In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explode and every sunset is different.
– John Steinbeck
As the month of June ushers in summer, opportunities for Master Gardeners to guide and educate are flourishing.
Master Gardener Office Hotlines Hopping
The gardening public is calling, emailing and rolling into the metro-area Master Gardener offices with an intriguing assortment of questions. “What are these white eggs on the underside leaves of my chard plant?”, “How deep do I plant a sweet pepper seedling?”, “I have rust spotting on my pear leaves, should I be worried?”, “Can you recommend a fast-growing plant to serve as a hedge?”
All inquiries bring the opportunities to practice your diagnostic skills, expand your garden knowledge and that of the visiting public. Join the fun researching and collaborating with your fellow MGs while educating others. You will be surprised by the wealth of information you will learn! Sign-up on CERVIS.
MGs at Farmer’s Markets
Join-in amidst the seasonal bustle and bounty at a local-area Farmer’s Market by serving and educating the community at a Master Gardener market clinic table. These are fun events. In addition to answering gardening questions, you can pick-up some fresh-from-the-field produce, dine on sublime food from market vendors, or go home with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.
Schedule one or two shifts via CERVIS for a great summer volunteer experience. Don’t despair if market schedules appear full. Check back often as schedules change and openings arise throughout the summer. Let a clinic coordinator know you if you are willing to serve as a substitute for last minute cancellations at your favorite market.
Summer Farmer’s Markets
Beaverton – Gresham – Hillsdale – King – Lake Oswego – Lents – Milwaukie
Oregon City – Sherwood – Tigard
Doing Good and Hands-on Learning in Demo Gardens
Marvelous things are happening at our metro-area Chapter sponsored Demonstration Gardens. Best garden practices are on display, citizen science is taking place, and fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables are being grown and donated to area food banks. Dig-in! Contact a coordinator for volunteer hours and make a significant difference teaching.
Clackamas County has the following hands-on volunteer opportunities:
- End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center – Check in to see how you can join the fun tending the garden and (for those interested) hosting school tours.
Sharon Andrews 503-577-7493 sharonandrews402@gmail.com - Hopkins Demonstration Forest – Tend native plantscapes – in a beautiful forest setting!
Frank Wille 503-342-6699, franklyna@comcast.net
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Grow An Extra Row Volunteers ‘Grow-An-Extra-Row and Learning Garden’ Project at Clackamas Community College – Make a difference growing food for those experiencing food insecurity.
Nancy Muir ccmgextrarow@gmail.com 503-789-6970
Multnomah County Master Gardeners Community Demonstration Garden in Southeast Portland. There is lots to do and lots to learn in the established edible garden and in the newly expanded annex garden that will include edibles, herbs, and ornamentals!
Heidi Nichols at heidinichols@comcast.net or
Nancy Fine at soul_77777@yahoo.com or mcmgdemogarden@gmail.com
Washington County Master Gardeners have two wonderful demonstration garden locations and they are breaking ground at their new PCC Rock Creek Education Garden on June 6th! See details for the special PCC Rock Creek Garden Ground Breaking Ceremony on our Partner Events page.
- Washington County Fairplex Join in the fun tending this great garden!
Bill Klug billklug@frontier.com 503-681-0143 - Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate – Lend a hand in this beautiful landscape.
Sandy Japely at sjapely@gmail.com 503-531-8482. - PCC Rock Creek – be part of the exciting beginnings of a fabulous community garden partnership!
Sue Ryburn at sueryburn@comcast.net
Beautiful, historic gardens. Consider spending time this summer in a beautiful, garden – dispensing reliable gardening information at the Pittock Mansion or guiding the public on a tour through the beautiful Washington Park International Rose Test Garden. Sign-up for a shift via CERVIS or contact the clinic coordinator.
Don’t Miss Out! Special Volunteer Events. Special volunteer events arise throughout the season so check postings on CERVIS often and MG program emails. Then you won’t miss out on great volunteer opportunities like MG clinic tables at the Clackamas and Washington County Fairs, Cracked Pots Reuse Art Show at McMenamins Edgefield, or assisting at Metro’s Blue Lake Discovery Garden! Yep, we aren’t fooling. Now is a good time to go check CERVIS!
Master Gardener Advisory Meeting July 25th: You’re Invited!
10:00am – 12:00pm at the Food Innovation Center (1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 154, Portland). A light lunch provided following the meeting! Parking is free. RSVP required.
Please join the conversation at a metro-wide Master Gardener advisory meeting to provide feedback and suggestions for the OSU Master Gardener program staff. We value and appreciate your input as we look to the future.
RSVP to marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu no later than Monday, July 16th to confirm your participation. Space is limited.
Goal: Gain insight and inspiration from MGs about the Master Gardener program and our public outreach service.
Save the Date! Saturday, November 10th FALL RECERTIFICATION!
Our annual Master Gardener Fall Recertification Training is scheduled for Saturday, November 10th, 8:00am to 3:30pm, at Portland Community College – Rock Creek Campus. This annual event is a daylong continuing education opportunity. Earn 6 hours of continuing education/recertification credit by attending.
A great line-up of speakers is forming. We are thrilled to announce that OSU’s Andony Melathopoulos and Heather Stoven will be part of our line-up of guest presenters. Andony is leading “OSU Extension’s efforts to design, develop, implement and evaluate a state-wide pollinator health program” and Heather is OSU Extension’s Community and Small Farms Horticulturist for Yamhill County. Look for more updates in our July/August newsletter.
Our Fall Recertification also gives us the opportunity to congratulate the new class of Master Gardener interns as they step-up to Veteran status after completing their volunteer requirements. We will present 2018 Interns with their OSU Extension Service Master Gardener badges and a big-shout out for successfully completing the program. 2018 Interns are welcome to attend the full day of training – which will count toward your continuing education/recertification hours for 2019.
Advanced Training Webinars Continue
This summer brings 3 more informative online Advanced Training Webinars from Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State Extension and the OSU Master Gardener Program.
These webinars each count for 1 hour continuing garden education/recertification credit. A wonderful way to expand your gardening knowledge in the comfort of your own home or sitting in a lovely garden watching on the electronic device of your choice.
Can’t make the webinar date? No worries! A recording of each webinar is posted a few days after the live webinar. See the link below.
Upcoming Live Webinars
6/28 at 11am PST Practical Food Safety in the Garden presented by Sara Runkel
7/26 at 11am PST Meet the New Neighbors: Emerging Pest Issues in Oregon presented by Robin Rosetta
8/30 at 11am PST The Latest Research on Bees in the Garden: Results from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab presented by Dr. Gail Langellotto
For more information or to watch recordings of past webinars:
http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ediblegardens/2018/04/24/2018-webinars-master-gardeners-updated/
