Tag Archives: BEEvent

Benton Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Bookmark our page: Find newsletter archives, volunteer handbook and more volunteer opportunities at https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/activebentonlinnmg/

Share an item for eNews by contacting your program staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.

BCMGA Membership Meeting: The first membership meeting of the new year will be held on Monday, January 30 in the Sunset Room of the Sunset Building. It will also be available via Zoom. Please enter by the east side door rather than the front entrance if you attend in person. The speaker will be Stephanie Hazen who will discuss Monarch Butterflies and plants that support them beyond Milkweed. Doors open at 6:30, the program begins at 7:00. Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash
  • Shout outs
    • 1/24 & 1/26 – Learn About the Oregon Season Tracker Program! Are you interested in how the seasons change throughout Oregon? The OSU Extension Oregon Season Tracker program engages volunteer observers across the state who report their local precipitation patterns and plant phenology by monitoring rain gauges and observing native plants in their backyards, farms, woodlands, and schools. Join us to learn more about the Oregon Season Tracker community science program – including how the data contributions help climate science researchers in Oregon and beyond and how you can volunteer! Webinars will be hosted on January 24, 2-3 pm, and January 26, 6-7 pm. Learn more and register at: https://beav.es/5BV. A recording will be sent out to those who register but are unable to attend, for any questions please contact Sarah at sarah.cameron@oregonstate.edu.  Report service as Citizen Science: indirect.
    • Insights into Gardening is sold out! Wow! For folks who are sad that they missed this, invite them to check out our many other great events.
  • BCMGA News
    • OSU Extension Needs Assessment Committee and OMGA Advocacy Committee: BCMGA member Judith Kenner is serving on these two committees. The Needs Assessment group will be sending out a questionnaire to all Master Gardeners. Please take the time to do it. It will provide vital information to inform the OSU Extension administration about Master Gardener program needs. OMGA Advocacy group is launching a campaign to push for more state funding for Extension programs. They are asking MGs to contact their legislators to ask that Extension funding be increased. See the 6-month action plan and time line in the link. It is not too soon to start now. This is extremely important to the future vitality of Master Gardeners and Extension as a whole. View the presentation here.
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • Grow a LatinX Garden!
      • For the past three years, a group of Master Gardeners has maintained an educational demo garden at Calvin Community Garden next to Calvin Presbyterian Church. The crops in this garden are carefully selected to be culturally appropriate for LatinX communities, crops with which many of us were unfamiliar, like chilacayote and epazote, as well as tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos. Produce donations to Food Banks have averaged 500 pounds per year.
      • BCMGA paid for the construction of six raised beds at the garden. We use those beds as well as one large in-ground garden plot to raise the vegetables. With the departure of some of the Master Gardeners who helped with the Calvin garden, we are in search of Master Gardeners or Master Gardener Trainees who could help us to maintain those gardens by planting, weeding, watering and/or harvesting.
      • If you have a couple of hours a week to donate to this effort, we would LOVE to talk more with you. If you happen speak Spanish, even better, although that’s not a requirement. We share the work with a flexible schedule to accommodate times that are convenient for you including weekends. We need to know by the end of February or early March that we have a minimal crew to support this garden or we will have to discontinue our efforts.
      • We have offered educational workshops in Spanish as well. It’s a great opportunity to connect with the broader community, use your Spanish language skills and have a lot of fun. We would like to continue the tradition. This is another opportunity that is a more concentrated effort. Spanish is not required for support roles.
      • If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Ellen Tappon, eltapp@gmail.com, or Lynn Trimpe, trimpelynn@gmail.com.
    • Demo Garden 2023 is starting up! On Tuesday, January 24, 12-3, we are planning projects, selecting vegetables and discussing new growing ideas. The planning meeting is at the Extension office in the conference room. Potluck first, discussion second. If you’re interested in volunteering at the Demo Garden, at the Benton County Fairgrounds come and help us figure out what we’re going to do. We love to have new members and if you have ideas for projects, even better.
    • Questions? Call or text Rosalind at 541-908-3991 or Dan at 805-490-1014.
    • NEW! The Plant Sale Propagation team will be seeding many new fun and interesting perennials at the Philomath High School Greenhouse, 2054 Applegate St Saturday, January 28 -10am-12pm (We’re trying another weekend date for MGs that work or can’t attend during the week.) All MGs are welcome to come help! Please reach out to Leslie, lesliehauser107@gmail.com, if you have any questions or need help finding the greenhouse.
    • Plant Problem Scenarios 2023 – Calling all returning Master Gardeners! Join the fun! Meet and get to know the 2023 Master Gardeners Trainees and help prepare them for the help desk and clinic tables. Are you a  recent graduate? Participating as a facilitator in Plant Problem Scenarios will be an excellent way to get acquainted with experienced facilitators.  And our introduction/refresher sessions for facilitating the scenarios will not only sharpen up your skills but also be a fantastic time for new and experienced MGs to socialize.
      •  For the 2023 trainees, we will be conducting four scenario sessions in February (Feb 2, 9, 16, 23) from (10:30  to 11:45  ) in the Benton County Extension Sunset room.  Each session will end with a presentation by 2-3 committee chairs and a brown bag meet and greet.  The facilitators will work in teams of 2.  Don’t worry if you are new to PPS, we will pair you up with someone who is experienced. Note: You do not have to attend all four sessions! (Although we would love it if you did!) Learn more and sign up HERE.Contact Deb Kern (NewfandCardi@gmail.com) or Ann Brodie (annbrodie143@comcast.net) for more details. 
    • The Public Seed Library is a new collaborative project of the Benton County Master Gardeners and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, with the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library serving as the host partner. The free, volunteer-run Public Seed Library is expected to open at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library downtown by March ’23. Learn more and donate seeds. New volunteer opportunities coming soon!
    • Volunteer for Insights into Gardening: Saturday, February 11, 2023. Insights into Gardening is coming and we need your skills, and you need volunteer hours for 2023! Registration opens on January 2nd for the classes. As you are thinking about the classes you want to take at Insights, you can also sign up for a needed task. Many of the tasks allow you to attend classes but you must register in advance. Any questions about volunteering for a specific task, contact Susan Hoffman, shoff@peak.org.
      • SIGN UP HERE. Note there are two tabs with different jobs on each.
    • Help kids learn cultural connection and conservation at dual immersion schools in Corvallis! The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership needs Master Gardener expertise for planning bird/pollinator and food gardens, and leading school volunteers and students in successfully installing the gardens. To learn more please contact Elza.
    • 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”. 
  • 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.)
    • Soil Amendment Sale: Order soil amendments and feed the microbes, fungi, and other members of the soil micro-herd, who will in turn help feed your plants and give you a bountiful harvest! We also offer a wide selection of propagation supplies, organic pest controls, cover crop seeds, and poultry/livestock supplies. Order with us to get bulk pricing and save on freight charges. We’ll group your order with those of other local farmers and gardeners so we all share in the savings. Proceeds help support Ten Rivers Food Web.

Linn Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply
  • Please bookmark the Volunteer Resource Page. It has newsletter archives, an updated volunteer sourcebook, continuing education opportunities, and volunteering opportunities. It is your one-stop source for program essentials!
  • Have an item for eNews? Please contact staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.
  • A call to action for gardeners: Dirt! The Movie screening! As part of OSU’s 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration 2023, the OSU Extension Master Gardener program is proud to host an online movie screening of Dirt! The Movie.
    • When: Monday, January 16th at 3:00 pm
    • Where: online at https://kosmi.app/bllb9i
    • We’ll be screening the movie online with an opportunity to chat with other attendees throughout the movie. No registration required. Free. Report this experience for continuing education – when you log your time, include your reflections on the three questions found HERE.
  • Shout outs
    • From Gail Langelotto, Statewide Program Coordinator: “July 2023 will mark my 16-year anniversary at Oregon State University (OSU). I’ve loved my time working in the Master Gardener Program. But, it is time to move on to new opportunities. I will be staying at OSU, where I will be transitioning to a research/teaching position on July 1st. The change will give me time to focus on my research with the OSU Garden Ecology Lab, and to pursue some novel opportunities in supporting native plant producers, hydroponics, insect husbandry, urban agriculture, and environmental microbiomes . . . all of which are super interesting, but not directly germane to the work of the Master Gardener program… As I look back on my time in the Master Gardener Program, I am both proud of the work that I have done, and excited for what is yet to come.” Read the post.
    • Saturday! – Seed Swap at the Albany Library Jan 14, 2023. Help people select seeds and answer garden questions at this fun event. Assist with set up and clean up. Learn more and sign up.
    • Saturday training session! Plant Problem Scenarios 2023- Calling all returning Master Gardeners! Join the fun! Meet and get to know the 2023 Master Gardeners Trainees and help prepare them for the help desk and clinic tables. Working on recertification? Collaborate with a certified peer volunteer and earn the direct service hours you need. Are you a  recent graduate? Participating as a facilitator in Plant Problem Scenarios will be an excellent way to get acquainted with experienced facilitators.  And our introduction/refresher sessions for facilitating the scenarios will not only sharpen up your skills but also be a fantastic time for new and experienced MGs to socialize. Learn more and sign up HERE.
  • LCMGA News
    • Save the date – 9th Annual BEEvent. 9th Annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference- March 4, 2023, Linn Expo Center, Albany, Oregon. “Adapting Your Garden to the Coming Changes”. This in-person conference is back after a 2 year on-line only presence. Focus on Home Gardens and Small Farms. 9:00am – 3:30pm Registration will open in February: www.LinnMasterGardeners.com
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • New – BEEvent! March 4, 2023. The committee is still looking for some additional helpers. Learn more and RSVP.
    • New – Learn About the Oregon Season Tracker Program! Are you interested in how the seasons change throughout Oregon? The OSU Extension Oregon Season Tracker program engages volunteer observers across the state who report their local precipitation patterns and plant phenology by monitoring rain gauges and observing native plants in their backyards, farms, woodlands, and schools. Join us to learn more about the Oregon Season Tracker community science program – including how the data contributions help climate science researchers in Oregon and beyond and how you can volunteer! Webinars will be hosted on January 24, 2-3 pm, and January 26, 6-7 pm. Learn more and register at: https://beav.es/5BV. A recording will be sent out to those who register but are unable to attend, for any questions please contact Sarah at sarah.cameron@oregonstate.edu.  Report service as Citizen Science: indirect.
    • GARDEN EDUCATION CLASSES Help develop gardening classes at the Demo Garden for 2023. We have two beds set aside at the Demo Garden and two beds at Willamette Community Garden to use to teach gardening classes. Classes will start in early 2023 and will be similar to Seed to Supper but with a hands-on approach. Want to help design the classes email me, Betty at goergenb@gmail.com. Perfect way to earn Direct Education hours.
    • 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”. 
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page
  • 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.)
    • Soil Amendment Sale: Order soil amendments and feed the microbes, fungi, and other members of the soil micro-herd, who will in turn help feed your plants and give you a bountiful harvest! We also offer a wide selection of propagation supplies, organic pest controls, cover crop seeds, and poultry/livestock supplies. Order with us to get bulk pricing and save on freight charges. We’ll group your order with those of other local farmers and gardeners so we all share in the savings. Proceeds help support Ten Rivers Food Web.
    • Jan 14 Community Seed Swap – Albany Library 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Albany, OR. Bring seeds to share and get new ones. Find volunteering information above.

Benton Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Bookmark our page: Find newsletter archives, volunteer handbook and more volunteer opportunities at https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/activebentonlinnmg/

Share an item for eNews by contacting your program staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.

A call to action for gardeners: Dirt! The Movie screening! As part of OSU’s 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration 2023, the OSU Extension Master Gardener program is proud to host an online movie screening of Dirt! The Movie.
When: Monday, January 16th at 3:00 pm
Where: online at https://kosmi.app/bllb9i
We’ll be screening the movie online with an opportunity to chat with other attendees throughout the movie. No registration required. Free. Report this experience for continuing education – when you log your time, include your reflections on the three questions found HERE.

  • Shout outs
    • From Gail Langelotto, Statewide Program Coordinator: “July 2023 will mark my 16-year anniversary at Oregon State University (OSU). I’ve loved my time working in the Master Gardener Program. But, it is time to move on to new opportunities. I will be staying at OSU, where I will be transitioning to a research/teaching position on July 1st. The change will give me time to focus on my research with the OSU Garden Ecology Lab, and to pursue some novel opportunities in supporting native plant producers, hydroponics, insect husbandry, urban agriculture, and environmental microbiomes . . . all of which are super interesting, but not directly germane to the work of the Master Gardener program… As I look back on my time in the Master Gardener Program, I am both proud of the work that I have done, and excited for what is yet to come.” Read the post.
    • Local newspapers published a great article on the Public Seed Library! Nice work Jill Farrow!
    • Insights into Gardening – February 11, 2023! Online registration and a full class schedule is now available HERE.
  • Extension News
    • Coffee chats are back for 2023! If you are a board member, committee chair, or engaged volunteer, this is a chance to visit informally with program staff (Elza). Learn more and sign up HERE.
  • BCMGA News
    • Membership Meeting: The first membership meeting of the new year will be held on Monday, January 30 in the Sunset Room of the Sunset Building. It will also be available via Zoom. Please enter by the east side door rather than the front entrance if you attend in person. The speaker will be Stephanie Hazen who will discuss Monarch Butterflies and plants that support them beyond Milkweed. Doors open at 6:30, the program begins at 7:00.
    • OMGA would like to invite you to join in to help with the planning of our Joy of Gardening Conference 2023. Our first meeting is set for Friday, December 16 at 3 PM. Check the email newsletter for a link to join.
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • Plant Problem Scenarios 2023 – Calling all certified Master Gardeners! Join the fun! Meet and get to know the 2023 Master Gardeners Trainees and help prepare them for the help desk and clinic tables. Are you a  recent graduate? Participating as a facilitator in Plant Problem Scenarios will be an excellent way to get acquainted with experienced facilitators.  And our introduction/refresher sessions for facilitating the scenarios will not only sharpen up your skills but also be a fantastic time for new and experienced MGs to socialize.
      • We will be holding the group leader training sessions on Wed Jan 11, 2023, at the Benton County Extension office conference room (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm).   
      • For the 2023 trainees, we will be conducting four scenario sessions in February (Feb 2, 9, 16, 23) from (10:30  to 11:45  ) in the Benton County Extension Sunset room.  Each session will end with a presentation by 2-3 committee chairs and a brown bag meet and greet.  The facilitators will work in teams of 2.  Don’t worry if you are new to PPS, we will pair you up with someone who is experienced. Note: You do not have to attend all four sessions! (Although we would love it if you did!) 
      • Learn more and sign up HERE.
      • Contact Deb Kern (NewfandCardi@gmail.com) or Ann Brodie (annbrodie143@comcast.net) for more details. 
    • NEW! Volunteer for Insights into Gardening: Saturday, February 11, 2023. Insights into Gardening is coming and we need your skills, and you need volunteer hours for 2023! Registration opens on January 2nd for the classes. As you are thinking about the classes you want to take at Insights, you can also sign up for a needed task. Many of the tasks allow you to attend classes but you must register in advance. Any questions about volunteering for a specific task, contact Susan Hoffman, shoff@peak.org.
      • SIGN UP HERE. Note there are two tabs with different jobs on each.
    • Learn About the Oregon Season Tracker Program! Are you interested in how the seasons change throughout Oregon? The OSU Extension Oregon Season Tracker program engages volunteer observers across the state who report their local precipitation patterns and plant phenology by monitoring rain gauges and observing native plants in their backyards, farms, woodlands, and schools. Join us to learn more about the Oregon Season Tracker community science program – including how the data contributions help climate science researchers in Oregon and beyond and how you can volunteer! Webinars will be hosted on January 24, 2-3 pm, and January 26, 6-7 pm. Learn more and register at: https://beav.es/5BV. A recording will be sent out to those who register but are unable to attend, for any questions please contact Sarah at sarah.cameron@oregonstate.edu.  Report service as Citizen Science: indirect.
    • Help kids learn cultural connection and conservation at dual immersion schools in Corvallis! The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership needs Master Gardener expertise for planning bird/pollinator and food gardens, and leading school volunteers and students in successfully installing the gardens. To learn more please contact Elza.
    • 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”. 
  • 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.)
    • Soil Amendment Sale: Order soil amendments and feed the microbes, fungi, and other members of the soil micro-herd, who will in turn help feed your plants and give you a bountiful harvest! We also offer a wide selection of propagation supplies, organic pest controls, cover crop seeds, and poultry/livestock supplies. Order with us to get bulk pricing and save on freight charges. We’ll group your order with those of other local farmers and gardeners so we all share in the savings. Proceeds help support Ten Rivers Food Web.
    • The Public Seed Library is a new collaborative project of the Benton County Master Gardeners and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, with the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library serving as the host partner. The free, volunteer-run Public Seed Library is expected to open at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library downtown by March ’23. Learn more and donate seeds.
    • Jan 14 Community Seed Swap – Albany Library 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Albany, OR
    • Continuing education opportunity: The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration recognizes the legacy of Dr. King and allows the Oregon State community to reflect on his work. The 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration keynote speaker is Jelani Cobb. Learn more and reserve a seat, or find out how to watch online

Linn Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply
  • Please bookmark the Volunteer Resource Page. It has newsletter archives, an updated volunteer sourcebook, continuing education opportunities, and volunteering opportunities. It is your one-stop source for program essentials!
  • Have an item for eNews? Please contact staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.
Help kids learn cultural connection and conservation at Tangent Elementary and Southshore Elementary! The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership needs Master Gardener expertise for planning bird/pollinator and food gardens, and leading school volunteers and students in successfully installing the gardens. To learn more please contact Elza. Image: a grade-school student’s drawing of a watershed connecting gardens and nature.
  • Shout outs
    • Extension holiday closures happen between 12/24/2022 – 1/2/2023. eNews and plant clinics will be on break during this time.
    • Via Elizabeth Records: “I have a new nickname – Elza. I am still fine with Elizabeth, too, but wanted to share a more informal option. I have never had a nickname that I like, but now I do!”
    • You are invited to meet 2023 applicants and share your experiences with being a Master Gardener! Please RSVP to Elizabeth for one of these hourlong events:
      • Tue 1/3/2023 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Tangent
      • Thu 1/5/2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tangent
      • Sat 1/7/2023 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ZOOM
    • Certified MGs – Please RSVP to be a “buddy” and introduce 1-2 trainees to your favorite MG activities. You do not need to know all MG skills and tools. If interested please contact Elza for questions.
  • Extension News
    • From Ivory W. Lyles, PhD, Director, OSU Extension Service: “We couldn’t do the work of OSU Extension without our volunteers. Thank you for serving your community in so many ways, and for all you do to help OSU Extension and Oregonians thrive! You continued to magnify our community impact as we navigated transitioning operations in a post-pandemic environment. I and all of us in Extension are grateful for your commitment to helping communities, families, youth, and all who are eager to learn. I wish you and yours wonderful holidays and look forward to continuing to lift up your impactful work in the coming year.”
    • Coffee chats are back for 2023! If you are a board member, committee chair, or engaged volunteer, this is a chance to visit informally with program staff (Elza). Learn more and sign up HERE.
    • FS 147 Picking and Storing Apples and Pears Revised December 2022
  • LCMGA News
    • Save the date – 9th Annual BEEvent. 9th Annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference- March 4, 2023, Linn Expo Center, Albany, Oregon. “Adapting Your Garden to the Coming Changes”. This in-person conference is back after a 2 year on-line only presence. Focus on Home Gardens and Small Farms. 9:00am – 3:30pm Registration will open in February: www.LinnMasterGardeners.com
    • Reminder to pay your membership dues: LCMGA online dues payment: https://linnmastergardeners.com/product/dues for questions contact Betty Goergen: goergenb@gmail.com. You may also mail checks made out to LCMGA to the Extension Office at 33630 McFarland Rd, Tangent, OR 97389  
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • Seed Swap at the Albany Library Saturday, Jan 14, 2023. I need 2-3 MGs to help people select seeds and answer garden questions at this fun event. Assist with set up and clean up. Seeking 2-3 volunteers to help from 1:30-4:30. Please contact Elza to RSVP.
    • Plant Problem Scenarios 2023- Calling all certified Master Gardeners! Join the fun! Meet and get to know the 2023 Master Gardeners Trainees and help prepare them for the help desk and clinic tables. Are you a  recent graduate? Participating as a facilitator in Plant Problem Scenarios will be an excellent way to get acquainted with experienced facilitators.  And our introduction/refresher sessions for facilitating the scenarios will not only sharpen up your skills but also be a fantastic time for new and experienced MGs to socialize. Learn more and sign up HERE.
    • GARDEN EDUCATION CLASSES Help develop gardening classes at the Demo Garden for 2023. We have two beds set aside at the Demo Garden and two beds at Willamette Community Garden to use to teach gardening classes. Classes will start in early 2023 and will be similar to Seed to Supper but with a hands-on approach. Want to help design the classes email me, Betty at goergenb@gmail.com. Perfect way to earn Direct Education hours.
    • 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”. 
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page
  • 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.)
    • Donate and bring home seeds at the Albany Library Seed Swap on 1/14 from 2-3PM. Interested in volunteering? Information is above.

Benton Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Bookmark our page: Find newsletter archives, volunteer handbook and more volunteer opportunities at https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/activebentonlinnmg/

Share an item for eNews by contacting your program staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.

Jan 3 -Feb 28
Gearing Up For Gardening
12:00 pm – 12:00 pm Corvallis, OR
  • Shout outs
    • Via Elizabeth Records: “I have a new nickname – Elza. I am still fine with Elizabeth, too, but wanted to share a more informal option. I have never had a nickname that I like, but now I do!”
    • 12/16 Plant propagation @10am-12pm – Philomath High School, 2054 Applegate Street. We will seed perennials inside the greenhouse and also repot nursery plant donations outdoors. We’ll have canopies up to provide as much cover as possible but you may want to wear warm clothes and rain gear just in case. 
    • The Extension office will be closed 12/24/2022 – 1/2/2023.
    • You are invited to meet 2023 applicants and share your experiences with being a Master Gardener! Please RSVP to Elza for one of these hourlong events:
      • Wed 1/4/2023 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Corvallis
      • Fri 1/6/2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Corvallis
      • Sat 1/7/2023 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ZOOM
    • Seeking project leaders – MLK Day of Service at Lupe’s Garden in Philomath. Collaborate with garden volunteers to construct a 3-bin compost system similar to this one and/or apply wood chips to paths. This type of service project is typically outside the MG wheelhouse but for MLK day we have the go-ahead to support a community organization with a hands-on task. Interested? Please contact Elza.
    • Help kids learn cultural connection and conservation at dual immersion schools in Corvallis! The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership needs Master Gardener expertise for planning bird/pollinator and food gardens, and leading school volunteers and students in successfully installing the gardens. To learn more please contact Elza.
  • Extension News
    • Did you watch one or several of the webinars that were part of the Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series in 2021 or 2022?  If so, we would love to learn from you to get a better understanding of how you have used the information from the webinars.  Please complete this short survey, which should take no more than 5-10 minutes, and please submit your survey response by Monday, December 19th. Follow this link to the Survey: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_40X575BBx513j3o Your responses will help us plan programs that fit the needs of gardeners across Oregon. Thank you!
    • Coffee chats are back for 2023! If you are a board member, committee chair, or engaged volunteer, this is a chance to visit informally with program staff (Elza). Learn more and sign up HERE.
  • BCMGA News
    • Membership Meeting: The first membership meeting of the new year will be held on Monday, January 30 in the Sunset Room of the Sunset Building. It will also be available via Zoom. Please enter by the east side door rather than the front entrance if you attend in person. The speaker will be Stephanie Hazen who will discuss Monarch Butterflies and plants that support them beyond Milkweed. Doors open at 6:30, the program begins at 7:00.
    • OMGA would like to invite you to join in to help with the planning of our Joy of Gardening Conference 2023. Our first meeting is set for Friday, December 16 at 3 PM. Check the email newsletter for a link to join.
    • Via Jana Tindall: “reminder to pay your membership dues as soon as possible. Dues are $15 (plus a small fee if you use a credit card).
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • New BCMGA Plant Sale opportunities
      • Friday, December 30 – 10am-12pm – Philomath High School, 2054 Applegate Street, We will be seeding more perennials inside the greenhouse where it will be warm and toasty!
      • Plant Problem Scenarios 2023- Calling all certified Master Gardeners! Join the fun! Meet and get to know the 2023 Master Gardeners Trainees and help prepare them for the help desk and clinic tables. Are you a  recent graduate? Participating as a facilitator in Plant Problem Scenarios will be an excellent way to get acquainted with experienced facilitators.  And our introduction/refresher sessions for facilitating the scenarios will not only sharpen up your skills but also be a fantastic time for new and experienced MGs to socialize.
        • We will be holding the group leader training sessions on Wed Jan 11, 2023, at the Benton County Extension office conference room (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm).  Sign-ups coming soon! 
        • For the 2023 trainees, we will be conducting four scenario sessions in February (Feb 2, 9, 16, 23) from (10:30  to 11:45  ) in the Benton County Extension Sunset room.  Each session will end with a presentation by 2-3 committee chairs and a brown bag meet and greet.  The facilitators will work in teams of 2.  Don’t worry if you are new to PPS, we will pair you up with someone who is experienced. Note: You do not have to attend all four sessions! (Although we would love it if you did!) 
        • Contact Deb Kern (NewfandCardi@gmail.com) or Ann Brodie (annbrodie143@comcast.net) for more details. 
      • 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”. 
  • 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.)
    • The Public Seed Library is a new collaborative project of the Benton County Master Gardeners and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, with the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library serving as the host partner. The free, volunteer-run Public Seed Library is expected to open at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library downtown by March ’23. Learn more and donate seeds.
    • Jan 14 Community Seed Swap – Albany Library 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Albany, OR

Linn Master Gardener eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply
  • Please bookmark the Volunteer Resource Page. It has newsletter archives, an updated volunteer sourcebook, continuing education opportunities, and volunteering opportunities. It is your one-stop source for program essentials!
  • Have an item for eNews? Please contact staff by the second or last Wednesday of each month. Please use this event checklist to ensure all needed information is included in your request.
Continuing education opportunity: 12/15 @12pm – Gardening in the PNW: “Seed Starting–the Sexy Side of Propagation” with Don Lyon. Now is the time to make plans for a healthy, diverse and tasty spring garden. Albany Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE. FREE, drop in.
  • Shout outs
    • Save the date – 9th Annual BEEvent. 9th Annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference- March 4, 2023, Linn Expo Center, Albany, Oregon. “Adapting Your Garden to the Coming Changes”. This in-person conference is back after a 2 year on-line only presence. Focus on Home Gardens and Small Farms. 9:00am – 3:30pm Registration will open in February: www.LinnMasterGardeners.com
    • Statewide MG Trivia Tournament with valuable prizes: December 15, 2022, 6-7pm, Nectar Robbers and Ambush Bugs: Lesser-known friends of the garden
    • The Extension office will be closed 12/24/2022 – 1/2/2023. eNews will be on break during this time.
    • You are invited to meet 2023 applicants and share your experiences with being a Master Gardener! Please RSVP to Elizabeth for one of these hourlong events:
      • Tue 1/3/2023 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Tangent
      • Thu 1/5/2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tangent
      • Sat 1/7/2023 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ZOOM
    • Certified MGs – Please RSVP to be a “buddy” and introduce 1-2 trainees to your favorite MG activities. You do not need to know all MG skills and tools. If interested please contact Elizabeth for questions.
    • Considering a live Christmas tree that you can plant later? Master Gardener Leo researched several native conifers to help you compare their features in a handy list, picked as an Ask Extension question of the week.
  • Extension News
    • People often inquire about how to harvest wild foods, something outside Master Gardener Program expertise. We’re excited that OSU Extension now offers a resource for safely harvesting and eating nettles. Colleagues with backgrounds in traditional ecological knowledge, food safety, and disaster preparedness contributed to this great new publication. And there is even information for growing this itchy but tasty plant in home gardens. Check it out HERE.
    • Explore Oregon Bees is a bee-themed nutrition and garden environmental education activity e-book developed at Oregon State University by the Oregon Bee Project and Food Hero. The readability is 5th grade and up, but there are activities, recipes and images engaging to all ages.
  • Volunteer opportunities
    • GARDEN EDUCATION CLASSES Help develop gardening classes at the Demo Garden for 2023. We have two beds set aside at the Demo Garden and two beds at Willamette Community Garden to use to teach gardening classes. Classes will start early 2023 and will be similar to Seed to Supper but with a hands on approach. Want to help design the classes email me, Betty at goergenb@gmail.com. Perfect way to earn Direct Education hours.
    • 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”. 
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page
  • 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.

Linn MGV eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Now available – Continuing Master Gardener volunteers may enjoy free access to this Master Gardener Online program

A computer monitor shows MGV training
Continuing Master Gardener volunteers may now enjoy free access to this Master Gardener Online program, similar to auditing live classes in past. All modules are optional and can be studied at your own pace. If it’s been a while since your first certification or you are transferring from another growing region, this will be a valuable learning experience that you may report as continuing education. This will be available now through the end of the service year.Any classes that cover topics you have not studied recently, may be reported for continuing education. See eNews to enroll.
  • Program Updates
    • Via Richard Riggs, Extension Regional Director Western Region: “OSU is following OHA guidance and has lifted the indoor mask mandate over the weekend.  You may still continue to wear masks indoors if you are more comfortable doing so, and I have asked all offices to maintain a stock of masks on hand to facilitate this.  Offices also no longer need to use/maintain the contact tracing forms.  Additionally, our indoor events no longer require social distancing, however people may be more comfortable maintain a distance so please accommodate them whenever possible.” This means that office plant clinic for volunteer pairs is now possible! We’ll continue to offer other options for plant clinic too. Check out the full post.

OSU is following OHA guidance and has lifted the indoor mask mandate over the weekend.  You may still continue to wear masks indoors if you are more comfortable doing so, and I have asked all offices to maintain a stock of masks on hand to facilitate this.  Offices also no longer need to use/maintain the contact tracing forms.  Additionally, our indoor events no longer require social distancing, however people may be more comfortable maintain a distance so please accommodate them whenever possible. 

The OSU vaccine requirement remains in place for all employees as does the positive case notification of OSU if you test positive.    Additionally, if you test positive or have symptoms of COVID please quarantine and do not come to work sick.  Some of our community partners (e.g. schools or food banks) will have their own COVID requirements and if you are working in those environments make yourself aware of and follow their requirements.   

As we adjust to the endemic phase of COVID there will be awkwardness and people will be uncomfortable, please be patient and show your coworkers and others grace as we reach a new normal. “

– Elizabeth Records – program coordinator (interim)

  • Shoutouts
    • Did you miss the 8th Annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference? You can still register at www.LinnMasterGardeners.com to access the great information shared by the experts. The recorded conference is now available for you to watch at your convenience.
    • Demo Garden: Join us for work parties at the Linn Demo Garden on Wednesdays and/or Fridays from 1:00-3:00.  The first priority will be weeding.  For now parking will be in the parking lot behind the Expo buildings.  Go all the way along the back to get to the Demo Garden.  We are also working on setting up a few Saturday work parties.  Those who have expressed an interest in Saturday’s will get an e-mail soon with more details.   When the afternoons start getting hot, we will switch to morning hours.  Get your volunteer hours by helping make the Demo Garden look great.  
    • Spring schedule for program coordinator: March-June, Elizabeth’s weekly schedule is Wednesday-Sunday, 8-5.
    • eNews spring schedule: MGV eNews for Linn County volunteers will be published second and fourth Thursdays with occasional updates inbetween.
  • Volunteers needed
    • Trainees welcome – help plan the Linn County demonstration garden for 2022 and get involved in this fun hands-on project. For more information contact raneewebb66 (at) gmail.com
    • In-person outdoor community plant clinics coming up this spring to a garden center near you. Locations and times still TBD – likely Saturdays, with an opportunity to engage trainees. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Records.
    • Speakers’ bureau: are you an organized, outgoing person interested in helping connect interested volunteers with community organizations needing gardening education? Please contact Elizabeth Records.
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page
  • Continuing education opportunities
    • BEEvent – tickets to view recordings are available at linnmastergardeners.com
    • OSU Extension Master Gardeners announce 2022 Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series schedule It’s a new year and a new slate of free online learning webinars with Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series. Whether you want to learn how to finally be better with your irrigation, understand if cleaning up leaves in the fall is really good or not so good for the insects in the garden, or get excited for all things roses, there’s a class for you.  
    • Growing Oregon Gardeners – Level Up 2022:
    • April 12: Plant Grow Harvest Repeat: Succession Planting
    • May 10: Growing Great Roses!
    • June 14: Irrigation Choices and Design for the Home Garden and Landscape 
    • Find more HERE.
  • Extension News
    • Dr. Staci Simonich is appointed as Oregon State University’s new Dean of Agricultural Sciences and Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, effective March 28. Read the post.
  • 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.)
    • Benton County Master Gardener Association Plant Sale is back live and in person, scheduled for May 7 from 9-3! This big plant sale is worth visiting Corvallis! https://www.bentonmg.org/plant-sale

Linn eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply
2022 Bee Supplies Delivery
View pick up dates and locations.
Cut off for order Wednesday March 16th at 5:00. Order cocoons, habitats and books.

  • Program Updates

Via OSU Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, here is the latest on OSU’s public health measures. OSU’s policy of vaccine carding for certain events is going away, and most indoor settings will become mask-optional. Understanding that our community has a wide range of needs around these issues, the local Master Gardener program will continue to offer a selection of activities including inside, outside and online.

Please also note that County policies affect Extension activities, and in Benton County as of today (3/4/22), we are still waiting for County policies to be announced. Next week we should know more.

– Elizabeth Records – program coordinator (interim)

  • Shoutouts
    • Thank you Nancy, Ranee, Rich and Susan for taking the lead on a successful 8th Annual BEEvent! Thank you Bobbye and Diane for leadership in bee gear pick ups, and countless others who have lent a hand! And special thanks to Brooke Edmunds for tech support and Q&A moderation. Together, we put Linn County on the map for pollinator education!
    • Spring schedule for program coordinator: March-June, Elizabeth’s weekly schedule is Wednesday-Sunday, 8-5.
    • eNews spring schedule: MGV eNews for Linn County volunteers will be published second and fourth Thursdays with occasional updates inbetween.
  • Volunteers needed
    • Trainees welcome – help plan the Linn County demonstration garden for 2022 and get involved in this fun hands-on project. For more information contact raneewebb66 (at) gmail.com
    • In-person outdoor community plant clinics coming up this spring to a garden center near you. Locations and times still TBD – likely Saturdays, with an opportunity to engage trainees. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Records.
    • Speakers’ bureau: are you an organized, outgoing person interested in helping connect interested volunteers with community organizations needing gardening education? Please contact Elizabeth Records.
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page
  • Continuing education opportunities:
    • BEEvent – shortly, tickets to view recordings will be available at linnmastergardeners.com
    • OSU Extension Master Gardeners announce 2022 Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series schedule It’s a new year and a new slate of free online learning webinars with Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series. Whether you want to learn how to finally be better with your irrigation, understand if cleaning up leaves in the fall is really good or not so good for the insects in the garden, or get excited for all things roses, there’s a class for you.  
    • Growing Oregon Gardeners – Level Up 2022:
  • Extension News
    • Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Urban Greenspace: To observe Oregon State University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the Master Gardener Program hosted a screening of the movie ‘The Ants and the Grasshopper’. The movie follows Anita Chitaya, as she travels from her home in Malawi, to farms and gardens across the United States to share her story of how climate change is impacting her village. Afterwards, Dr. Vivek Shandas of Portland State University joined us to discuss the intersection of historical racism, landscaping and greenspace, and environmental justice. Read the blog.
  • 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.

Linn MGV eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Beefuddled, Beewildered, Beeknighted about bees?
Join Linn County Master Gardeners at the 8th annual BEEvent Pollinator Conference on March 5, 2022, via Zoom.
Our speakers will include:
–Olivia Carril, co-author of Bees in Your Backyard, Bee-plant relationships: A match made in heaven or love on the rocks?
–Erin Wickliffe, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Beneficial Insects
–Gail Langellotto, Professor of Horticulture at Oregon State University and State Coordinator of the Extension Service Master Gardener Program, Native Plant-Bee Associations in Western Oregon
–Sarah Kincaid, Bee Atlas Education Coordinator, The Oregon Orchard Bee Health Survey Cocoons
–Susan Morton and Ranee Webb, Linn County Master Gardeners, Blue Orchard Bees (in the Willamette Valley) & Best Practices
Registration is $25. The event will be broadcast live. Registrants will be able to access recording of the talks at their leisure beginning about a week after the event. Registration is at linnmastergardeners.com; mason bee housing and cocoons may also be purchased at that site.
  • Program updates 2/8/2022: This is to update Master Gardener volunteers on the latest public health requirements per OSU. Please let me know what question you have. 

–No change in current mask requirements at OSU – still need face coverings inside for now.

–Proof of vaccination or negative test no longer required for outdoor events and activities

Read the full message from OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator.
  • Shoutouts
    • Online plant clinic needs a hand! Now’s a great time to get involved. on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page.
    • Due to changing office needs the MGV in-office help desk has moved back to its old position.
  • Volunteers needed
    • Call For Applications: Cohort II of the Master Gardener JEDI Task Force
      • JEDI stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity. Sometimes, we call ourselves the DEI Task Force.
      • Sometimes, we call ourselves the JEDI Task Force, because frankly, the word ‘JEDI’ is both more representative
      • of what we are trying to do, and is also more fun to say.
      • Applications for the second cohort of Master Gardener JEDI Task Force Members are now being accepted.
      • Click here to learn more and apply. Applications will be accepted through February 28, 2022.
    • In-person outdoor community plant clinics coming up this spring to a garden center near you. Locations and times still TBD – likely Saturdays, with an opportunity to engage trainees. If interested, please contact Elizabeth Records.
    • Speakers’ bureau: are you an organized, outgoing person interested in helping connect interested volunteers with community organizations needing gardening education? Please contact Elizabeth Records.
  • Continuing education opportunities:
    • Seed Starting -Tips for Success – Monday, February 21, 7:00-8:00 pm on zoom.
      • Benton Co. MGs Jennifer and Lisa draw from their experience seeding and growing on starts for the BCMGA plant sale. They will share strategies for starting veggies, annuals and perennials. PowerPoint presentation, demonstrations, and open Q/A. We’d love to hear from the audience: What is your favorite/most challenging plant you’ve started from seed? Be ready to answer in chat! Looking forward to growing season! Register in advance for this meeting.
    • Fruit Tree Pruning workshop – special invitation from Community Gardening Education Team
      • Saturday, February 26, 1:30-3:00 pm, The Giving Garden at Shepherd of the Valley, 2659 NW Highland Drive, Corvallis. Learn pruning basics on 10-year old apple, plum and pear trees trained in open vase shape on semi-dwarf root stock. We will have some hand tools available. Optional: Bring gloves, hand clippers. Wear weather appropriate clothing (rainwear, boots – long grass in orchard).  Please be ready to wear a mask if social distancing is difficult during demonstrations. Led by Meleah Ashford and Jennifer Klammer
    • Consider This, Oregon Humanities: Join us on March 10, 2022 for an online conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss. Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. This program will be streamed live at 5:00 p.m. Pacific on YouTube. RSVP for this free program.
    • OSU Extension Master Gardeners announce 2022 Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series schedule It’s a new year and a new slate of free online learning webinars with Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series. Whether you want to learn how to finally be better with your irrigation, understand if cleaning up leaves in the fall is really good or not so good for the insects in the garden, or get excited for all things roses, there’s a class for you.   March 8: Local Beauties: Native Plants for Ecologically Enhanced Gardens and Landscapes with Nikkie West, Kathryn Prive and Rick Martinson
  • 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.

Benton MGV eNews

Posted on by | Leave a reply
Call For Applications: Cohort II of the Master Gardener JEDI Task Force
JEDI stands for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity. Sometimes, we call ourselves the DEI Task Force.
Sometimes, we call ourselves the JEDI Task Force, because frankly, the word ‘JEDI’ is both more representative
of what we are trying to do, and is also more fun to say.
Applications for the second cohort of Master Gardener JEDI Task Force Members are now being accepted.
 Click here to learn more and apply. Applications will be accepted through February 28, 2022.
  • Volunteers needed
    • Office Plant Clinic sign ups open: The office is open to the public as of January 2022, and volunteers can sign up for plant clinic shifts as desired, to answer client questions or practice skills. Desk is open for solo volunteers, or grab our ipad and mini miscroscopes and work in the conference room with a friend. Sign up HERE.
    • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
  • Continuing education opportunities:
    • BEEvent – save the date: Sat. March 5, 2022. Learn more & sign up February 2022 at linnmastergardeners.com
    • Consider This, Oregon Humanities: Join us on March 10, 2022 for an online conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss. Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. This program will be streamed live at 5:00 p.m. Pacific on YouTube. RSVP for this free program.
    • New! OSU Extension Master Gardeners announce 2022 Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series schedule It’s a new year and a new slate of free online learning webinars with Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series. Whether you want to learn how to finally be better with your irrigation, understand if cleaning up leaves in the fall is really good or not so good for the insects in the garden, or get excited for all things roses, there’s a class for you.  This year’s schedule: 

February 8: The Science and Practice of Seed Starting: Secrets to success when growing by seed with Dennis Brown 

March 8: Local Beauties: Native Plants for Ecologically Enhanced Gardens and Landscapes with Nikkie West, Kathryn Prive and Rick Martinson 

April 12: Plant Grow Harvest Repeat: Succession Planting with Meg McAndrews Cowden 

May 10: Growing Great Roses! with Mark Windham 

June 14: Irrigation Choices and Design with Alec Kowalewski 

July 12: Best Ecological Ways to Control Pests with Silvia Rondon, Chris Hedstrom and Isaac Sandlin of the Oregon IPM Center 

August 9: Should You Leave Your Leaves? How autumn yard maintenance affects overwintering insects with Max Ferlauto 

September 13: Compost Can-do: develop a system that meets your needs with Linda Brewer 

October 11: Soil Fertility and Nutrient Cycling in Garden Beds & Home Landscapes with Gordon Jones 

November 8: TBA