Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
September greetings!
It’s harvest time in the garden and time for OSU MGs to “harvest”, compile and submit their volunteer hours! As Volunteer log sheets start rolling in, the Metro MG Team would like to express a hearty thanks for the generous, wide-ranging efforts to Metro-area MGs. Thank YOU for sharing your passion and knowledge, while guiding and educating home gardeners! You are making a difference and sowing so many seeds! Thank you!
MG News in a Brand New Format!
Welcome to the inaugural issue of our new Metro Master Gardeners newsletter. This new format offers:
- Easy streamlined view
- Print option for those who prefer a printed newsletter
- Ability to save in PDF form for those who prefer to save issues on their computer
- Capacity to track and report on newsletter use by our volunteers
With this “blog” format styled, past issues are easily accessed. We have assembled the blog with these main sections:
- MG Program Monthly Newsletter
- Natter’s Notes with MG Jean R. Natter
- Horticulture Updates from MG Margaret Bayne
- Study Group Diagnostics and Show-and-Tell from MG Elizabeth Price
- Clackamas Chapter News
- Multnomah Chapter News
- Washington Chapter News
As before, you will receive email notification when the latest newsletter is posted. The email will contain a snippet of news features and easy “Read more” button links to the newsletter sections.
How to Print, email or save a PDF of your MG News
For those of you who prefer to save the newsletters in a PDF on your computer or to print the newsletter, the steps to do both are easy. You can even easily share the newsletter via email.
Once you click on the newsletter issue of your choice. Find and click the green “Print Friendly” button above the newsletter. A pop-up will then appear with the issue of the newsletter you selected. On the top left of the pop-up box you will see buttons for a “Print”, “PDF”, or “Email”. Click on your desired option. It is that easy!
Big Shout Out of Thanks!
As we move to this new format, we want to extend a big shout-out of thanks to OSU Extension staff member, Jean Bremer, who has skillfully assembled and polished our Metro MG Newsletter over the past several years. We are truly grateful to Jean for her time, energy, skills, patience and kindness. Thank you Jean!
Harvest of Volunteer Hours Begins!
‘Tis the season to gather your volunteer hours and submit your volunteer log sheet, prior to the October 1st deadline.
Metro-area Master Gardeners, you are stellar in your contributions education and supporting the gardening public, and we want to share that fantastic fact!
The October 1st deadline allows the metro MG program office enough time to compile and share the great news of your tremendous contributions with the state Master Gardener program and OSU Extension Service.
Help us get those statistics to the state level by recording and submitting your hours this month! We will share the grand totals at our Fall Recertification.
How to Report Your Volunteer Hours?
You can report volunteer hours on one of two volunteer hour log sheets provided in the Volunteer Portal, choose from a PDF or Excel spreadsheet. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/forms
Please email or snail mail your completed log sheet to marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu or MG Hours, 200 Warner-Milne Road, Oregon City, OR 97045
Note: Please do not submit your hours via the OSU MG online volunteer submission option, CERVIS or CANVAS. We only process hours sent on the provided OSU Metro Master Gardener log sheets.
A special thank you to those who have already submitted your hours! Great going early birds!
For those of you who are still seeking Recertification/continuing education or volunteer opportunities look for some great opportunities below
MG Nuts and Bolts
Need a refresher on how to maintain your Master Gardener certification? All the nuts and bolts can be found here! Whether you are a 2017 trainee or a Veteran MG, to continue to serve as a “current” OSU Master Gardener you must submit an annual, signed Conditions of Volunteer Service form. A 2018 certification sticker will be given to all MGs who meet the criteria and submit their signed forms.
New Advanced Training Webinar Series for Master Gardeners
Check out the new webinar series which was specifically developed for OSU Extension Master Gardeners seeking recertification. This year, the series provides advanced training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Each session is approved for one hour of continuing education/recertification credit.
- September 5, 1PM: Never doubt how a small, thoughtful and committed pollinator habitat (in your garden) can change the world. Presented by: Andony Melathopoulos, OSU Department of Horticulture
- September 19, 1PM: Japanese Beetles in Oregon. Presented by Rachel Suits and Heather Stoven, OSU Extension
- October 3, 1PM: Status of Boxwood Blight in Oregon. Presented by Cassie Bouska, OSU Extension and Jay Pscheidt, OSU Department of Botany & Plant Pathology
You must pre-register to participate in the webinar. For details and a registration link go to: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ediblegardens/2017/07/05/2017-osu-extension-master-gardener-advanced-training-webinars/
Do not despair! If you missed the first two webinars, they are now available for online viewing! See individual links below:
- ‘Managing the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug with Biological Control’ presented by Dr. David Lowenstein: https://learn.extension.org/events/3140
- ‘Organic Pesticides in Home Gardens’ presented by Kaci Buhl: https://learn.extension.org/events/3141
Fun fall volunteer opportunities, sign-up on CERVIS!
- Fall Home and Garden Show – one of the most popular garden shows and MG volunteer opportunities! October 12 – 15th, various shifts.
- Portland Nursery Apple Tasting – festive fun celebrating the apple! October 14, 15, 21, 22, various shifts.
- Farmers Markets – opportunities to volunteer at a Farmers Market remain for Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsdale, Lake Oswego, Lents, Oregon City, Sherwood and Tigard. Grab an open slot on CERVIS
Guide home gardeners through the fall and winter season! As the days shorten and the temperatures cool, a new host of gardening conundrums perplex the home gardener. You can assist and expand your own knowledge, collaborating with other MGs as you research and advise gardeners. Sign-up on CERVIS or contact a phone coordinator.
- Clackamas County Phones, Jean Bremer, 503-655-8631 bremer@oregonstate.edu
- Multnomah County Phones, Susan Marcus, 503-703-4937 susanmultphones@gmail.com
- Washington County Phones, David Butt, 503-645-5769 dandubutt@gmail.com
GREAT FALL RECERTIFICATION LINE UP! Saturday, October 28th
Our annual Master Gardener Fall Recertification Training is scheduled for Saturday, October 28th, 8:00am to 3:30pm, at Clackamas Community College. This annual event is a daylong continuing education opportunity. Earn 6 hours of continuing education/recertification credit by attending.
We have a great line-up. This year’s presenters all bring their wealth of experience from their work with OSU Extension Service.
- Water to Sustain our Oregon Lifestyle with Sam Chan
- Plant Diagnostics for MGs with Brooke Edwards
- A Vital Partnership: OSU MG Program and OMGA Chapters with Joy Jones
- Vegetable IPM with Weston Miller
The Fall Recertification day also gives us the opportunity to congratulate the new class of trainees as they step up to Veteran status after completing their volunteer requirements. We will present trainees who have successfully completed MG training with their OSU Extension Service Master Gardener badges and a big cheer for successfully completing the program and joining the ranks!
Seeking Master Gardener Speakers
Are you interested in making presentation on gardening to community groups? The Metro MG program receives dozens of requests every year for garden presentations. We have a small but mighty group of MGs who answer the call and present throughout the 3 counties – but requests greatly exceed what these dedicated MGs can handle. Thus, we are looking for even more MGs to share their research-based gardening know-how. We will supply support materials and those interested can shadow experienced presenters. Have fun making a few presentations a year!
Presentations are needed on a variety of subjects:
- Beginning gardening
- Vegetable gardening
- Fruit trees
- Pruning
- Composting
- Container Gardening
- IPM for the Home Gardener
- Small Fruits
- Perennials
- Planting
- Soil
- Beneficial insects
- Pollinator gardens
- Tomatoes
- Small space gardening
- Native plants
- Seed starting
- Propagation
- What’s your garden passion that you are willing to share?
Would you like to be part of this vital community outreach? If so, contact Marcia McIntyre, marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu
