Biweekly Update March 11, 2025
- Brenda Bye
- Mar 11
- 7 min read
President’s Message
From Paula Lupcho
Spring is upon us and with it comes a surge of Master Gardener activities. The first training class is this Thursday at the Electrical Training Center in Tangent. It is Benton’s year to host the first class. This means providing beverage service and snacks. I am asking members to provide a snack as a welcome to the new trainees. Snacks can be left at the Extension Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 13. Snacks can be fruit, cheese and crackers, popcorn, muffins, cookies, veggie trays, chips & dips, and so on. Thanks for your help. If you have questions email or call Paula Lupcho (plantdoc2746@gmail.com or 541-929-3050).
Another part of Spring are the invitations we receive to participate in community events—lots of invitations. It is gratifying that our community recognizes Master Gardeners as a reliable resource for horticultural information. The CGET committee is organizing 4 different events in March and April in addition to their regular committee activities. There are 3 school STEM nights and an open house at Fire Station 6 (Lewisburg Rd.) to kick off Fire Awareness Month in May. Contact the CGET committee at cget.bentonmg@gmail.com to get involved.
That being said, CGET has all they can handle. There is another event that we could participate in at the Thyme Garden Earth Day Jubilee on Saturday, April 19 from 11 to 4. The theme is sustainability, and they are looking for community organizations to participate, ideally with an interactive display or hands-on activity. If you have an interest in this, please contact pres.bcmga.board@gmail.com by March 21.
These are all great opportunities for trainees to get their public outreach hours, but we need at least 1 certified Master Gardener to attend each event. For Master Gardeners who work, most of these events are in the evening or on the weekend so you can log some public outreach hours too! - Happy Gardening
BCMGA News
🌱It’s time to dig in and get involved in BCMGA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, our annual Plant Sale! Leslie Hauser, our Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, is already hard at work organizing volunteer roles for this year’s event. Keep an eye on your inbox – you’ll be getting an email from her on Wednesday, March 19 with a link to sign up and help out!
Did you love your role from last year? Or maybe you’re excited to try something new this time? Let Leslie know your preferences and availability now and she’ll make sure you’re all set to join the fun! lesliehauser107@gmail.com, 702-340-6513
Friday, May 2 - 8:00a-12:00p and 12:00p-4:00p volunteer shifts for set up
Saturday, May 3 - 8:30a-12:00p and 12:00p-3:30p volunteer shifts for the SALE
🌱 Call for Award Nominations - Do you know a Benton County Master Gardener who deserves recognition? Nominations are now open for the 2025 Master Gardener of the Year and Behind the Scenes awards!
Master Gardener of the Year honors a volunteer for outstanding dedication, leadership, and service. The award is based on years of service, association involvement, leadership with BCMGA, and outstanding and unusual service.
Behind the Scenes recognizes someone who quietly and unselfishly supports the program without being in the spotlight.
Submit nominations by April 7, 2025, to Michelle Brown. The Board will review submissions on April 14, 2025. The nomination form is available on the front page of the BCMGA website.
🌱Directory Update: The 2025 Membership Directory booklet is in the final stages of production. Later this month the Membership Secretary will be mailing out the directory booklet, which contains information about activities and contact information for Board members, committee chairs, and members. The package also will include your membership card, which will include a sticker on the back with discounts to local nurseries.
Membership Secretary, Michelle Brown will follow-up with an email sent directly to you when the package is dropped in the mail. It will also be uploaded onto the Members Only area of the BCMGA website soon.
🌱Mountain View Elementary School Garden Awarded a Grant! - Nancy Tovar and Susan Hoffman have been awarded a grant from Benton Soil and Water Conservation District to install a vibrant and sustainable pollinator garden at Mountain View Elementary School. This garden will serve as a hands-on learning environment where students can explore local ecosystems, understand the importance of pollinators, and become active participants in environmental stewardship. The garden will feature native plants that attract a variety of pollinators, creating a dynamic outdoor classroom that fosters environmental awareness and conservation.
If you are interested in assisting with this project, contact Nancy Tovar: njtovar@gmail.com
🌱Join the CGET Leadership Team - The Community Garden Education Team plays a vital role in our mission to educate local gardeners about sustainable growing. After three years of dedicated leadership, Kandi Maestri, Wendi Gale, and Cheryl Stratton are ready to mentor the next team.
We’re still looking for 1-2 more co-chairs to help lead this important work! This is a great opportunity to share your love of vegetable gardening while making a real impact in the community. Interested? Email CGET.BentonMG@gmail.com for details!
🌱Help Needed at Plant Clinic - Plant Clinic is open year round, and questions will start increasing as the weather warms. Whether you're a seasoned MG or new graduate, this is a great way to sharpen your diagnostic skills and support the community. Sign up solo or bring a friend—shifts are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Check the new 2025 Signup Genius to grab a spot!
BCMGA Membership Activities
🌱BCMGA Membership Meeting - Vice President Laura Horsey has arranged a new and interesting speaker for this month. Come early, bring a friend and maybe a treat to share. For more information please see the BCMGA Website.
The March Member Meeting is Monday, March 17th at 7:00, doors open at 6:30
Speaker: Marisha Auerbach, Permaculture Educator and Designer; Steward, Permaculture Rising Farm and Nursery in Olympia, Washington
Topic: Food Forests: A Fun Way to Enhance Habitat and Yield
Format: Hybrid meeting both in-person and via Zoom. Password: 730422
Location: Sunset Building, 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis Oregon. Use the East entrance as all other doors are locked at that time
Recordings of past meetings, including last month’s talk by OSU’s Jim Myers are available on the BCMGA YouTube Channel.
🌱Spring Social – Save the Date! All Benton County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Trainees are invited to a Spring Social on Tuesday, April 8th, from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Benton County Extension Office.
This potluck event is a great chance to connect with fellow MGs and welcome our new trainees. If you’re able, please bring a dish to share—but if not, no worries! There will be plenty of treats for everyone.
Volunteer Opportunities
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
🌱Public Seed Library – Thank you to the volunteers at the first Pop-up Veg Clinic on March 1st. These early-season clinics are well attended, with lots of questions from community members about starting peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and spring crops. It's a fun, informal way to earn direct service hours in the comfort of the library, while helping others plan their gardens.
There are more spots available for dates in April. To sign up for more Pop-Up Veg Clinics or to help with stocking the seed rack see the Seed Library SignUpGenius.
🌱Plant Sale Vegetable Propagation – The herbs and peppers are off to a great start and the first round of tomatoes have been planted. There are a few spots for Session Leaders left in future sessions. These are experienced volunteers who can assist with instruction and quality control. Session Leaders arrive 15 minutes early to help with setup.
Join us and help grow this year’s success! Sign up via Signup Genius today!
🌱Plant Propagation has Openings for Trainees - Spring is just around the corner, and it's time to start gearing up for BCMGA’s biggest event of the year – the Plant Sale! We’ve added new dates for plant playtime in the greenhouse and outdoors, plus inventory prep for the big event.
We’re also welcoming the Class of 2025 to the team—what a great chance to meet our newest Master Gardeners! Please pick just two dates for now so everyone has a chance to help. Separate sign-up spots are available for both MGs and trainees.
Sign up here: BCMGA 2025 Propagation SignUpGenius
🌱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
🌱 Seed Library Lecture Series - PSLis a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Benton County Public Library with educational support from BCMGA. Lectures from this spring are available on the BCMGA 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
🌱If you need a replacement badge, now is the time! Please email Annie O’Shea to let her know.
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