All meeting room requests, equipment reservations, copy jobs, etc., should be directed to Nicole.
Nicole M. Mason-Martin, Office Specialist
Oregon State University / OSU Extension Service Benton County
4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333
nicole.masonmartin@oregonstate.edu
541-713-5002
- Shoutouts
- Trainees welcome–Urban Garden Row at OSU: Especially for busy folks or those with limited transportation: Work alongside Kathleen Dennis, formerly of the Oregon Garden, to learn plant identification, gardening techniques, landscape design for urban garden features like containers and trellises. Create Social media and blogs about projects in the Urban Garden to reach local and Statewide audiences, especially gardeners growing in small spaces, containers and community gardens. Based at Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticutlure on campus. To learn more, please contact Elizabeth Records.
- Plant problem show and tell: Lilacs with puny blossoms and leaf spots – Plant Problem Show and Tell from trainee Catherine W. Trainees – you can write one of these and earn plant clinic credit right now! Send in a Plant Problem Show and Tell. Report service as Plant Clinic: Direct or if you are a continuing volunteer, as Continuing Education.
- Don’t be scammed: Approximately 400 Oregon State University student, staff and faculty accounts have been compromised by an email phishing attack that took place on Monday, May 16. Please review available materials on Phishing.
- Seeds for educational programming: OSU Extension MGV Program received a large number of seed packets left over from the Grow This! Challenge. If you are offering an educational opportunity to the public where free seeds are needed, please email Elizabeth Records to reserve some.
- Got Plant Sale lawn signs? If you had a lawn sign out this year, please either: (i) save it and put it out again for next year’s Plant Sale; or (ii) drop it off at the Extension Office. Thanks for your cooperation. – Bob Smythe
- BCMGA news
- PPS receives kudos. Many folks have worked on developing and refining the Plant Problem Scenarios, but you may not know that BCMGA received not only the statewide Search for Excellence Award but also the national award for them. Here’s what was said recently: I am the MG working with Marcia using the Problem Scenario Book for our Metro trainees’ Diagnostics Workshop. I just wanted to say what a masterful work this is. What an amazing tool for MG training, and what an amazing effort everyone did to put it together. I realize that it was designed as a role play guide. However, it is certainly up there with any of the references we might choose to guide clients. Thanks to you and everyone who worked on this book. Well done, indeed. Claudia
- Volunteers needed
- Online Plant Clinic – check for messages on evenings and weekends. Volunteer from anywhere with an internet connection. Enroll HERE.
- Office Plant Clinic sign ups open: The office is open to the public, and volunteers can sign up for plant clinic shifts as desired, to answer client questions or practice skills. Pairs of volunteers can currently sign up in the front office again! Sign up HERE. If you’re a trainee, please wait to connect with a mentor, before enrolling. If you’re a trainee, please wait to connect with a mentor, before enrolling.
- Farmer’s Market Clinic Table! It’s time for the outdoor farmer’s market in downtown Corvallis. Beginning in May the Master Gardener clinic tables at the Farmer’s Market will be the 2nd Saturday and 4th Wednesday of each month. Certified Master Gardeners are required to give advice but trainees may volunteer as well. If enough people volunteer, we can have two shifts. Please contact Debbie Lauer at 541-929-7544 or DSL2017@peak.org to sign up.
- Trainees and other Volunteers Welcome at the Fairgrounds Demonstration Garden. The BCMGA maintains a demonstration garden at the Benton County Fairgrounds to demonstrate planting possibilities, practices and techniques for home vegetable gardens. It is supported by a small but lively group of volunteers who have a lot of fun working in the garden and learning from each other. We would love to have new volunteers – no experience is necessary. We are currently meeting on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. You can access the garden through the RV park entrance to the Fairgrounds. Sign up is not required and drop-ins are welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Denise Saunders at vdenisesaunders@comcast.net or Dan Dix at ddix@verizon.net
- Seasonal content team:
- Work with staff, intern and a small-medium group of volunteers to create blogs and social media, based on: OSU Garden Calendar and Master Gardener Program Priorities. Interested? Email elizabeth.records@oregonstate.edu
- Find more opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
- Continuing education opportunities:
- Growing Oregon Gardeners – Level Up 2022:
- Community news (Please note that anything in this section is not eligible for MGV volunteer service nor endorsed by Extension, but is mentioned as a courtesy to our community.)
- Save the date for the 21st Annual Through the Garden Gate tour! Saturday June 18th, 202210:00 to 4:00, Six unique & artful Albany gardens. Tickets on sale June 1 at linnmastergardeners.com
