President’s Message
🍐 I would like to warmly welcome Otillia Shreuder as the new Master Gardener Program Coordinator for Linn and Benton Counties. Otillia started on Oct. 30 and is excited and eager to get to know the MGs from both counties and learn about our activities. Otillia will be at the graduation and awards on Nov. 18. I hope many of you will be able to attend and have the opportunity to introduce yourself.
As we end the current Master Gardener year and begin a new one, it is timely that we look at what we have accomplished in the past year and what we hope to accomplish in the next. We have 23 new graduates this year, and it is my hope that our newest MGs will explore opportunities that they may not have experienced as trainees. Two of our earliest events in 2024 will be Gearing Up for Gardening, a very popular and well-attended series of lectures given in January and February. The list of speakers is always interesting. Consider this as a new opportunity for you to work on educational event planning. Contact Janet Magedanz for more information about becoming involved. Insights into Gardening is our second event in early February. This one-day event is our biggest education event of the year. For more information about getting involved with this committee, contact Jana Tindall or Lynn Trimpe.
Finally, I would like to thank Rich Taylor for passing along a very short article from the Jackson County Master Gardener website on the benefits of volunteering. As we begin a new year and renew our memberships, this is the perfect time to reflect on why we are here and do what we do. Here is the link.
Message from MG Coordinator Otillia Shreuder
Hello all,
My name is Otillia Schreuder. I am the new Master Gardener Coordinator Extension Coordinator for Benton and Linn County. I am excited to serve the Master Gardener program and work with all of the Benton County Association Members to serve the community. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature and taking care of my flowers. I look forward to getting to know you all. Thank you for all of the excellent work that has been done to serve the community and the impact you have had.
I cannot wait to work with you all.
Awards & Graduation Celebration
🍐 Our awards and graduation celebration is almost here. It will be this Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Central Electrician Training Center in Tangent. We invite all continuing Master Gardeners and trainees to come for a pot-luck brunch before the awards and graduation. The training center is at 33309 OR-99E (just south of Hwy. 20-34). Please plan to join us as we welcome our newest class of Master Gardeners. Coffee and tea will be provided.
Membership Renewal
🍐 Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. As a courtesy to both our treasurer and membership secretary, we would like to have membership renewal completed by Thanksgiving so that these ladies can enjoy the holiday season. Please put “membership renewal” at the top of your to-do list. It will be much appreciated.
Continuing members are trained Master Gardeners and trainees who are extending their graduation to a second year. Continuing members do not have to be certified. Dues are $15. Dues can be paid with check, cash, or credit card. Checks should be made payable to BCMGA. If using a credit card, there is a swipe fee charge. The charge for continuing Master Gardeners is $15.75. Here is the credit card link for continuing Master Gardeners only. https://square.link/u/v5DWCvAO
Associate member dues are $10 ($10.60 if paid by credit card). Membership Secretary Marge Alig will contact Associate members directly about membership renewal and will include a credit card link in that email.
Message from Vice President Lynn Trimpe
Greens Party: Our annual greens party will be Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 10-2:30 at Guerber Hall (BC Fairgrounds). This is just for fun. Greens will be provided but you can bring special additions from your own garden. Members make wreaths, swags, and centerpieces—whatever you choose. Bring gloves, wreath frame or vase, wire or florist tape, pruners, wire cutters, oasis blocks if doing a centerpiece, ribbon, ornaments, or other bling. You can also bring cookies or a snack to share. The usual warm drinks will be provided. WEAR YOUR BADGE!
BCMGA News
🍐 Year-End Committee Reports: A reminder to all committee chairs that annual committee reports are due by the end of the year, but it would be wonderful if we can get this done by the end of November. There is a revised annual report form that chairs can use as a template. Some of the information on that form is very important to our annual financial report to OMGA. Please look at this new, streamlined template. It is in the Members section of the BCMGA website (bentonmg.org). The password is bcmga2023.
Kudos to Dan Dix, co-chair of Demo Garden, for being the first person to submit their committee report!
🍐 Desk Winter Hours: Plant Clinic in the Office will be Tuesdays and Thursdays. Morning and afternoon shifts are available.
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 or to get a refresher training on working at the desk. In the latter case, 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.
Volunteer Opportunities
🍐 Insights into Gardening: The committee will be meeting Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Conference Room at the Extension Office. The meeting starts at 1:00.
🍐 Master Gardener Desk (Office Plant Clinic): Winter hours are now in effect. The desk will operate on a Tuesday & Thursday schedule.
Find more opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Each program year current Master Gardener volunteers are asked to recertify by completing 10 hours of approved continuing education and 20 hours of volunteering. This ensures that your horticultural knowledge stays current. All the opportunities in this section count towards that goal. Try to get one hour of CE on a diversity, equity, or inclusion related topic.
🍐 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.
🍐 New OSU Publication. Gardens are for Everyone. Read and write a summary paragraph of how you will apply this as a Master Gardener volunteer for one hour of continuing education.
🍐 New OSU Publication. Grow Your Own Peppers. Read and write a summary paragraph of how you will apply this as a Master Gardener volunteer for one hour of continuing education.
🍐 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 to the attached website.
A New Resource
🍐 NEW! A message from Sherry Sheng, Chair of Clackamas 10-Minute University:
I am excited to share a new series of research-based resources for Master Gardeners: Garden Ecology Briefs from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab.
Each uses a 2-page format to explain research in three parts: What is the question? What did we find out? How does this relate to gardening?
Attached are 4 briefs – on Native Plants, Biocontrol, Bee Vision, and Petal Cutters.
I would love to know what you think. clackamasmg@gmail.com
Native Plants
Biocontrol
Bee Vision
Petal Cutters
They are online as well. Check them out at the Garden Ecology Lab website (https://gardenecology.oregonstate.edu/gardeners) and the 10-Minute U website (https://cmastergardeners.org/10-minute-university)
Community News and Opportunities
🍐 Lupe’s Community Garden (Philomath), is seeking a new Program Manager beginning early Spring 2024.
The purpose of the Philomath Community Garden is to develop a beautiful and nurturing space where individuals, families and groups may grow nutritious, organic vegetables and fruit for themselves and for community food banks and gleaner programs. Workshops are offered by Benton County and OSU Extension seasonally.
Community members have volunteered more than 600 hours and shared approximately 1000 pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit this past season. The Garden Manager would be committed to about 30 to 40 volunteer hours per month during planning and planting times. Hours would be less as the garden gets underway. Mentoring will be available.
If interested in this opportunity to contribute greatly to the fight to eliminate hunger in the community, we would love to tell you more. By using the links below, you can explore this historical project. Please contact Cheryl Stratton for more information.
🍐 Growing Microgreens and Sprouts
Come learn how to grow highly nutritious microgreens & sprouts indoors this winter from Master Gardeners Jill Farrow and Jennifer Klammer. There'll be samples to taste, and Public Seed Library microgreens & sprouts seeds to take home afterwards. Tuesday, December 5 from noon-1:30pm at the Corvallis Public Library Meeting Room.
Extension News
Need help finding information from Extension? Here are some important links to access information.
Have a gardening question? Get help at:.
Interested in gardening classes and events?
Want to join Master Gardeners? Contact Benton County Extension Office, 541-713-5000
Want to partner with Master Gardeners? Please contact Brooke Edmunds to get connected: brooke.edmunds@oregonstate.edu
Current volunteers:
Need information about training, volunteering, or logging hours? First check the Volunteer Sourcebook and website.
Need a sign-up, promotions, or printing for an upcoming event?
First, use the Event Checklist to collect all needed information
In Benton County send to Nicole Mason Martin: nicole.mason@oregonstate.edu
In Linn County send to Laurie Gibson: laurie.gibson@oregonstate.edu
Need to update your contact information? Need a badge?
Contact Laurie Gibson: laurie.gibson@oregonstate.edu
All other questions:
Please contact Brooke Edmunds: brooke.edmunds@oregonstate.edu
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