đ Presidentâs Message
Itâs hard to believe, but summer is just around the corner. We may even get some warm weather this week. This also means that the annual OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference is also just around the corneâJuly 7 & 8.. This year, it is almost a month earlier than last year. And, it is a local event for us. It will be held on the OSU campus at the CH2M Hill Alumni center. This conference always delivers a great program with great speakers. It is also a wonderful way to meet MGs from around the state. Participants will also have to opportunity to bid on a wide assortment of items in the Silent Auction, which is always a fun part of this event. Registration opens May 15. The program will be posted on the OMGA website.
Congratulations to Elza Records on her new position in the OSU community. Elza leaves the Master Gardener Program after 5 years of service. As she told me this week, âthis is a new opportunity for growthâ. Her last day will be May 3. Thank you for all that you have contributed to the MG program, and we wish you well and much success in your new role.
đ President Electâs Message
Donations for OMGA Silent Auction - Itâs time to prep BCMGAs annual donation to the Silent Auction at the Joy of Gardening Conference. This is our opportunity to support the grants and awards given by OMGA. We are looking for items that range from $25-$35 in value, such as garden tools, seeds, bird feeding supplies, knee pads, or trugs. If you have items or would like to help with gift baskets please contact brenda.bye@gmail.com. Weâre looking forward to hearing from you!
In Memorium: Dr. Bernadine Strik, scientist, researcher, educator, âBerry Queenâ, and friend of the Master Gardener Program. Her generous commitment to Master Gardener education left those of us, who were privileged to hear her speak, with the knowledge that we had enjoyed the company of a warm, caring, generous, and gifted person. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25 at CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus.
Trainee News & Opportunities
đ NEW! PLANT CLINIC at Farmers Market (Corvallis): Trainees can sign up for these plant clinics and work with the certified Master Gardener working that day. Time of clinic table is 9:00 a.m. â 1:00 p.m. Available dates are:
¡ Sat., April 29
¡ May 6 at Plant Sale (contact Leslie Hauser for shifts (lesliehauser107@gmail.com)
¡ Sat., May 27
¡ Sat., Jun 24
¡ Wed., Jun 28
¡ Wed., Aug. 23
¡ Sat., Aug 26
¡ Sat., Sep.,23
¡ Wed., Sep 27
¡ Sat., Oct. 28
đ Calling all Volunteers!! đż Sign up to help at BCMGAâs Plant Sale, our biggest fundraiser of the year! Click HERE to choose your job and shift times. Volunteers needed for BOTH DAYS and ALL SHIFTS: Friday, May 5 - SET UP, and Saturday, May 6 - SALE DAY!! Contact Leslie Hauser, Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, with questions or if you need help signing up. lesliehauser107@gmail.com, 702-340-6513.
đ Plant Propagation is continuing! Please help the Plant Sale Team by volunteering at one or more of our upcoming dates where we will be potting up perennial starts plus grooming, labeling, and preparing thousands of plants for our upcoming sale. Go to www.signupgenius.com/go/PSTeam to sign up.
Special Announcement
đ NEW! The Plant Sale is right around the corner! Leslie Hauser will be sending all Plant Sale volunteers an email on April 25 to confirm the assignments. Also, please look for an email with important volunteer information on both May 3 and May 4. There are just a few volunteer shifts left to fill. If you would like to help but have not yet chosen a job, contact Leslie, lesliehauser107@gmail.com, as soon as possible to get signed up. Our membership has been incredibly generous in their offers to work. THANK YOU! With this kind of team effort, May 6 is going to be another spectacular sale!
đ NEW! Today at 4:30 â 6:00 p.m. Special Bare Root Tree Sale.
Plant Sale just received a donation of bare root trees. For a list of trees available see the email that was sent yesterday to all members. This is a great opportunity to buy these lovely trees for only $25. The sale will be at the Philomath Greenhouse at the Philomath High School campus on the west side of the (back by the big blue dumpster). Due to the cool weather, it is not too late to get them planted now.
đ Plant Sale Yard Signs! We'd like to get a lot of yard signs around town for the Plant Sale. If you still have one from the last Plant Sale (check your garage/storage area), please put it out or return it to the Extension Office. Either way, let Bob Smythe know so he can add it to his inventory. We're also looking for new locations for yard signs - if you're willing to host one and live in a high traffic area, please contact Bob Smythe (smytherobert1@gmail.com). We promise to store them until next year so you don't have to.
BCMGA News
đ NEW! Committee Chair needed to coordinate a new committeeâPlant Clinic: Special Events. The duties of this chair would be to solicit volunteers, organize and coordinate various plant clinics at special events in the community. This would expand our outreach efforts beyond our presence at Farmers Market. Special events could include a plant clinic table at a local garden center, at events like DaVinci Days or the Poultry Conference, or fulfil special requests from the community. Interested? Contact Paula Lupcho at plantdoc2746@gmail.com.
đ Membership Meeting: Monday, May 15. Gail Langelotto will be the speaker and her topic is âInsect Sexâ. Donât miss this one; itâs lots of fun. This will be a hybrid meeting, but we are hoping and we will have a great turn out so that we can send Gail good wishes on her new endeavor at OSU. She will be leaving her position as Statewide Master Gardener Coordinator so this may be the last opportunity for MGs to hear her speak in this capacity. Doors open at 6:30. Program starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Sunset Room at the Extension building. Zoom link is attached.
đ Summer Tour: Save the dateâWednesday, June 14. 10:00. MG Joyce Eberhart is opening her garden for people to peruse. Joyce is our âgo-toâ native plant resource. If you enjoyed her Gearing Up for Gardening presentation on native plants, this will be a special opportunity. It will be more of an open house rather than a guided tour. She is also arranging for participants to tour her sisterâs garden next door as well as another neighbor who has an amazing veggie garden.
Volunteer Opportunities
đ NEW! Outreach Effectiveness Survey: We are looking for two people who are not otherwise committed to helping at the Plant Sale on Saturday morning. The Outreach Committee would like to survey the effectiveness of our efforts. We need two people to briefly talk with folks as they wait in line and those that arrive shortly after the sale opens to find out how they learned of the sale. Time commitment is 8:30 to 10:00. Please contact Jana Tindall at jl.tindall@comcast.net if you can help.
đ PLANT CLINIC at Farmers Market (Corvallis): Certified Master Gardeners are needed to work during the shifts listed below. Time of clinic table is 9:00 a.m. â 1:00 p.m.
Contact Debbie Lauer directly by calling 541-929-7544 or texting 541-602-3138.
Available dates are:
¡ Sat., April 29
¡ May 6 at Plant Sale (contact Leslie Hauser for shifts (lesliehauser107@gmail.com)
¡ Sat., May 27
¡ Sat., Jun 24
¡ Wed., Jun 28
¡ Wed., Aug. 23
¡ Sat., Aug 26
¡ Sat., Sep.,23
¡ Wed., Sep 27
¡ Sat., Oct. 28
Mentors, if you would like to work at the plant clinic with your trainee, contact Debbie so that she can accommodate you.
đ Calling all Volunteers!! đż Sign up to help at BCMGAâs Plant Sale, our biggest fundraiser of the year! Click HERE to choose your job and shift times. Volunteers needed for BOTH DAYS and ALL SHIFTS: Friday, May 5 - SET UP, and Saturday, May 6 - SALE DAY!! Contact Leslie Hauser, Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, with questions or if you need help signing up. lesliehauser107@gmail.com, 702-340-6513.
đ Plant Propagation is continuing! Please help the Plant Sale Team by volunteering at one or more of our upcoming dates where we will be potting up perennial starts plus grooming, labeling, and preparing thousands of plants for our upcoming sale. Go to www.signupgenius.com/go/PSTeam to sign up.
đ Community science: Contribute data to research on gardens, plants, and wildlife. Many projects are remote and on your own schedule. Report the time as âcitizen science: indirectâ.
đ Various dates â Peaceful Valley Seed in North Albany is seeking volunteer presenters for various topics including composting, spring perennials, sustainable landscaping, summer garden maintenance, summer pruning and more. Certified volunteers who are interested may contact the organizer directly: Kimberly Montgomery 541.981.2248 kimberly@groworganic.com Report service as Instructor: Direct.
đ Master Gardener Desk (Office Plant Clinic): The office is open and there are questions coming in from the public. Volunteers are encouraged to return to the desk, in particular certified MGs comfortable with the pH meter and the microscope are needed. Sign up for shifts to answer client questions or practice skills. You can either work at the desk or in the Extension conference room if youâd like more space. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a45a9ac29a7f85-benton36#/
Find more opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
Continuing Education Opportunities
đ NEW! Know Your Weeds Community Workshop: May 2, 6-7:30 pm, Corvallis Community Center (Free). You may have some of our most noxious local weeds in your own backyard. These invasive species can spread quickly and negatively impact agriculture, forest, and waterways. Learn about some of âMost Wantedâ local weeds, how to spot them, and how to remove them in your garden. This workshop is presented in partnership with OSU Master Gardeners and the Benton Cooperative Weed Management Area. RSVP. Please bring a bagged sample of one or more weeds shown HERE.
đ 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 HERE.
đ Public Seed Library Lecture Series: This series of lectures will occur in March through July (Wednesdays, 6:00pm to 7:00pm) at the Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. Upcoming Lectures.
¡ May 4ââThinning, weeding, and succession plantingâ
¡ May 10ââWeather Wise Gardeningâ
These lectures count toward continuing education hours and trainee Garden Labs.
đ Growing Together LCMGA Classes: At the Linn County Demo GardenâCare & Maintenance for you Garden 1:00 pm â 2:00 pm. This counts as trainee Garden Lab.
Extension News
đ One day, everyone together. On April 26, 2023, Master Gardeners and supporters will come together to show our belief in the Master Gardener program and Oregon State Universityâs Dam Proud Day. This 24-hour period is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the Oregon State community, including supporting Master Gardeners, and stretching ourselves toward our aspirations.
On one day, can you imagine what we could do together?
Hereâs how you can help NOW.
Help us tell the Master Gardener story. Share YOUR story by participating in our storytelling campaign. Reach out to LeAnn at leann.locher@oregonstate.edu to receive 3 simple questions for you to answer, and then send in a photo. Weâll be sharing these over the coming weeks to highlight all that Master Gardeners do. Your stories tell the story of the Master Gardener program!
Follow OSU Extension Master Gardener on social media. www.facebook.com/OSUMG on Facebook and @mastergardenersOSU on Instagram. Share our stories and posts about Dam Proud Day with your friends and followers.
SHOW UP on April 26th and make a donation online signaling your support for the Master Gardener program. Itâs all online, all on one day.
On one day, we can show up for gardening and Master Gardeners in Oregon!
LeAnn Locher (she/her)
Statewide Master Gardener Outreach Coordinator
Food Hero Gardening Coordinator
Oregon State University | Extension
Cell 503-701-1044
đ Volunteer Reporting System updates. The statewide Master Gardener volunteer reporting system is now more secure. It also has a new look and feel. Please bookmark the new site: : https://vrs.osumg.org/ When you log in, follow the steps to update your password. Tech Support is at https://vrs.osumg.org/help/
¡ How do I use the Volunteer Reporting System?
¡ What categories do I use for various activities?
o Please check out page 27 of the Volunteer sourcebook for examples.