to sharing a meal with everyone. It's always a joy to gather and celebrate our shared love for gardening and the community we've built.
A big congratulations to our trainee members who have completed their volunteer hours—your hard work and dedication are truly commendable! For those still working toward their goals, I encourage you to keep volunteering. Every hour you contribute makes a difference and helps us all grow together.
BCMGA Membership Activities
Organized by Co-Vice Presidents Lynn Trimpe and Michelle Brown
Information about membership activities including garden tours are available on the website.
🌻 Come to the BCMGA Picnic - Monday, September 16 from 5:00 - 7:00
Philomath City Park with access to the Randy Kugler Community Hall
BMCGA will provide water and tableware.
Bring a dish to share for our potluck
You may bring your own beverages but NO ALCOHOL is allowed.
🌻 Membership Meetings are Returning in October - Katherine Chambliss from the Evening Gardening Club will be speaking about the Homegrown National Park movement. If you’d like to prepare ahead of time, consider reading Doug Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Best Hope.
BCMGA News
🌻 Summer Plant Clinic Desk - There are lots of daytime shifts for both trainees and Certified MGs available. Late summer brings in questions about pests, powdery mildew and heat and we could use your help answering questions. Check out the normal weekday Signup Genius.
The Plant Clinic Desk has also arranged special Evening Plant Clinic hours for Trainees. There are still several spots available in August and September. If you are a trainee who needs evening hours check out this Signup Genius.
🌻 Celebration of Life for Wayne Marshall on Sept 14, 2024 at 9AM via Zoom
Wayne was a former Benton County Master Gardener from the class of 2009. His family invites any of his MG friends to attend. Please RSVP to his daughter Abby if you would like a link to the service.
🌻 Log Those Volunteer Hours - Volunteer hours are due in October so this is a reminder to put those hours into the Volunteer Reporting System (VRS). If you are a trainee and need help navigating the VRS website, please reach out to your mentor or Otillia for help.
Volunteer Opportunities
🌻 It's a New School Year at Mountain View School! - Last spring we took on the Mountain View School Garden that had been fallow for 5 years due to COVID and construction. We worked with teachers, Mike Fischer and Dan Reynolds, to get it up and going. It was a fun and productive spring...building boxes, planting early veggies, and constant harvesting of peas, lettuce, radishes and spinach plus eating a little bit of dirt before we could intervene! We had Salad Days with 1st and 5th graders, some students eating their first ever salad because they planted, harvested and needed to finish the job. It was wild and energizing to initiate this next generation to growing food.
This year, we will expand into more classrooms with prepared units following the seasons, and start a school sponsored Garden Club for education throughout the year. Fall will be winter planting under hoop houses and harvesting the pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, cukes, etc. that we planted in May. Winter will be learning about propagation and using the grow lights the school grant purchased for things like Microgreens. Spring will be planting again, developing a few new boxes, getting the greenhouse built, and using our imaginations to continue to create a lovely space.
I will say, it has been more fun and a steeper learning curve than I expected. I look forward to more! If supporting a school garden interests you, there are many avenues for volunteering. You might just want to wheel barrow in mulch, work in the classroom, or help with the upkeep. There is a place for everyone. If you are thinking this seems like a fit for you, contact Susan Hoffman, shoff@peak.org, 541-602-4504.
🌻Propagation Workshops at Philomath Greenhouse - Late summer and fall are important times for propagating plants for the next BCMGA Plant sale. It is a friendly environment at the greenhouse and no prior propagation experience is needed. This is a great way to learn to propagate for your own garden too. Join in the fun at this SignUp Genius.
🌻Come and Join the Demonstration Garden Team - If you were inspired during your tour of the Demonstration Garden, come and join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 - 11:00AM. We donate most of the food grown at the garden to local food banks. If you have extras from your home garden you can drop it off on Wednesday mornings and we will add it to our delivery. If you want to be added to our email list, email Rosalind Hutton.
🌻Kathryn Jones Harrison School Garden - School is just around the corner! Thanks to a core group of MGs, the garden has fresh fall veggie plantings, added splashes of flowers, new fruit trees, repaired structures and weeded beds. A new garden club will be open to all students during two lunch recesses Tuesdays and Thursdays mid-day. Garden coordinator/Kindergarten teacher, Amanda Tuckson, will be setting weekly topics and a Sign Up Genius for Garden Club leaders.
Location: Kathryn Jones Harrison Elementary School Garden
1825 NW 27th, Corvallis Or, 97330
Questions: Email Amanda at amanda.tucksen@corvallis.k12.or.us
Let me know if you’re interested so we can get the ball rolling on background checks through OSU Extension and the Corvallis School district. Jennifer Klammer
Jennifer.klammer@comcast.net, 541-602-0431
Continuing Education Opportunities
These educational events are approved for Continuing Education Credit by OSU Extension
🌻 Dry Farm Field Day at OSU Vegetable Research Farm - Register here.
August 21, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Location: OSU Vegetable Research Farm
34306 NE Electric Rd, Corvallis, OR 97333
🌻 2024 Edible Garden Tour Featuring Northeast Corvallis Gardens - Thursday August 29th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Sponsored by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition. See flyer below.
🌻 Growing and Belonging - Each year OSU asks that we complete one hour of continuing education related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. There are multiple online courses available through the Growing and Belonging website.
🌻 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 continuing education credit.
Extension News
🌻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. New entries are being added regularly on the SPP Website.
Logging hours into VRS https://vrs.osumg.org/sec_Login/
Community News and Events
🐝Stone Soup is a local soup kitchen that provides free meals those in need. They are accepting donations from home gardens and orchards. If you would like to donate please reach out to director@stonesoupcorvallis.org or beans@stonesoupcorvallis.org. Their number is 541-760-6273. If you would like additional information please visit their website.
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