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Vi first joined Master Gardeners in 1999. I recall Vi working to update the labels of MG library books. I also ran into Violet volunteering for several other local organizations – she was someone who was dedicated to public service. Vi – you will be missed.
Community members can share memories of Violet HERE.
– Elza Records, Staff
Shoutouts
- The BCMGA Membership meeting has been rescheduled to March 27 (next Monday). The speaker will be Dr. Samuel Chan. He will be speaking on jumping worm. This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person or Zoom). Doors open at 6:30 for the in-person meeting. The program begins at 7:00 p.m.
- Program funding – how stakeholders like you can help:
- Via Jennifer Alexander, Extension Communications Director: “We need to ensure that state legislators continue to hear directly from their constituents—including youth—about the impact of Extension and need for state funding. As one legislator put it to us on Statewides Day, we need to “flood them.” A push over the next few weeks would be helpful, as we head toward the next hearing for the Statewides budget bill that’s set for April 21. Here are resources to take action:
- Letter portal, which makes it easy for stakeholders, community members to personalize a letter to their state legislators to share personal impact and urge funding support.
- Find your legislator tool, if people prefer to contact legislators directly.
- Schedule for Ways & Means committee budget road show public hearings—Members of the public have the opportunity to testify at each of these scheduled hearings regarding their perspectives and priorities around the state budget.
- April 8, Portland Community College, 10:00 a.m.-noon
- April 14, Newport Performing Arts Center, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- April 21, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- April 28, Four Rivers Cultural Center, Ontario, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- And use this Slide deck with key points to support their informational outreach.
- There’s more info on our legislative and stakeholder relations resource page
- Exciting opportunity to support the Master Gardener program. On April 26, 2023, Master Gardeners and supporters will come together to show our belief in the Master Gardener program and Oregon State University’s 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. As a featured fund on Dam Proud Day, we have a special opportunity to raise money to support our work. Here’s how Master Gardener volunteers, past and present, can help NOW. Read the post and get involved.
- Via Jennifer Alexander, Extension Communications Director: “We need to ensure that state legislators continue to hear directly from their constituents—including youth—about the impact of Extension and need for state funding. As one legislator put it to us on Statewides Day, we need to “flood them.” A push over the next few weeks would be helpful, as we head toward the next hearing for the Statewides budget bill that’s set for April 21. Here are resources to take action:
- Volunteer opportunities [T] = includes opportunities that trainees can join now!
- Needed now: Returning volunteers – meet new trainees and invite them to your favorite activities! It’s a new day for mentoring – special skills are no longer required! Thank you, Alan Taylor, 541-929-4141, alantaylor@alyrica.net
- [T] 3/25 Seed Library Veggie Growing Clinic– 10:00am -1:00pm, Belushi room, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. Report service as: Plant Clinic: direct
- [T] 4/1 Seed Library Veggie Growing Clinic– 10:00am -1:00pm, Belushi room, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. Report service as: Plant Clinic: direct
- [T] 4/8 Seed Library Veggie Growing Clinic– 10:00am -1:00pm, Belushi room, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis. Report service as: Plant Clinic: direct
- [T] 4/8, 4/22, 4/29 – Seed to Supper in the Garden is an intro gardening class for new gardeners who qualify for food assistance. We need instructors and helpers for a two-class series at Willamette Community Garden in Corvallis! 4/8 @10-11:30am, all volunteers meet to plan. 4/22 & 4/29 from 10am -12pm are the class dates. RSVP by adding your name to this spreadsheet or emailing cget.bentonmg@gmail.com
- [T] various dates – Community science – Contribute data to research on gardens, plants, and wildlife. Explore and sign up. Many projects are remote and on your own schedule. Report the time as “citizen science: indirect
- Various dates: Master Gardener Desk (Office Plant Clinic):
- Various dates – 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.
- Continuing Education [G] = opportunities that Trainees can use for Garden Lab credit.
- 4/6 Public Seed Library Talks -Starting seeds inside, direct seeding, and transplanting – 6:00pm – 7:00 pm, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis.
- 4/11 Growing Oregon Gardeners – Global Gardening: Asian Vegetables for Pacific Northwest Gardens, – 12:00pm – 1:00pm, ZOOM. Learn more & RSVP: beav.es/SJk
- 4/12 Public Seed Library Talks – Row covers, vertical gardening, and irrigation – 6:00pm – 7:00 pm, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis.
- 5/4 Public Seed Library Talks – Thinning, weeding, and succession planting – 6:00pm – 7:00 pm, Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis.
- Anytime: Growing Oregon Gardeners – Level Up 2022: watch recordings HERE
- Anytime: Recordings of Zoom Master Gardener training from Curry County with your favorite 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.
- OSU Extension Master Gardener Program News
- Friendly reminder to event organizers: Please be sure to post the exact location, time, and other essentials of events prominently in promos and sign-ups. We have a large incoming class and many people are unfamiliar with the logistics of recurring events that are well-known to returning MGs. The class of 2023 thanks you!
- Call for nominations: this year’s Oregon Master Gardener Awards. We are excited to celebrate the good work of OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers. Please remember that May 15th is the due date for all Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA) awards. All awards should be submitted electronically. Remember that all award nominations must be COLLABORATIVELY prepared, working with your local Master Gardener Association and your local Master Gardener Program staff. You can learn more about the awards on the OMGA website. (Check back as links are added). Read the update from OSU EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM NEWS.
- NEW from the free Extension Catalog: Shrubs and Trees for Bees – by Scott Mitchell, Sandy DeBano and Andony Melathopoulos. Published March 2023. Great resource for MGs and gardeners!
- Popular OSU Extension Service publications this week:
- BCMGA News
- From BCMGA board president: “I hope many of you have communicated with your legislative representatives asking that Extension and other statewide OSU outreach programs will be fully funded to keep these programs at the level they need to be. A bill has been introduced to the Ways and Means Committee. It is bill SB 458. Please refer to this bill when writing to you legislator. Timing is important. The Ways and Means Committee will meet in March. Judith Kenner has a new message about this in BCMGA News and has provided a great template from which you can construct a message to your legislator. There is also a link to sample letters at the bottom. Please check out the latest OMGA newsletter and website.
- When you contact elected representatives please copy Judith (judithkenner@gmail.com) or let her know how you have communicated.
- Here is a list of our local representatives:
- Corvallis
- House Speaker Dan Rayfield, House District 16, rep.danrayfield@oregonstatelegislature.gov
- Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, Senate District 8
- Philomath
- Representative David Gomberg, House District 10
- Senator Dick Anderson, Senate District 5
- Albany
- Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, House District 15
- Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, Senate District 8
- Corvallis
- Calling all Volunteers!! 🌿 Sign up to help at BCMGA’s 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.
- NEW! Mason Bees Flash Sale: Master Gardener Pat Wray has a surplus of Mason Bees. He is donating 100 straws to BCMGA and we will have a flash sale. We are selling 5 straws for $25. Supply is limited. Pick up for the bees will be at Philomath High School greenhouse on Saturday, March 25 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. If you are interested in purchasing Mason bees, you can on the link below and pay by credit card. https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ZK4VK7DP8QGXD/checkout/MLFW7HFWEZ7AFRLIRRC QWWZ3
- 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.)
- None this week, check back soon.
