• 8/5/2021: Program updates: As of 8/5 OSU requires face coverings for indoor activities in public spaces. Get the latest information. 
• Shout outs
  • Time to register: 9/9-9/17/2021, ($): International Master Gardener Conference 2021.
• Volunteers needed – Visit the Benton County Volunteer opportunities page to sign up.
  • In-person plant clinic is back! Solo and paired shifts, inside and out.
• Continuing education (free to MGVs unless noted with “$”)
  • 7/13/2021 @3pm: Fire-wise Landscaping | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 8/10/2021 @3pm: Season Extension Techniques | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 9/14/2021 @3pm Gardening with Native Plants for Pollinators | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 9/9-9/17/2021, ($): International Master Gardener Conference 2021.
  • Anytime: Elevated MGV courses. Grow skills for successful volunteering in 2021 and beyond. Learn the ECCO database/diagnostic tool for solving gardeners problems.
  • Anytime: Portland Metro Master Gardener webinar series.
• BCMGA updates
  • Board meeting information is now found in the President’s mailings.
  • Tour: County Line Flowers. Visit Pami Monnette’s new flower Farm near Harrisburg. Learn more HERE.
• Extension updates.
  • How to care for heat-damaged plants: Many of us around the Northwest are distraught by the damage suffered by our plants during the recent heat wave. Questions have come pouring into OSU Extension Service and experts weigh in on what to do now. 
• 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.)
  • Produce donations needed: Growing Ancestral Roots serves our community by working together to produce food in our backyards. They also grow at a local small farm focused on favorite veggies of international communities which are hard to find in Oregon. To donate produce, please contact: sandie.cheung (at) gmail.com

• Program updates: Most activities can resume, with a bit of planning. Get the latest information. 
• Shout outs
  • Statewide MGV awards: If you need some inspiration, take a moment and read what these 44 OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers accomplished this past year, despite the COVID pandemic. Congratulations to all of the Master Gardeners of the Year, and the Behind the Scenes award winners!
• Volunteers needed – Visit the Benton County Volunteer opportunities page to sign up.
  • In-person plant clinic is back! Solo and paired shifts, inside and out.
• Continuing education (free to MGVs unless noted with “$”)
  • 7/13/2021 @3pm: Fire-wise Landscaping | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 8/10/2021 @3pm: Season Extension Techniques | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 9/14/2021 @3pm Gardening with Native Plants for Pollinators | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
• 9/9-9/17/2021, ($): International Master Gardener Conference 2021.
  • Anytime: Elevated MGV courses. Grow skills for successful volunteering in 2021 and beyond.
    • Learn the ECCO database/diagnostic tool for solving gardeners problems.
  • Anytime: Portland Metro Master Gardener webinar series.
• BCMGA updates
  • Board meeting information is now found in the President’s mailings.
  • Tour: County Line Flowers. Visit Pami Monnette’s new flower Farm near Harrisburg. Learn more HERE.
• Extension updates.
  • OSU Extension Master Gardener photography contest is now open! Join in a photo contest to best capture the people, places and about the Master Gardener program. Current Master Gardener volunteers are invited to submit their very best photos between now and September 30^th. There will be prizes! Read about the contest, get excited, and learn how to join us HERE.
  • Popular this week: Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Includes a list of suitable plants, along with planting dates and recommended varieties.
• 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.)
  • Oregon Food Bank Ambassadors. This is an opportunity to help support local leadership and community development with an emphasis on strengthening our local food systems. Individuals from the following communities are encouraged to apply: Refugee and Immigrant communities, Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming communities, Single mothers and caregivers. Learn more: English – Español. Depending on the project this could be eligible for MGV volunteer service – check with Elizabeth Records for details.

In remembrance: One of our fellow Master Gardeners, David Dowrie passed away on June 4, 2021. Dave became a Master Gardener in 2016. He was an active member involved in various
committees, serving on the BCMGA Board and a regular attendee of our association
meetings and programs. There will be a Celebration of Life at Our Lady Perpetual Help St.
Mary’s Catholic Church on July 9th, 2021. For more details or to leave a message to the
family go to Fisher Funeral Home.

• Program updates: Most activities can resume, with a bit of planning. Get the latest information. 
• Shout outs
  • eNews is running an extra issue this week and will take a pause July 12-20 for staff vacation. Please send items that need sharing during this time to Deb Kern.
  • Last chance for Master Gardener Mini College (July 16 & 17)! Enroll HERE.

• Volunteers needed – Visit the Benton County Volunteer opportunities page to sign up.
  • Plant clinic online – help desperately needed. Explore questions like, “Why does my plum tree have no fruit this year?” and more. New flexible shifts – pick a day and check questions anytime.
  • Interview partner organizations for the Oregon MGV Program Needs Assessment. We still need folks to interview tribes, and the local school district, non-profit or government entity of your choice!
• Continuing education (free to MGVs unless noted with “$”)
  • 7/13/2021 @3pm: Fire-wise Landscaping | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 9/9-9/17/2021, ($): International Master Gardener Conference 2021.
  • Anytime: Elevated MGV courses. Grow skills for successful volunteering in 2021 and beyond.
    • Learn the ECCO database/diagnostic tool for solving gardeners problems. Join Deb K, Fred P, Ann S, Tessa H and others in using a tool that is a major upgrade to other question tracking tools.
  • Anytime: Portland Metro Master Gardener webinar series.
  • What is marginalization? Learn why it is a problem for Extension and find out some things you can do to respond in Creating Safe Spaces Within Extension Programs. To earn one hour of CE, read the article and when completing your reporting, describe in 500 words or so how suggestions in this article could apply to your volunteer service.
• Extension updates.
  • Popular this week: Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden. Learn to grow your own sweet, juicy blueberries in your Oregon home garden!
  • Q: “I am a current Master Gardener volunteer but have not been able to recertify during COVID. What do I need to do?” A: Master Gardeners who were certified for the 2020 calendar year (including folks whose certification rolled over from 2019) will maintain their certification in the 2021/2022 service year. Please report any volunteer service hours and/or continuing education you did.

• 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.)
  • County Line Flowers DIY bouquet day on the farm. Stop by anytime between 10 and 2 for some coffee, conversation, and of course flowers! Bouquets will be priced per stem. 

• Program updates: Big news – OSU’s is lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. County or local precautions may still apply to some activities – please contact Elizabeth Records for details as you plan to resume your programming. We’ll seek to offer a range of activities outside, inside and online, to serve volunteers and the public. Thanks as always for your collaboration and support. Get the latest information. 
• Shout outs
  • Congratulations Community Garden Education Team! BCMGA has been awarded one of the 2021 Search for Excellence awards for your “Four-session  Zoom version of Seed to Supper” educational program.  They got a $500.00 grant for an outstanding project.  Well done!
  • From Alan Taylor: “I’m pretty pleased so many turned out today for Erica’s class in spite of the roasting weather.” Thanks to everyone who attended and practiced their summer pruning skills on the overgrown apple orchard at Lewis-Brown.
• Volunteers needed – Visit the Benton County Volunteer opportunities page to sign up.
  • Plant clinic online – help desperately needed. Explore questions like, “what’s wrong with my prunella?” and more. New flexible shifts – pick a day and check questions anytime.
  • 6/30/21 @9-11am: Greenhouse area clean up at Philomath Highschool
  • Interview partner organizations for the Oregon MGV Program Needs Assessment. We still need folks to interview tribes, Casa Latinos Unidos and the local school district, non-profit or government entity of your choice!
  • Present on Houseplants for the Corvallis Community Center in January or March 2022. It can be in person or virtual. If interested please contact Elizabeth Records.
• Continuing education (free to MGVs unless noted with “$”)
  • 7/13/2021 @3pm: Fire-wise Landscaping | Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series.
  • 9/9-9/17/2021, ($): International Master Gardener Conference 2021.
  • Anytime: Elevated MGV courses. Grow skills for successful volunteering in 2021 and beyond.
    • Learn the ECCO database/diagnostic tool for solving gardeners problems. Join Deb K, Fred P, Ann S, Tessa H and others in using a tool that is a major upgrade to other question tracking tools.
  • Anytime: Portland Metro Master Gardener webinar series.
  • What is marginalization? Learn why it is a problem for Extension and find out some things you can do to respond to marginalization in Creating Safe Spaces Within Extension Programs. To earn one hour of CE, read the article and when completing your reporting, describe in 500 words or so how suggestions in this article could apply to your volunteer service.
• Extension updates.
  • From Elizabeth Records: Thanks committee chairs for reaching out about planning new activities for reopening. At this point what I know is what I have shared out, but I have it from office managers that there may be some office or county-level guidelines we need to take into account. Once I have the details, I’ll share them out and we can plan next steps. Thank you always for your commitment to offering amazing programming.

• 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.)
  • Seaders Tree Care has free wood chips. Call 541-360-2777 or email addiewenger@gmail.com
  • Know anyone who remembers the original Victory Gardens? An author would like to talk with them. Please contact: maggie@maggiestuckey.com