“This is exactly the time we need to step up our game, listen, learn, and grow our work to be more equitable and inclusive of our many communities, particularly our communities of color. We look forward to growing together, and to working towards racial justice and equity in the Master Gardener Program.”
Gail Langellotto and LeAnn Locher
The Master Gardener Program and Racial Justice
Earlier this month we shared a message from Statewide Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Gail Langellotto, and Master Gardener Outreach Coordinator, LeAnn Locher regarding the OSU Master Gardener Program’s commitment to racial justice and equity. We would like to share, once more, Gail and LeAnn’s imperative call for racial justice in the OSU Master Gardener Program. https://beav.es/4Hk
Last week Gail followed-up with a post, explaining the overwhelming support she received from dozens of Master Gardeners in support of racial and social justice. In addition, Gail also listed the reading recommendations responders shared to begin and expand understanding of racial justice. You can find Gail’s post here https://beav.es/4rv
The metro area Master Gardener Program also received messages of strong support for the Program’s call for action. Metro area Master Gardeners also shared resource recommendations, many of which were included in Gail’s post.
Here are the additional resource recommendations from metro area Master Gardeners…
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz
- A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
- Farming While Black, by Leah Penniman, “who speaks on the history of Black farmers in the US and who started her own BIPOC farming program in New York for her community.”
- Trevor Noah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Is0AQtUZ4&feature=youtu.be
The metro area Master Gardener Program echoes the commitment to racial justice and equity for the MG program, expressed by Gail and LeAnn. We recognize that there is a lot of work to be done, and a lot to learn. Together we need to identify barriers in our program, take action to remove those barriers, and remain focused on creating an inclusive, welcoming community for all gardeners.
Webinar Series Continues
With the goal of keeping our Master Gardener community connected and engaged, the metro Master Gardener program has moved online. Every Friday at 1pm we are presenting a horticulture-focused webinar for Master Gardeners and the gardening public.
Upcoming webinars…
- 1PM, Friday, June 19th, “Pollination and Pollinators: Sex and the Single Flower”, with Bob Falconer, OSU Master Gardener Register at this link https://beav.es/4rc
- 1PM, Friday, June 26th, “New High Priority Noxious Weeds—How to ID” with Michele Delepine, West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
- Friday, July 3, no scheduled webinar
- Friday, July 10, “Therapeutic Horticulture, Gardening for Healthy Living”, with Scott Hoffman, Therapeutic Garden Program Coordinator, Whole Health, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System
Metro Master Gardener online webinars count as continuing garden education credit.
To register for upcoming webinars, watch for a weekly email sent from Marcia McIntyre, that has a link to the Zoom registration page. Links to register for the webinars will also be posted on our Facebook and Twitter accounts and the metro area Master Gardener educational events calendar.
Webinar Recordings
Do you have a schedule conflict with an upcoming webinar? Don’t despair. We are posting recordings of our webinars a few days following the presentation.
Check out past webinars here:
https://media.oregonstate.edu/channel/channelid/161357322
Master Gardener In-person Volunteer Activity Suspension
In the midst of the pandemic, and with OSU Extension Service’s commitment to keeping communities safe, suspension remains in effect for any in-person volunteer activities for OSU Master Gardeners. This includes all Master Gardener clinics (phone, Farmers Markets, and special events), classes, workshops, demonstration gardens, parks, partner organizations, Speakers Guild presentations, fundraisers, and in-person meetings/lectures/speakers.
As the State of Oregon lifts restrictions, around the state, OSU Extension is in the process of approving some restricted, limited, volunteer activities. Approved activities will have requirements regarding safety protocol, which must be met. As the University provides information and guidance regarding a resumption plan, we will provide updates.
Volunteering with Partner Organizations
Although some Partner organizations in the metro area may be resuming volunteer activities, at this point, in the metro area, Master Gardeners are not approved to participate and volunteer at any partner venues.
We are deeply appreciative of those partner organizations who are clearly communicating the restrictions of the OSU Master Gardener Program. We are keeping those organizations apprised of any changes to the University’s in-person volunteer policy and look forward to the day we can resume these valued partnerships. We will alert all volunteers as restrictions are lifted.
With the cancellation of volunteer activities, and knowing the many challenges people are facing, we are waiving volunteer requirements for 2020. We ask metro area Master Gardeners to report any volunteer hours served this year and their continuing education hours, by September 30, 2020.
We encourage Master Gardeners to take advantage of the many online continuing education opportunities. Updates will be sent via email and/or posted in this monthly newsletter.
Master Gardener Hangout
Are you looking to connect with other Master Gardeners in an informal, online setting? Join our Friday, Master Gardener Hangouts. This is a forum to talk all things gardening.
Past Master Gardener Hangouts have been fun, with mini tours of gardens, as participants took their laptops and phones out into their gardens – shared favorite vegetable varieties – asked each other questions – just enjoyed a chance to connect with fellow gardeners!
You can connect via phone or internet. Look for an email from Marcia McIntyre, which will be sent on Friday afternoons as that week’s webinar is ending, with a link to join the ‘Master Gardener Hangout’.
Online Educational Opportunities
A wide-variety of educational webinars are available to view from other Master Gardener and Extension programs across the state. Check them out.
Master Gardener Advanced Training webinars continue on July 16th, 10am with Solve Pest Problems: A New Resource for Master Gardeners and the Public. Join Weston Miller, and learn about the exciting developments for the Solve Pest Problems website.
Pre-register here: https://learn.extension.org/events/3762
Gardening Will Save the World webinar series, sponsored by the Hood River Co. Master Gardeners. To register, see link below.
· June 17, Insect Apocalypse: Real of Hype?, presented by Dr. Gail Langellotto, OSU Master Gardener State Coordinator
· July 1, Pollinators, presented by Dr. Andony Melathopolous, OSU Professor, Pollinator Health Extension
· July 15, Pesticide Safety, presented by Brooke Edmunds, Community Horticulture, Master Gardeners Linn and Benton Counties
For ‘Gardening Will Save the World Webinar Series’ details go to: https://beav.es/4rt
Tree School Online
OSU Extension Clackamas Co. Tree School continues to offer weekly online webinars through July 28. Look for classes designated for Master Gardener continuing education credit. For more information go to https://beav.es/4Hn
Recently Reported Contaminated Soil and Compost
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) recently reported that it discovered soil and compost contaminated with the herbicide clopyralid. The contamination was found in products purchased at two landscape distribution companies, Dean Innovations and McFarlane’s. Details regarding the contamination, plus the ODA’s recommendation on the steps gardeners can take if they purchased the contaminated product can be found here… https://bit.ly/2MZkF6m
More information for gardeners…
Clopyralid in Compost: Questions and Answers for Gardeners and Farmers in Western Washington
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/411/2014/12/Paper_Clopyralid_QandA_v10.pdf
Gardeners seeking further information about pesticide risk for their situation can contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378 Monday –Friday from 8:00am –12:00pm, or email at npic@ace.orst.edu
Any updates on the investigation will be posted here. https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/Pesticides/Pages/PesticidesCurrentIssues.aspx
Our June Garden Checklist
You still have time to plant your warm season vegetables, and once drier weather arrives remember to water your fruit trees. Check out the details in our June Garden Checklist.
