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Gardening for the Future: Education Garden at Portland Community College Rock Creek

A conversation with the Washington County Master Gardener Association Education Garden Team

From gravel to garden—that’s the story of our Education Garden at Portland Community College Rock Creek. This 17,000-square-foot space used to be a compacted parking lot covered in gravel and riprap. Nothing but weeds could grow here. It radiated heat and offered virtually no support for plants, wildlife, or the soil organisms that make up a healthy ecosystem. But we saw an opportunity to reclaim the space and transform it into a thriving outdoor classroom that teaches sustainable gardening practices. And that’s exactly what we did.

An empty gravel parking lot with overgrown weeds and scattered concrete parking stops, bordered by a wooden fence and rows of trees in the background. Several cars and trucks are parked near a small gray building on the right under a clear blue sky.Garden with a mix of colorful plants and flowers, including large clusters of yellow blooms in the foreground, surrounded by shrubs and trees with a gravel path and wooden benches in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Then and Now. Photos courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

Designing with Resilience in Mind
From the beginning, our goal was to create a space where people could learn. We organized the garden into themed sections—what we call “Garden Classrooms”—each one focused on a specific concept. These include:

  • Waterwise Garden
  • PNW Meadowscape
  • Hellstrip beds (with native and non-native comparisons)
  • Moon Moth Garden
  • Pollinator Habitat Garden
  • Fragrance Garden
  • Community Circle with small conifers and companion plants
  • PNW Pollinator Hedgerow
Demonstration garden with a variety of plants, including tall ornamental grasses, purple flowering perennials, evergreen shrubs, and small trees, bordered by mulch pathways with parked cars and trees visible beyond a wooden fence.
The waterwise garden. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

We also feature habitat elements like mason bee stations, ground-nesting bee zones, and signage for the DarkSky Oregon Citizen Scientist Project. Everything we’ve done is meant to demonstrate how gardens can be beautiful, functional, and climate-resilient.

Facing Climate Challenges
Because the site had been a gravel parking lot, there was no usable soil. After removing the gravel, we brought in 40 truckloads of topsoil and 150 cubic yards of compost. We tested the soil, amended it, and covered it with arborist chips after planting. We haven’t needed additional soil amendments since—just mulch and good care.

Group of people using shovels and rakes to move and level soil in an outdoor area, with trees and parked cars visible behind a wooden fence under a sunny sky.
In 2018, the team hard at work installing grading and incorporating compost and amendments. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

Water was another major concern. With little initial shade and increasing summer heat, we installed drip and overhead irrigation and grouped plants by water needs. We monitor the health of our plants regularly and adjust irrigation based on what we observe, including probing soil for infiltration.

Drainage remains an issue. The compacted subgrade is still there, so we avoid planting large trees that require deep soil. When we planted trees early on, we used an auger to break through the hard layer and give roots a path through the compacted subgrade.

The site also had very little wind protection. Over time, we’ve used shrubs and trees to create a buffer and soften the wind, especially along the garden’s edge, during summer drying events but also in winter storm events by shielding plants from freezing high winds from the east.

wo people working in a garden, one holding a shovel and the other standing nearby smiling, surrounded by flowering plants, shrubs, and trees on a cloudy day.
Working in the Moon Moth Garden. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

Choosing the Right Plants
We’ve always prioritized plants that are low-water, low-maintenance, affordable, and available to home gardeners. The garden is a balance of perennials and evergreens to provide both structure and year-round habitat for insects and other wildlife.

Our goal is to build a resilient, adaptable ecosystem. When plants die, we try to determine why the plant failed before replacing it, with the goal of creating a garden that, over time, is increasingly composed of plants adapted to the specific conditions of the site.

Native plants were an integral theme of the original garden design, a theme we have continued to expand on with the installation of a PNW Pollinator Hedgerow in 2020 (and its extension in 2022) and a PNW Meadowscape in 2023. In 2024, we converted a section of our Hellstrip into a native-only test zone.

Garden area with shrubs, small trees, and mulched ground, featuring a wooden sign about pollinator habitat in the center, with buildings and a cart of orange bins visible in the background on a cloudy day.
Pollinator Hedgerow. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

We’ve learned from experience that some plants—like goldenrod, woodland strawberry, and Douglas aster—can be too aggressive in our managed garden. They’re great in the wild, but here we aim for diversity without constant intervention.

Two people kneeling in a freshly mulched garden bed, planting a shrub with potted plants nearby, a blue tarp spread on the ground, and a wooden fence with an educational sign in the background.
Planting in the fall of 2018. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

Techniques That Make a Difference

  • Adjusting irrigation for maturing plants
  • Leaving leaves and small branch piles to support overwintering insects
  • Creating intentional habitat spaces, like our Moon Moth Garden
  • Avoiding all chemical inputs
  • Using arborist chips for weed suppression, moisture retention, and soil health
    We started with organic compost to support soil life and have since let the garden build healthy soil naturally.

What’s Next?

We’re continuing to adapt. We plan to convert more overhead irrigation to drip, fine-tune watering in key areas, and explore new plant choices—especially native species—when replacements are needed. We’re also evaluating plants that have outgrown their space to decide whether to relocate or remove them.

  • Aerial view of a garden under development with mulched planting beds arranged in curved shapes, gravel pathways between them, and small plants scattered throughout, bordered by a wooden fence with parked cars and grassy areas nearby.
    Drone image of the garden taken in 2018. Photo courtesy of PCC.
  • Aerial view of a demonstration garden with newly mulched planting beds in curved patterns, small plants spaced throughout, and gravel pathways dividing the sections, bordered by a wooden fence and parking area.
    Drone image of the garden taken in 2019. Photo courtesy of PCC.
  • Aerial view of a mature demonstration garden with dense plantings, winding gravel paths, and seating areas, surrounded by sheds, small structures, and a gravel lot with parked vehicles.
    Drone image of the garden taken in 2024. Photo courtesy of Jorie Helwig.

Sharing What We Learn

Our garden is a living classroom. We host public classes as part of our In the Garden Series, offer hands-on Master Gardener workshops, and partner with PCC’s Landscape Technology program for curriculum-based learning. Educational signage helps visitors learn even when we’re not there.

We’re excited to integrate Garden Future activities into our outreach this year. We plan to display laminated Garden Future posters in the garden and hand out quarter-sheet cards with links to the website and resources. It’s a natural fit—we’re already focused on sustainability, and Garden Future gives us another way to talk about climate resilience.

Garden pathway lined with gravel and bordered by a variety of shrubs, conifers, and colorful groundcover, with wooden benches placed among the plantings and bright flowering bushes visible in the background.
Community Circle with small conifers and companion plants. Photo courtesy of Sue Ryburn.

Our Advice to Other Gardeners

Take time to plan. Know your goals. Observe your garden’s microclimates and be realistic about your time and energy. When in doubt, rely on trusted sources—your local Master Gardener Program, the Garden Future website, the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, and the Xerces Society are all great places to start.

And always remember right plant, right place, right care.

Take a video tour of the garden at our YouTube channel.

Explore one of Oregon’s 50+ Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens—realistic, regionally adapted spaces that showcase what thrives in your local conditions. Find a demonstration garden near you.

This story is part of Garden Future, an OSU Extension Master Gardener outreach project dedicated to conversations and action for gardening in a changing climate.

What are you seeing in your garden? What changes are you making? We invite you to join the Garden Future conversation by answering three quick questions. At the end, you’ll have the option to sign up for our Garden Future newsletter and stay connected with stories, resources, and tools to support climate-resilient gardening in your community.

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Gardening for the future: waterwise beauty in Central Point

In Southern Oregon’s scorching summers, it can be hard to imagine a vibrant garden that doesn’t rely on constant irrigation. But at the Jackson County Master Gardener Waterwise Garden, colorful blooms, pollinator habitat, and year-round interest prove that climate-resilient gardening can also be beautiful. Designed to showcase low-water native and ornamental plants, this demonstration garden at the OSU Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center is inspiring visitors to rethink what’s possible in a drought-prone climate. OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer Pete Livers and Master Gardener Coordinator Grace Florjancic share what they’re learning—and teaching—about gardening in a hotter, drier world.

landscape of mixed plants of various textures, with rocks and gravel path

Waterwise Garden in Central Point

A conversation with OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer Pete Livers and Master Gardener Coordinator Grace Florjancic

What was your garden like prior to any changes you’ve made for climate resiliency?
The Jackson County Master Gardener waterwise garden set out to show how you can still have plenty of colorful blossoms and year-round interest while saving on water usage. This garden was designed with a mix of low water usage native and ornamental plants. There are many pollinators that visit this garden throughout the year like bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies.

What issues did you find you were facing regarding climate change impacts in your garden?
Frequent irrigation in our intense summer heat has become an issue for many gardeners. Using drip irrigation has helped us be more efficient with water usage but low water use plants is another step towards reducing the need for constant summer irrigation.

What plants have you changed to help with climate resilience?
Some of the native plants like poppies and yarrow wander out of their desired areas. From a structured garden perspective, some of these plants have been removed to keep the desired appearance. Low water usage irises recently replaced some yarrow to fill out the irises currently in the garden bed for a fuller appearance. The native California fuchsia, buckwheat, and Kinnikinnik play nicer with their neighbors in a formal garden setting.

What techniques have you changed to help with climate resilience?
Master Gardener Pete Livers is the new team lead for the waterwise garden. As a newcomer to the garden, Pete has found the main challenge to be learning which plants are very drought tolerant and which ones are just low water plants. Pete has been keeping a careful eye out for plants that show signs of stress like curling and wilting leaves. To not overwater the extreme drought tolerant plants, he has resorted to hand watering the individuals that show signs of drought stress.

Are you anticipating future changes you plan to make?
No major changes for our garden at the moment. Plants may get occasionally swapped out for color, size, or other desired attributes to keep the garden fresh and exciting.

Have you received feedback from others regarding the changes you’ve made?
Many people are surprised at how many flowers and pops of color are in this waterwise garden. Often people have an image of rocks green cacti and succulents in mind for a waterwise garden. We wanted to show another way to create a waterwise garden with blooms each season.

Do you have any specific resources you’ve used in making the decisions for the changes you’ve made?
Some helpful resources for gardeners designing a waterwise garden include native plant lists such as Gardening with Oregon Native Plants East/West of the Cascades and the Firewise Plants for Home Gardens publication. Check with your local nurseries to see if they have a list of their available native plants and low water use plants for sale.

What would you tell other gardeners who want to make changes in their gardening to create more climate resilience?
Our summers in Jackson County turn brutal for a full sun garden quickly and some irrigation is still needed once or twice a month in an established waterwise garden like ours. New plants need to be gently acclimated to low water conditions and individually watered until established. A common mistake is expecting a young plant fresh from the nursery to be able to survive a drought before becoming established. Grouping your low water use plants together makes watering much easier than having them mixed between water-loving plants.

How are you using your climate resilient garden for teaching or outreach events?
We have hosted garden tours for local gardening clubs across the county where we discuss each garden and share ideas. Last summer, the local news station did a feature on waterwise gardens and included footage from our garden!

Anything else you’d like to share?
Some of the plants Pete wanted to highlight are the arrow leaf buckwheat for interesting foliage and dramatic white blooms and the purple cooking sage for the unique purple to green fade the plant has. A well designed waterwise garden still has plenty of interesting leaves, blossoms, colors, textures, and habitat for the local critters.

Established in 1994, the Jackson County Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens feature fifteen different gardens that are used to teach the art and science of gardening through the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program and to the community at large. The Demonstration Gardens are located on the grounds surrounding the OSU Extension office in Central Point, 569 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502. The public is welcome to take self-guided tours Monday through Friday between the hours of 9-5 p.m.

Arrowleaf Buckwheat
Sulphur Buckwheat
Silverheels Horehound
Purple Sage
Kinnikinnik
Honey Bee
Desert Willow
Desert Willow
California Fuschia
Bumblebee!

Explore one of Oregon’s 50+ Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens—realistic, regionally adapted spaces that showcase what thrives in your local conditions. Find a demonstration garden near you.

This story is part of Garden Future, an OSU Extension Master Gardener outreach project dedicated to conversations and action for gardening in a changing climate.

What are you seeing in your garden? What changes are you making? We invite you to join the Garden Future conversation by answering three quick questions. At the end, you’ll have the option to sign up for our Garden Future newsletter and stay connected with stories, resources, and tools to support climate-resilient gardening in your community.

Photos by Grace Florjancic

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Gardening for the Future: Visiting the Discovery Garden in Roseburg, Oregon

Across Oregon, OSU Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens are blooming with inspiration—and resilience. As our climate shifts, gardeners are adapting with creativity and care. As part of the Garden Future initiative, we’re spotlighting real stories from Master Gardener volunteers who are reimagining their spaces to be more climate resilient. These aren’t show gardens with endless budgets—they’re real, regionally relevant spaces that demonstrate what’s possible with thoughtful choices in plants and practices.

Today, we’re excited to share one of those stories.

Discovery Garden – Xeriscape Garden in Roseburg

A conversation with Geoff Puryear, OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer and Program Education Assistant.

What was your garden like prior to any changes you’ve made for climate resiliency?
The Discovery Garden itself was established in 2000 and is divided into 21 different themed sections. The Xeriscape Garden was initially installed around 2005. Originally, the space was smaller and regularly irrigated. I was assigned, as a new Master Gardener volunteer, to take over the design and maintenance of the space in 2013. At that time, the Xeriscape Garden had limited plant variety, large gaps between plants, and very little mulch. That year, while the rest of the Discovery Garden resumed irrigation, the Xeriscape Garden did not and has not received any supplemental irrigation since, relying solely on rainwater.

What issues did you find you were facing regarding climate change impacts in your garden?
This project of an irrigation-free landscape was started to demonstrate how many commonly available landscaping plants can survive our Mediterranean climate of hot-dry summers without supplemental irrigation. The second year into this project, we experienced a significant drought which set back the establishment process of most plants. The lack of rain in the first three years made establishing most of the perennials a challenge, but it also showed that following the 7 Principles of Xeriscape is a viable method for both the conservation of water and drought resiliency, as hundreds of plant varieties, planted in the right place and at the right time of year, successfully populated the burgeoning garden beds.

What plants have you changed to help with climate resilience?
To create a more resilient landscape, I removed plants that couldn’t handle the dry season; mostly plants with larger leaves and higher water needs. This included a 15-foot Red maple and the Siberian red-twig dogwoods, both of which suffered without irrigation, or in the case of the tree, outcompeted every other plant near it for water. I replaced them with a wide variety of plants that use various adaptations to survive our climate. Many of the plants chose had smaller, silvery, and/or needle-like leaves, traits that help reduce water loss. Succulents like Sedum, cold-hardy Agave, and yuccas that all survive drought by going summer-dormant or perform photosynthesis at night during the dry season. I’ve also added many native species, where appropriately suited to the microclimates around the space. I made a point to fill in all available space in the garden beds to help shade the soil and each other. All of the turf grass areas around the space have been removed and replaced with pathways and perennial garden beds.

What techniques have you changed to help with climate resilience?
I’ve implemented a design grounded in the 7 Principles of Xeriscape. To reduce plant stress, I avoid pruning or deadheading during the dry season. This allows the plants to grow naturally without the stress of water-dependent regrowth. Every garden bed is fully mulched, I’ve used a variety of mulch throughout the space including wood chips, bark, gravel, and boulders to help keep the soil cool and moist. I also allow for most fallen leaves, needles, pinecones, or any other bits of organic material to stay on the beds, continually creating a fresh layer of mulch.

Are you anticipating future changes you plan to make?
As the dry season has become longer and hotter, and varying levels of drought has become the normal state of the climate in Southern Oregon, many plants have not been able to cope. If the trend continues, I will probably have to replace many of the plants that, at one time, thrived in the dry garden.

Have you received feedback from others regarding the changes you’ve made?
People tend to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the garden and they are usually surprised to see all the plants that can be grown happily in a dry landscape.

Do you have any specific resources you’ve used in making the decisions for the changes you’ve made?
I’ve done a lot of research into the native range of plants, if they come from a similar climate to ours, I will usually choose those plants to trial. When considering native plants, I look to OregonFlora.org for species distribution maps and natural habitat descriptions. Missouri Botanical Garden’s “Plant Finder” is a regularly used resource for most of my horticultural resource, along with OSU’s Landscape Plant Database, as well as the North Carolina Extension Plant Toolbox. The Seven Principles of Xeriscape by the Denver Water Board

What would you tell other gardeners who want to make changes in their gardening to create more climate resilience?
I always try to encourage people to accept plants in their natural state; to choose ones that will look good without irrigation or excessive pruning. If you pick the right mix of plants and let them grow the way they’re meant to, the need for constant maintenance and watering disappears. It makes for a much more rewarding and sustainable garden. Gardeners should focus on matching plants to the site’s light, soil, and water conditions, rather than choosing plants purely for looks. With nearly 300 varieties of drought-tolerant perennials in the Xeriscape Garden, it’s clear you can achieve a beautiful and climate-resilient landscape with the right plant choices.

How are you using your climate resilient garden for teaching or outreach events?
As part of the annual Douglas County Master Gardener training course, new trainees are given a tour of the garden as well as a 2-hour presentation from me on the 7 Principles of Xeriscape and designing a naturalized garden. I also give regular presentations to the public covering the topic of drought resilient landscaping using the Xeriscape Garden as the main example and sometimes as the classroom.

More information about the garden, including plants lists and photos. You can visit the garden, open from dawn to dusk, at 236 River Forks Park Rd in Roseburg.

Get Plant Lists

Explore one of Oregon’s 50+ Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens—realistic, regionally adapted spaces that showcase what thrives in your local conditions. Find a demonstration garden near you.

This story is part of Garden Future, an OSU Extension Master Gardener outreach project dedicated to conversations and action for gardening in a changing climate.

What are you seeing in your garden? What changes are you making? We invite you to join the Garden Future conversation by answering three quick questions. At the end, you’ll have the option to sign up for our Garden Future newsletter and stay connected with stories, resources, and tools to support climate-resilient gardening in your community.

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Growing together: a neighborhood garden story

At the heart of the OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer program is something powerful: the idea that when we grow plants, we grow connections. This guest post, written by Master Gardener volunteer Sarah W. in Portland, is a shining example of that spirit in action.

While taking the Master Gardener training, Sarah began to apply what she was learning and applied it in the most generous way—by organizing her entire neighborhood block to garden together. Inspired by community-supported agriculture and grounded in the knowledge she gained from the program, she helped coordinate a shared vision: plant together, harvest together, and build deeper community ties through the act of growing food.

Sarah’s story is a clear reflection of the ripple effect the program can have—on individuals, families, and neighborhoods. It’s a reminder that when someone gains skills and confidence through the Master Gardener Program, they take those gifts into the world and plant seeds of change far beyond the classroom.

We’re honored to share Sarah’s story with you.

woman wearing plaid shirt and jeans, holding a large head of lettuce, just harvested from the garden she's standing in, along with two small children.

Why master gardening?

It’s a question I tried to answer repeatedly during the spring of 2024, as I attended Zoom class during kid soccer practice, puzzled out the calendar for every farmer’s market in the Portland Metro area, and marveled at the poised, knowledgeable, and involved perennial Master Gardeners I met at every turn. What was I trying to prove, and did I belong?

Indeed, the moment a few weeks ago before I pressed send on a spreadsheet garden planner covering my entire neighborhood, I wondered – is this why? Am I too much, or not enough?

My whole life, I’ve been what people indulgently call “a do-er”. I love a good idea, but more than that, I love plotting a good idea into being. I have also been called persistent – not to say stubborn – by those who love me. And my kids know that when I say, “five minutes until we go”, they can happily play for 15 while I chat up a new group of parents and lose track of time.

This is all to say that when my neighbor pitched the idea of a block-wide project where we crossed community-supported agriculture with a community garden spread across multiple yards, my husband correctly predicted I’d be in deep. He knows me.

The idea was simple. What if we each planted something different, and then brought together the harvest to share? Having just read about an inspired project in Los Angeles, it was an easy sell. The project formed quickly, based on the training fresh in my mind.

If any neighborhood was set up for this challenge, it was my little block, which hosted weekly line dances through COVID lockdowns and painted our street to commemorate the connection during those years. We’re a neighborhood where repeated gestures of kindness have created runners, and underground network that shoots up random acts of support you never thought to ask for.

Yet at its core, this project was about pooling individual effort for the collective – an ideal but challenging in the details. Nonetheless, we set off. At a potluck, we mapped individual plots into a single farm. On the south side of the street, better sun but smaller beds. On the north side, shade, but retirees who had time to build beds or move container tomatoes to track the sun. We calendared workdays, I ordered seeds, and we mixed fertilizer and pressed seeds into four-inch pots together. And yes, I emailed a beautifully color-coded spreadsheet where my eight-year-old and I mapped space, time, crop, and affection into a sharable format. So many things about this project are imperfect. But it’s an answer to the persistent question about why I became a Master Gardener. What kind of community is possible in this fast-paced and fragmented world? This week, it’s pak choi and kale thinnings. It doesn’t matter if we pool our plots for different reasons. When we arrive curious, open-hearted, offering care and whatever we have on hand – the connection follows.

Are you building community and connections through gardening? 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Master Gardener volunteer program in Oregon: we would love to share your stories of community and connection. Please email leann.locher@oregonstate.edu if you’d like to share your story.

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Who are your Master Gardener county award winners?

Who will be the next recipients of each county’s Master Gardener of the Year, Growing and Belonging, and Behind the Scenes awards? We’re ready to take your reporting of awards.

All county-level award submissions should be made in cooperation with your local Master Gardener coordinator. Prior to selecting your counties’ winners, please be sure to review the criteria for county awards.

We’ll celebrate the county award winners at this year’s Joy of Gardening Conference in July, and announce the  statewide award recipients.

How the county-level and statewide awards differ

  • The county-level award winners are selected by active Master Gardener volunteers in each county. Once counties have selected their winners, they report them to the state using the County Master Gardener of the Year award submission form.
  • The statewide award winners are selected through a competitive process at the state level. Each county may nominate one winner or winning team for each of the three awards. A statewide awards committee convened by OMGA and the Extension Master Gardener Program reviews nominations and selects the winners.

Please note that county-level winners are not automatically considered for the statewide awards. If your county wants to nominate a volunteer for a statewide award, you must do so using the statewide award nomination form. Typically, counties submit different candidates for the statewide and county awards.

How to submit your county’s award winners

All submissions must be made using the County Master Gardener of the Year award submission form. Incomplete submissions may be disqualified, so take your time and prepare your submission in advance. Again, be sure to keep the county awards criteria in mind when you’re selecting your winners and describing their contributions.

Deadline: May 15th, 2025

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Nominations for 2025 statewide Master Gardener awards are open.

Who will be the next recipients of the statewide Master Gardener of the Year, Growing and Belonging, and Behind the Scenes awards? Nominations are open and we’re ready to take your submissions.

All nominations should be made in cooperation with your local Master Gardener coordinator, and make sure to review the criteria for each of the awards. Remember, these are the statewide awards, not county awards which are done locally, county by county.

We’ll reveal the statewide winners at this year’s Joy of Gardening conference in July, and celebrate all of the incredible county award recipients.

All submissions must be made using this online form. Incomplete submissions may be disqualified, so take your time and prepare your submission in advance. Again, the criteria for the awards can be found here.

Deadline: May 15th, 2025

Submit statewide award nominations here
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What’s the future of gardening in Oregon?

The future of gardening can be confusing right now. With changing seasonal weather, new techniques, different plants, you might be asking yourself, what should I be doing now? What should I be doing into the future?

Garden Future is about growing resilience in a changing climate.

When it comes to climate change, there are some things we know. But there’s a lot we don’t know, too. We’re collecting information from gardeners across Oregon to find out what they’re seeing, what they’re doing, and what they need help learning about, when it comes to climate change and its impact in gardens.

And for OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers, it’s go time. It’s time to get involved with the project, Garden Future.

Beginning in April, Garden Future will be out in the wild, and this is the official call to Master Gardener volunteers to get involved in the movement.


What is Garden Future?
Climate change is already transforming the way we garden. From shifting growing seasons to unpredictable weather, Oregon gardeners are seeing these changes firsthand. Garden Future is an OSU Extension-led initiative that empowers Master Gardener volunteers to engage the public in conversations and actions for gardening in a changing climate.
This project is built on the power of conversation—research shows that talking about climate change in relatable, solution-focused ways is one of the most effective ways to inspire action. And who better to lead these conversations than gardeners like you?

How You Can Get Involved:
We’ve created a Garden Future Volunteer Guide to give you an overview of the project and materials available to use. Inside, you’ll find:

  • Tabling resources & outreach materials – Posters, prize wheels, and interactive tools to engage the public
  • Conversation starters – Tips on how to frame discussions around climate-smart gardening
  • Training & learning opportunities – So you can feel confident talking about gardening in a changing climate
  • Ways to share stories & insights – Help collect gardener experiences and be part of the conversation

The success of this project relies on Master Gardener volunteers who can help champion it. Once you’ve read the guide, think about fellow MG volunteers who would be interested in working on this project. Reach out to them. Reach out to your MG coordinator and let them know you want to help with Garden Future. Your involvement is what will make this project thrive.

Are you ready to be part of the future of gardening?

  • Start conversations at tabling events and community gatherings
  • Share your story—how has your gardening changed?
  • Help document and uplift other gardeners’ experiences
  • Stay connected through the Garden Future Champions newsletter

Together, we can make a difference—one conversation, one garden, and one story at a time.

If you are an OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer and would like to learn more, become a Garden Future Champion, and to receive your copy of the Garden Future Volunteer Guide, please email mastergardener@oregonstate.edu.

P.S. Garden Future will be at Hortlandia – Stop by! Reach out to Amy Espinoza to find out about volunteering at the Garden Future booth at Hortlandia. Special thanks to our friends at the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon for offering us this opportunity!

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Master Gardener Trivia

Q: What’s a fun way to earn continuing education hours while flexing your horticulture expertise?

A: Our annual Oregon Master Gardener Trivia Series, of course!

We’re turning up the heat once again this fall/winter and inviting OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers to join us for a little friendly competition with each other. One Thursday a month, November through February, at 7 p.m., hop on our Zoom to test your gardening knowledge and vie for cool prizes—not to mention bragging rights for your county!

We’ll have 50 questions related to a different theme each month, and topics range from the super scientific and technical to the practical and historical, so there’s something for everyone. (Plus, it’s multiple choice, so even if you slacked on studying, you still have a 25% chance of getting it right!)

November 7, 7pm: All about Botany. Zoom link here

Botanical terminology, classification, nomenclature, plant parts. To score well, study up on leaf shapes, margins, and arrangement; common plant families; and the parts of flowers.

December 5, 7pm: Gardens and Inventions. Zoom link here

Gardening tools and gadgets, garden inventors and innovators, historic and current garden tech, and famous historic gardens will be featured in this session. We’ll learn about the history behind common garden tools, and amazing botanists and gardens that paved the way for modern horticulture.

January 9, 7pm: It starts with seeds. Zoom link here

All things seed-related, just in time to refresh your memories for the new gardening season! Study up by viewing the seed-related videos from the Growing Oregon Gardeners “Level Up” series and you’ll be ready for this seed drill.

February 6, 7pm: The Gardeners buffet. Zoom link here

A smorgasbord of unrelated garden trivia. Questions may be drawn from the nooks and crannies of the giant Master Gardener handbook, plant clinic experiences and questions, or horticultural pests of concern in Oregon. Challenge yourself and your fellow Master Gardeners—this season closer will be tough (and fun)!

How to participate

  1. Join via zoom on the date of the event.
  2. Connect to the trivia app (Slido) on your phone or computer.
  3. At the start of the tournament evening, you’ll be directed to the Slido app to begin competing.
  4. Multiple choice trivia, 50 questions per session.
  5. Winners will be announced live during the Zoom event.

Each session counts as one Continuing Education Unit for Master Gardener volunteers.

Did we say prizes? Yes we did. For each session, you can win gift certificates to mail-order garden companies in the PNW.

  • 1st place: $100 gift certificate
  • 2nd place: $50 gift certificate
  • 3rd place: $25 gift certificate

Winners will receive gift certificates approximately one week after each event.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by Nov 1, 2024 to Nicole Sanchez: nicole.sanchez@oregonstate.edu or 541-883-7131

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Summer update from the Statewide Master Gardener program 

Master Gardener trainee in purple plaid shirt at table with materials and children at a farmers market.

We hope OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers are enjoying our beautiful Oregon summer and are having excellent experiences in your volunteerism and gardens. Here are some updates about the people and work of the program.  

Did you make it to the annual Master Gardener conference this month in Corvallis? Congratulations to the Joy of Gardening planning committee, the OMGA and the more than 200 attendees for an excellent two days of digging deep into gardening and Master Gardener education, camaraderie and connections.  

We gave a sneak peek on the climate change projects currently in development, and we received excellent feedback from the Master Gardener volunteers who attended the session. Reminder: If you feel passionate about climate change and would like to connect that to your Master Gardener volunteerism, please sign up for our email list for future news and actions to take to be involved. We are seeking Master Gardener climate change advocates!  

Congratulations to all of the winners of 2024 Master Gardener awards! Need some inspiration? Read about their accomplishments and work as volunteers in this digital booklet featuring all statewide and county award winners. You can learn more about the three winners of the Statewide Master Gardener of the Year award in this news release.

Seed to Supper is up and running again in 2024! We reprinted the course book, and thus far this year we have distributed 500 books throughout Oregon—with nearly 20% of those in Spanish. We also completely updated the facilitator support materials, and initial feedback on both the program and the support materials has been enthusiastically positive. 

As of July 2024, facilitators in 15 Oregon counties and four other states have signed up to offer Seed to Supper and to use the updated materials. We debuted a new facilitator interest form to better document the distribution of Seed to Supper in Oregon and beyond. If you’ve offered the course this year and haven’t yet filled out the form, please do so, as we want to be sure to capture your thoughts on the course and materials, as it’s undergoing major revisions for 2025. 

Thank you to the many donors who supported this progress by donating during last year’s Dam Proud Day! 

A special welcome to our newest Master Gardener program all the way in Eastern Oregon, Malheur County! Read about what the new Master Gardener trainees are up to under the leadership of Russell Smith-Ollivierre, and how the program in Malheur was started.

Welcome to new Master Gardener coordinators in Curry, Columbia and Tillamook counties.  

  • Paul Maree (he/him), Curry County, began in April.  
  • Dr. Janhvi Pandey (she/her), Columbia County, begins in August.   
  • Samikshya (Sami) Budhathoki (she/her), Tillamook County, begins this month. 

We are excited for the skills and expertise our new coordinators bring and hope you’ll join us in giving them a warm welcome.  

Goodbye to all of our Extension faculty, staff and volunteers in Josephine County. In June, the Josephine County Commissioners voted to stop county funding for OSU Extension. This is very disappointing and comes after a year of tremendous effort by Extension’s team in Josephine County and many colleagues at OSU to engage with commissioners and the community to address concerns, share progress and answer questions. This outcome does not reflect what we know to be true about our work and the value of Extension programs and services to the county. Read our full statement on this decision and our operational plan for the county. 

In memoriam: Dr. Ivory Lyles. In April, very recently retired Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement and Director of the OSU Extension Service Dr. Ivory Lyles suddenly passed away. We remember him as a visionary leader and as a vibrant and forceful advocate for OSU’s mission and the communities we serve. His career of service transformed thousands of lives he touched through extension and engagement. Dr. Kristopher M. Elliott is serving as interim vice provost and director while the university conducts a national search. 

Many of us are experiencing summer heat waves and impacts from wildfires. We encourage all volunteers to carefully consider your personal safety and local conditions when making decisions about your ability to volunteer during hazardous conditions. If you feel you cannot fill a volunteer shift due to heat, smoke,or other emergencies, it’s okay to decline attending Master Gardener gatherings; just let your coordinator know. OSU’s wildfire smoke/air quality page has resources to help you learn more.  OSU Extension has many resources for managing in heat waves, including people, plants and gardens.  

Please help inform our strategic plan! OSU Extension & Engagement is undertaking a strategic planning process and we invite you to complete this survey by July 31 to share your thoughts, input and priorities to inform our strategic plan.

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Join us for the Joy of Gardening Conference 2024!

Treat yourself this summer to two days of education and inspiration at this year’s Oregon Master Gardener Association Joy of Gardening Conference, July 12-13 on the OSU campus in Corvallis.

Two days packed with over twenty classes, keynote speakers, and horticulture tours led by OSU faculty, you’re sure to come away with new connections and ideas for your future gardening and gardening education. Current schedule includes:


Opening Remarks: The Master Gardener Program 2024 and Beyond with Dr. Leslie Madsen



Keynote Speakers

  • 10 Cool Things We Learned from Garden Research with Sherry Sheng and Dr. Gail Langellotto
  • Oregon IPM Center: Hub of Information to Solve Pest Problems with Dr. Silvia Rondon


Tours

  • Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture with Nick Cavagnaro
  • Horticulture Science at OSU (Lab Tours) with Dr. Gail Langellotto
  • A Historical Tour of the OSU Campus Arboretum with Dan Blanchard


 Classes

  • Soil – What It Is and How It Works with James Cassidy
  • Growing Your Home Lawn Sustainably with Dr. Alec Kowalewski
    Empowering Communities through Inclusive Leadership: Bridging Innovation, Diversity, and Well-being with Dr. Ana Lu Fonseca
  • The New USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: A Look Behind the Scenes at How It Was Developed and What It Can (and Cannot) Tell You with Dr. Christopher Daly
  • The Bees You Must Have: Discoveries of the Oregon Bee Atlas with Dr. Andony Melathopolous
  • Growing Fruits and Berries in the Home Garden with Logan Bennett
  • New MG Training Module on Climate Change (Interactive) with Dr. Brooke Edmunds and Signe Danler
  • Hydrangea Highlights with Darren Morgan
  • Garden Trivia Live! with Nicole Sanchez
  • Top Picks for Low Water Use Gardens from the NW Plant Evaluation Trials with Heather Stoven
  • Outreach as a Master Gardener Volunteer: Activating Our Circles of Influence with LeAnn Locher
  • Garden Allies: An Introduction to Life in the Garden with Frederique Lavoipierre
  • Garden/Yard Tool Renovation: Maintenance, Sharpening, and Storage with Fred Alley
  • Resilient Gardens with Darren Morgan
  • Learn from Several Chapters Regarding Best Practices for Successful Plant Sales with Benton, Central Gorge, Yamhill, Douglas, and Tillamook Chapters
  • Best Practices for Growing Peppers and Tomatoes from Seed with Bruce Gravens
  • Junior Master Gardener Program with Jim Liskey and Kelly Noack
  • Heroines in the History of Botany with Lucretia Weems
  • Rainwater Harvesting for Landscape Use with Ann Geyer
  • Let’s Give Them Something to Buzz About with Dan Blanchard
  • Growing Onions, Leeks, and Shallots from Seed with Bruce Gravens
  • Safe and Sustainable Management of Pests in Gardens and Landscapes through IPM with Thomas Jima
  • Secrets for Growing Lilies Anywhere with Kenn Parry

Get the full schedule, learn about lodging, cost and other details, at the conference website.

Early bird registration ends June 15th!