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.

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• Shout outs
  • Coming soon! 10/6 – Gardening in the PNW: Insect Explorations with Rich Little. 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Albany Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE. FREE, drop in. Retired entomologist Rich will introduce you to pollinators and pests alike.
  • Linn County Extension Open House – Oct 17, 2022 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm – free, drop in. Network and visit with Extension stakeholders, volunteers, employees, and the community. Enjoy door prizes and refreshments.
  • Volunteers needed – cocoon care helpers
    • Trainees welcome! Fall 2022 Mason Bee Cocoon Harvesting Classes. 10/8-10/25 (various dates/times including weekends). Assist instructors, support learners, and sell supplies. Learn more and RSVP. Report service as “instructor: direct”.
  • Volunteer service hours and continuing education are due 10/31
    • Log your hours or call Elizabeth if you need help: 541-730-3471.
    • RSVP for graduation and celebration on Saturday, November 19 from 2-4 in Tangent. 
    • Questions about completing your service? Schedule a visit about volunteering or contact Elizabeth Records.

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• Extension News
  • 2023 Plant clinic activity project: Help to pick and assemble fun activities for all ages to rotate between local farmers’ market plant clinics next year. Please contact Elizabeth to get involved.
  • New publication! Native Plant Picks for Bees. EM 9363 Published September 2022. 
  • Updates! Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon EM 9297
  • New post – Native plants invite themselves into the garden. Master Gardener trainee Carrie Falotico wrote: “There is a growing interest amongst gardeners in the Willamette valley to add more native plants to their gardens and landscapes. What if I told you that some of them might just invite themselves into your garden?” See the plants that found their way into Carrie’s garden and learn about them for yourself!

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• LCMGA news
  • The Fall 2022 OMGA (Oregon Master Gardener Association) newsletter, ‘The Gardener’s Pen’ is now out. Please take a moment to review the newsletter, which includes important updates on OMGA advocacy to improve MG Program funding.
  • We have two positions open on our board: The 1st VP is responsible for scheduling the PNW talks and any talks for our membership meetings. The treasurer is responsible for maintaining our financial records on Quick Books, issuing checks, and providing a report of expenses for our monthly Board Meetings. I and the entire Board will help and support our new officers to make this a fun and rewarding experience. As a Board member, you can help shape the future of Linn Master Gardeners. Please if interested in joining our board in any capacity, call me, 541 990 5624 or email goergenb (at) gmail.com

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• Volunteers needed
  • 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”. 
  • Pop-Up Plant Clinics need people to “talk plants” with our communities. Sign up HERE. Report service as Plant Clinic: Direct
  • Anytime – Become a Forest Pest Detector and report observations of potentially invasive species. Report hours as “citizen science: indirect”. Returning volunteers may report time spent with training as continuing education, and time spent spotting and reporting possible pests as “citizen science: indirect”.
  • Trainees welcome – Demo Garden: Join us for work parties at the Linn Demo Garden on Wednesdays and/or Fridays from 10:00am-12:00pm. Report service as Educational Garden (Maintenance): Indirect.
  • Find ongoing and anytime opportunities on the Linn Volunteer Opportunities Page

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• Continuing education
  • New! 10/11-10/25 (various sites and times) Mason Bee Cocoon Care classes! If you have mason bees, learn how to triple their survival (and increase your fruit) through cocoon care. Join a FREE hands-on workshop taught by Master Gardener volunteers! If you are a returning volunteer who is new to this class you can report the time as continuing education. Learn more and RSVP.
  • Rich Little entomology learning: Rich is at the plant clinic most Thursday afternoons from 1-3ish. RSVP and bring an insect, or a plant damaged by insects, and hone your diagnostics skills with this longtime MGV and retired entomologist.
  • 10/20 – Gardening in the PNW: Successful Gardening with Physical Limitations, with Karin Magnusson. 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Albany Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE. FREE, drop in. You can keep gardening over the years, using adaptive methods to match your garden and your abilities.
  • Growing Oregon Gardeners
    • October 11: Soil Fertility and Nutrient Cycling in Garden Beds & Home Landscapes
    • November 8: Growing the Good Stuff: from Sweet Potatoes to Bitter Melons
    • Find more HERE.

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• 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.)
  • 10/8/2022 Houseplant & cuttings swap. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Albany Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE. FREE, drop in. Please bring cuttings and starts of healthy houseplants to share. (Note, volunteer plant clinic spots for this event are filled, and volunteers serving at this event CAN earn service hours. Attending the event as a guest is not eligible for MGV service, but we hope you’ll bring and share houseplant cuttings!)