And don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.
-Rumi
A New Year and a Year in Review
As this year starts off, we take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable contributions of each OSU metro area Master Gardener volunteer. In 2024, you served nearly 30,000 volunteer hours, answered over 28,000 gardening questions, and reached 59,198 Oregonians in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties!
Master Gardeners could be found throughout the community talking all things plants and sustainable gardening while tabling at farmers markets, community events, teaching classes and making presentations to a variety of community groups. Your dedication and passion shone brightly as you supported the community with solid gardening guidance and inspiration!
Kudos to each of you for your generous service!
Shout out of thanks!
Utmost thanks to the Perennial Master Gardeners who in 2024 developed and delivered twenty hands-on workshops, covering a wide array of gardening topics, across the metro area! These valuable learning opportunities allowed the Interns to reinforce and support their learning.
Welcome Kim!
We are excited to welcome Kim Butchereit, as the newest member of our OSU metro area Master Gardener team. Kim is serving as an Education Program Assistant based in Multnomah County. Kim comes to the Master Gardener Program with a professional background in the financial industry and a rich history of serving her community as a volunteer.
Kim is passionate about gardening, especially roses. Along with being an avid gardener, Kim enjoys being in nature, on both the beautiful Oregon coast and in the evergreen covered mountains, hiking in forests, traveling, and cooking.
Kim brings great enthusiasm and commitment to our metro area Master Gardener Program. Please join us in warmly welcoming Kim!
Associations Welcome Master Gardener Leadership
Last summer, metro area Master Gardener Associations welcomed statewide and local leadership to tour their gardens, meet members, and learn about their community outreach projects. Leslie Madsen, the new statewide OSU Master Gardener Program leader, and Srijana Shrestha, our metro area leader, along with the metro area program team, enjoyed meeting numerous Master Gardeners and learning about the various outreach projects associations are delivering to the community.
Congrats 2024 Master Gardeners!
We extend our hearty congratulations and warm welcome to our 2024 Master Gardeners! Over 9 months, our 2024 Interns dug into horticulture curriculum, successfully completed quizzes and a final exam, attended hands-on workshops to solidify their learning and enthusiastically joined in community service throughout the metro area. We are delighted to have the 2024 Master Gardener cohort joining our garden educator community!
You can see two familiar faces in the 2024 Master Gardener cohort. Metro area Master Gardener team members Amy Espinoza and Kim Butchereit, both successfully fulfilled the training requirements to join the ranks as Perennial Master Gardeners!
Congrats to one and all!
Metro-area Master Gardeners Recognized for Their Service
“Ask Extension” Volunteer of the Year
In December, at OSU Extension Service’s annual employee conference, metro area Master Gardener, Kris LaMar was honored with the“Ask Extension” (online Extension Q&A forum) Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of her service answering “Ask Extension” gardening questions.
Kris’s passion for research and education truly benefits the hundreds of gardeners whose questions are answered annually by Kris via “Ask Extension”. Yes, you read it right, “hundreds”! Kris answered a remarkable 655 questions in 2024 which brings her lifetime total to 20,435 questions answered!
Congratulations Kris and thank you for your dedication and generous service educating Oregon gardeners!
Oregon Master Gardener Association Awards
Each year, the three-metro area Master Gardener Associations nominate and designate members for special recognition through the Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA). Enthusiastic congratulations to each 2024 awardee for their invaluable service and contributions.
Larina Hoffbeck – Statewide Master Gardener of the Year
Larina Hoffbeck’s dedication to a Master Gardener program that is more accessible and inclusive for both volunteers and the public is just one aspect of her remarkable service that has brought her recognition as a co-recipient of the 2024 OSU Master Gardener of the Year award. She strives to reach groups that don’t typically interact with Master Gardeners, as seen in her work with the bilingual program, “Grow1Give1” event, outreach with HomePlate Youth Services, and as a founding member and chair of the Washington County Master Gardener Association’s “Growing and Belonging” committee. Larina has helped craft accessibility and inclusivity assessments for the WCMGA, and has extended her service as a participant in the statewide “Growing and Belonging” committee. In addition, Larina created youth education kits, such as “Invertebrates/Vertebrates” and “Calling All Pollinators!” which are used by Master Gardeners throughout the metro area.
County Association Awards
The following are the 2024 Award winners from each of the three metro area Master Gardener Associations.
Clackamas County Master Gardener Association
Master Gardener of the Year: Laura Oldenkamp
Laura Oldenkamp’s multifaceted volunteer efforts are spread over many CCMGA projects and activities. Laura has supported the CCMGA as an Executive Board member, served as a dedicated volunteer at the Oregon Trail Pioneer Garden and the Hopkins Demonstration Garden, along with supporting the association’s Spring Garden Fair. Laura also generously offers educational support and expertise on how to successfully grow dahlias to Master Gardeners and the public.
Behind the Scenes: Leah Puhlman
With a passion for native plants, pollinators, Leah has focused the core of her volunteer service on educating gardeners. Leah has volunteered on the Master Gardener Helpline, at the Oregon Zoo Education Center, and has taught metro area MG training workshops. In addition she has made gardening presentations through the MG Speakers Guild. She has been instrumental helping to extend the educational outreach of the CCMGA’s 10-Minute University by developing and teaching four 10-Minute University webinars and managing the 10-Minute University’s social media presence.
Multnomah County Master Gardener Association
Master Gardener of the Year: Rich Becker
For the second time, Rich is being recognized for his generous service as the MCMGA Master Gardener of the Year. Rich has led the MCMGA’s successful fundraiser, the Incredible Edibles Plant Sale for several years. He enjoys sharing his knowledge at Farmers Markets and with visitors and fellow MGs at the MCMGA Demonstration Garden. Rich has played an integral part of the leadership at the Demo Garden, including serving as project manager building the garden’s beautiful pergola. His incredible generosity has extended to seeding an endowment with the OSU Foundation to provide funding for the MCMGA Chapter.
Master Gardener of the Year: Lorna Schilling
Lorna has been serving as a Master Gardener since 2000. For many years she served as editor of the Grapevine newsletter that kept the fellow Master Gardeners and the public up to date on Master Gardener activities, education and outreach opportunities. During the challenges of the pandemic Lorna answered the call to lead the MCMGA for two years as chapter President, focusing on keeping members and the public connected to gardening education.
Behind the Scenes: Carole Hardy, Heidi Nichols, and Beven Peters
Carole Hardy’s passion for educating others on sustainable and restorative gardening drives her service to the community, volunteering at community events and at the MCMGA Demonstration Garden. For three years Carole has led the design, planting and maintenance of multiple beds in the Demo Garden sharing her knowledge of forest ecology and native plants. She is the program coordinator and one of the key content creators for the 2023-24 “Learn at the DG” webinars and in-the-garden learning sessions. Since June of 2022 Carole has been the MCMGA eNews writer and Editor. In addition, she has served as the OMGA Alternative Representative for the Chapter.
An OSU Master Gardener for over 23 years, Heidi Nichols has worn many hats supporting the OSU MG Program and the MCMGA, including phone clinic coordinator, MCMGA President, Membership Chair, Cashier Lead for the chapter’s fundraising plant sale and since 2008 Co-chair of the Demonstration Garden. Heidi spends hundreds of hours “behind the scenes” and on the ground for the Demo Garden managing task lists, garden schedules (including harvests) and record keeping, along with attending to the varied needs that sprout up in the garden weekly.
Beven Peters has been recognized twice as the MCMGA Master Gardener of the Year, highlighting her leadership with the Chapter’s fund-raising efforts, including the Incredible Edibles Plant Sale and as merchandise chair. She was also recognized for her dedication serving, for several years, as a coordinator for Master Gardener training. Most recently, she has focused her efforts “behind the scenes” where she fine-tuned and executed the plant sale order, site layout, and a signage system, all vital elements of many successful and prosperous events!
Washington County Master Gardener Association
Behind the Scenes: Terry Wagner
Terry Wagner has focused on honoring and celebrating the service of WCMGA members, including overseeing awards and recognition. In response to the pandemic, with the goal for WCMGA members to meet and engage with each other, Terry organized two social events, which are now yearly celebratory WCMGA gatherings. Terry has volunteered for a variety of public outreach events. She has developed and delivered worm bin composting classes and supported classes which were part of the “In the Garden Series”. In addition, she contributed to the redesign of the WCMGA website and helped establish a Little Free Library at the Jenkins Learning Garden.
