President’s Message
🍒 Aloha from beautiful Hawaii! As I write this newsletter surrounded by the vibrant flora of this tropical paradise, I am reminded of the incredible dedication and passion each of you brings to our gardening community back home.
For our trainees, I encourage you to complete your second training session at the Plant Clinic Desk. Plant Clinic is the perfect place to apply what you've learned and to help our community with their gardening questions. We’d also love to see you keep volunteering at the desk when you’ve completed your second training.
Finally, I wanted to point you to an article written by our own Meleah Ashford for the Association for Women in Science about the Master Gardener Program. You can read it online here.
BCMGA Garden Tours
Organized by Co-Vice Presidents Lynn Trimpe and Michelle Brown
🍒Thanks to everyone who attended the last garden tour at Karen Hopson’s home. Our upcoming garden tours are listed below. Full details about the summer garden tours are available on the website.
OSU Campus Arboretum: Thursday, July 18, 2024, 10am to 1pm
BCMGA Demonstration Garden: Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
BCMGA News
🍒Plant Clinic Desk - Gardening questions continue to poor into the plant desk. We still need Certified Master Gardeners and Trainees to keep the desk staffed as much as possible over the summer.
Trainees who have been cleared by Otillia are encouraged to sign up for training. Aim to complete your second training this month. Note: if you sign up and no trainer is available by the evening before, you will NOT be able to work at the desk.
Certified Master Gardeners - We miss you! Please sign up if you see an opening the evening before you'd like to do desk duty. You can sign up in a trainee spot, so you won’t be expected to act as a trainer
If you are a Certified Master Gardener who wishes to receive refresher training at the desk, you may sign up if no other trainees have signed by the evening before and a trainer IS signed up. Alternatively, you may contact any of the trainers (Alan Taylor, Deb Kern, Paula Lupcho, Michelle Brown, Cynthia Roler) to make arrangements.
🍒 Date Set for BCMGA Picnic - September 16, 2024 at 5PM at the Philomath Park. More details to come.
🍒 Opening for OMGA Representative and Alternate - BCMGA is looking for new representatives to the Oregon Master Gardener Association. The position includes 4 OMGA meetings per year, usually via Zoom, attending BCMGA Board Meetings, and writing a quarterly report of BCMGA activities. A formal job description is in the BCMGA Policies and Procedures manual. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Rich Taylor.
🍒 Leader for Gearing Up for Gardening - This beloved winter educational event has been led by Janet Magedanz for years. It is well attended by both MGs and the general public. If you are interested in helping in the next phases of this program please reach out to Janet.
Volunteer Opportunities
🍒 New Propagation Workshops Posted - We are already looking ahead to the 2025 Plant Sale ad beyond. There are transplanting and potting opportunities. There are dates and times to accommodate our working members and trainees. Join in the fun at this SignUp Genius.
🍒 Demonstration Garden - The Demo Garden Team continues to meet at the Fairgrounds each Wednesday mornings at 9:30 to tend the vegetable plots. The time may shift earlier as the weather heats up. Contact Rosalind Hutton if you want to be added to the email list.
OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference July 12-13 at CH2M Hill Alumni Center
🍒Normal Registration for this educational event closes on July 5, 2024. Keynote speakers for this year include Dr. Gail Langelloto and Sherry Sheng as well as Dr. Silva Rondon. One-day tickets at $60 and two-day tickets are $100. Go to the OMGA website to register.
🍒Donations Needed for Silent Auction - If you have any last minute donations for the Silent Auction at the OMGA Conference please email Paula Lupcho.
Continuing Education Opportunities
🍒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.
🍒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
🍒Here are some important links to access information.
OSU Extension Master Gardener Program News is a good way to stay up to date on new programs and activities from the statewide office.
Guide to Being a Master Gardener: This was updated in November and can answer many common MG questions. It is available electronically here.
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/
Need a sign-up, promotions, or printing for an upcoming event? First, use the Event Checklist to collect all needed information
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