Biweekly Update - May 13, 2025
- Brenda Bye
- May 13
- 5 min read
President’s Message - From Paula Lupcho
🪴 Congratulations to the Plant Sale Committee for organizing another highly successful plant sale! Here are some of the highlights. Over 2500 people came. Some of these were double counted because they went to both the Floral Courtyard for veggies/herbs and Solar Barn for landscape plants. Our customer base continues to grow because we offer a wonderful selection of plants at affordable prices. We exceeded last year’s revenue which is always good news. Lots of great education went on as our section leads and their volunteers helped customers select the right plant for their needs. Our volunteers love sharing information about plants and our customers really enjoy learning about the growing habits of their new treasures. The plants looked absolutely fabulous. I want to thank all of our volunteers for the tremendous effort that went into making our 2025 plant sale a huge success.
Important Notice from the Extension Office
The Benton County Extension Office is housed in a Benton County building and is shared with other county services including the county facilities department. There has been a problem with the inappropriate disposal of items into the recycle bins. Republic Services has warned the county facilities staff about this problem. In order to avoid any future problems/warnings, I am asking all Master Gardeners who have need to be at the Extension Office to dispose of ALL items into the trash bins and avoid using the recycle bins entirely. MGs can also choose to take recyclable items home. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
BCMGA Membership News
🪴Remember that volunteer hours for Plant Sale are entered into VRS as Fundraising Support.
🪴Congrats to the Mountain View Elementary School Garden work crew. They have been busy building a greenhouse and installing a pollinator garden.
🪴A big thanks to Jill Lodwig who has put many hours into revamping the Desk Manual to prepare for our new trainees.
🪴BCMGA Co-sponsors Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion - Join us on campus to watch the award-winning documentary, Farming While Black about the rising generation of young black farmers. This event is approved for Growing and Belonging CE
Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Location: Oregon State University LINC Building Room 210. Near SW 26th and SW Jefferson
Cost: Free and free parking is available nearby
Moderated panel: Mark Decena, director/writer/ producer, Kontent Films. Charlotte Epps, Leticia Carson Legacy Project, and Reciprocity Garden. David Barron, Cross-eyed Cricket Farms and Friends Agriculture Co-op
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqMM2bKFiV8
🪴BCMGA Membership Meeting - Membership meetings are open to all BCMGA members, including Master Gardeners, trainees, and the public. Wear your badge for an extra raffle ticket. Bring a treat to share to earn another raffle ticket. As always, there will be opportunities to mingle with other Master Gardeners and win raffle prizes.
Monday, May 19, 2025 - Cultivating Camas and Communities - Tracing People-Plant Relationships in the Willamette Valley with Dr. Molly Carney. This lecture counts as one hour of Growing and Belonging Continuing Education Credit.
Location: Extension Building, Sunset Room (Use East side entrance)
Format: Hybrid meeting (in-person and online via Zoom)
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:00 p.m.
Volunteer Opportunities
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
🪴CGET Growing Groceries celebrated their largest class of 35 people at the OSU International Housing Garden last week. Join these hands-on gardening workshops, which are a great way to introduce the public to vegetable growing. Trainees are encouraged to join in the fun too. Check out the CGET Signup Genius before the spots are all gone.
🪴Plant Sale Committee is Rebuilding his Shade Structure - We are looking for people interested in building and those with mechanical talents to help out on Friday, May 16, from 1:00-3:30 at our PHS growing area. But first, we need to get it into position. All are welcome to come and help us move it just a few feet, then join in some potting fun! Click the link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/PSTeam to sign up and get more details.
🪴Questions are Coming into the Extension Plant Clinic - Shifts are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Check the new 2025 Signup Genius to grab a spot!
🪴PopUp Veg Clinic at the Benton Library May 17th at 9AM – The Public Seed Library is hosts clinic tables both during May and June. There is space for both Certified MGs and Trainees. If you are interested in this fun public event or other Public Seed Library activities please check out the Seed Library SignUpGenius.
🪴Farmers Market Clinic Table - Join BCMGA on the go in your community! Sign ups are open for trainees and certified MGs to chat with the public at Farmer’s Markets and other community events in Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025, and this SignUpGenius will be updated as more opportunities become available. We hope to see you there!
Contact Elaina Bauer at elainambauer@gmail.com if you have any questions.
🪴Wednesday Work Parties at the Demonstration Garden at the Benton County Fairgrounds—rain, shine, or even snow! All Master Gardeners, including trainees, are welcome. No need to sign up—just bring your gloves, dress for the weather, and come ready to dig in.
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Demo Garden, Benton County Fairgrounds
Continuing Education Opportunities
Approved for CE by OSU Extension
🪴Leach Botanical Garden Tour – This stunning garden features areas with native plantings, historic plant collections and a four-season pollinator garden. Watch for more details including carpool information from Vice President Laura Horsey in your email.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Depart Corvallis around 10:00 AM
Tour & admission: Approx. $13
Bring: A bagged lunch to enjoy on the patio
Optional stop: Rogerson Clematis Garden in West Linn on the way home
🪴Growing Oregon Gardeners OSU Level Up Series - These free online webinars are the 2nd Tuesday of the month at noon. The series runs from April through September 2025. For details and registration are available on the Extension website.
🪴Lebanon Garden Tour - June 21, 2025 there will be a walking tour of the of 7 different gardens in Lebanon including rain gardens and food gardens. The cost is $20. For details please see the Extension website.
Extension News
🪴Master Food Preservers is has posted their class schedule for Spring 2025.
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