Skip to main content
All Posts By

Barbara Low

Jul 27

The Garden Book Nook

By Beet 2024 08 August

In recent months we have had some members – Lisa Brill, Sean Cawley, Colet Allen and others – write articles about books that pertain to gardening in some way. It’s always interesting to find out about what books people would recommend.

This month I would like to start a running column titled “The Garden Book Nook”.  I encourage you to think about what book(s) you would recommend to a fellow gardener.  Write a couple of paragraphs about why you like the book and why you recommend it.  Email the article to barbaralow@msn.com and I’ll include it in an upcoming Garden Beet “The Garden Book Nook”.

To get the Nook growing, I will share a few gardening books I’ve enjoyed.  For the past couple of years, I have been very interested in companion planting and all that it entails.

 

Companion Planting: Organic Gardening Tips and Tricks for Healthier, Happier Plants written by Allison Greer with photographs by Tim Greer. Copyright 2014.

I love the beautiful photographs as well as the way the book is organized into chapters that make it easy to find information. Chapters include Principles of Companion Planting; Laying the Groundwork; Flowers; Herbs; and Insects in the Garden to name a few.

Great book!

 

 

Good Bug Bad Bug. Who’s Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically written by Jessica Walliser. 2011.

This is an easy-to-use book with wonderful photographs to help you identify insects. It includes How to Spot the Damage Caused by Bugs; Preventive Actions; and Biological/Organic Controls. This book contains both pests (bad bugs) and beneficial bugs (good bugs). I found the book to be a good resource for me in my garden.

 

What book would you recommend?

Jul 27

JCMGA Annual Picnic 2024: A Great Time Was Had By All

By Beet 2024 08 August

Every year, Jackson County Master Gardener Association has an annual picnic for its members and their families. At this event, we celebrate our many accomplishments of the year and honor the members who have gone above and beyond in supporting and/or furthering our organization. It has usually been held in August, but this year our Member Services Working Group wisely decided to hold it in June so as to avoid the high heat and smoke from potential forest fires.

Our Annual Picnic was organized by our dedicated Member Services Working Group – Ann Ackles, Colet Allen, Lucy Pylkki, Teresa Jarratt, and Barbara Low. We had special help from Sandy Hammond, Marcie Katz and Vic Low.  Many thanks to this team. We had fun planning the event and everyone seemed to enjoy the picnic celebration. I also want to thank Sherms/Food For Less for giving us a great discount on our food items.

Robert Coffan was our guest speaker. He is associated with the Monarch Advocacy Center and gave a wonderful presentation on the monarch butterfly. Robert brought two 5-day-old and one 2-week-old caterpillars. It was great to see the actual Monarch caterpillars! It was an informative and fun presentation.

As part of this event, we had a contest to see which class year of Master Gardeners had the most attendees. Classes 2024 and 2023 won! They received fruit popsicles and French Marigold plants.

We raised $150 from selling tickets for our 50/50 Raffle. The winner of the raffle was Kathy Apple!  She donated her winnings back to JCMGA.

At the picnic, we presented several JCMGA and OMGA awards and recognitions. Please see a separate article in this Garden Beet edition with the details of these awards and recognitions.

We also presented some fun member awards:

  • Marcie Katz – Spring Garden Fair Leader Extraordinaire
  • Lucy Pylkki – Spring Garden Fair Leader Extraordinaire
  • Brian Smith – Parking Lot Leader Extraordinaire
  • Joe Alvord – Parking Lot Leader Extraordinaire
  • Blake Elliot – Best Stand-up Comedian
  • Jane Moyer – Practicum Mama
  • Virginia Brown – Practicum Pinch Hitter
  • John Koval – Go To Guy
  • Nicole Smith – Go To Gal
  • Bruce Millbank – Pun Master
  • Marie Carabone – Friend of the Garden
  • Grace Florjancic – Leader of The Pack

Finally, we did a special tribute to Marcie Katz and Lucy Pylkki for all their hard work in planning and organizing our 2024 Spring Garden Fair.  The Member Services Working Group sang a special rendition of “Singing In The Rain” with parasols and some dancing.  It was great fun!

Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us!

 

Jul 27

August in the Garden

By Beet 2024 08 August

With the current heat wave, I hope that you are able to stay cool. In August, there is quite a bit to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow.  Our gardens still need to be cared for so that they will do well, and we will have a plentiful harvest. By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a great resource for gardeners to use. It is the Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month.  This great reference book for gardeners is mainly about growing vegetables, berries, and melons.

August is the time to:

  • Harvest
  • Save some heads of garlic for replanting later on.
  • Edamame soybeans should be ripening.
  • Sow for transplanting
    • Broccoli (fall variety)
    • Cabbage (over-wintering varieties)
    • Chinese Cabbage
    • Pak Choi
  • Direct Seed
o   Arugula o   Beets
o   Chervil o   Collards
o   Corn, salad o   Cress, garden
o   Cress, upland o   Endive and Escarole
o   Kale o   Kohlrabi
o   Lettuce, leaf o   Mustard greens
o   Onions o   Oriental greens
o   Peas o   Radicchio
o   Radish o   Rutabaga
o   Spinach o   Swiss Chard
o   Turnips o   Turnip greens

 

  • Transplant
o   Broccoli, fall variety o   Brussels sprouts
o   Cabbage – fall or winter varieties o   Cauliflower – late variety
o   Chinese Cabbage o   Pak Choi

 

  • Fertilize and Prune
    • Vegetables while in heavy production
    • Pole beans after they finish their first flush production

 

  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Spider mites

 

 

Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month. This book contains a wealth of gardening information. You can purchase it at our local Grange Co-op or at the OSU Extension office for $21.00. It can also be purchased on-line at https://jacksoncountymga.org/shop/.  Note that a shipping fee will be applied.

 

 

Happy Gardening and Stay Cool

Garden For Life

Jul 01

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — July 2024

By Beet 2024 07 July

 

 

July

  • JCMGA Monthly Board Meeting – July 11th from 9:30-11:15 a.m.
  • OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference – July 12th – 13th
  • We will start collecting produce (fruit and vegetables) donations on Wednesday, July 24th, from 10-11 a.m. in the Gathering Garden at SOREC – which will be given to Access.
  • OMGA Gardeners Pen Newsletter

Summer2024GardenersPen-1 

 

August

  • Collecting produce (fruit and vegetables) donations every Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. in the Gathering Garden at SOREC- which will be given to Access.

 

Jul 01

Things They Are A-Changing

By Beet 2024 07 July

One of our key words since 2020 has been “flexibility.”  On March 17, 2020, COVID-19 hit, and we had to stop all the in-person activities – including our Class of 2020 Master Gardener sessions.

We got used to doing meetings differently by using Zoom.  No Practicum, no Spring Garden Fair, no work in the Demonstration Gardens…

The Jackson County Master Gardeners have been slowly coming back to life and becoming more involved as an organization and within our community.  We missed our in-person activities, such as the Spring Garden Fair, OSU Master Gardener classes, Practicum, monthly community education classes, and working in the Demonstration Gardens. Thankfully, we are now able to thrive by participating in-person in all these activities once again.

We have started new programs, such as: Plant A Row (to donate extra produce from our gardens to people less fortunate) and the Cultivating Companions Program (to reach out to seniors in rural areas to bring gardening into their lives).

Our Demonstration Gardens are being enriched and are absolutely beautiful!

We are embarking on the next phase of our organization.  Several of our buildings which we use for Practicum, growing plants, and housing our gardening tools are very old and need major repair or replacement.  The JCMGA Board has created a Practicum Design Ad Hoc Committee that is scoping out ideas and plans to best meet our needs and our vision.  Jane Moyer is the chair of this committee. We have been gathering ideas from different groups within our organization.

Jane met with Alec Levine, who is the head of SOREC, and he is pleased with what we are working on.  In fact, since the Creepy Old House is scheduled to be torn down soon, he has volunteered to have the old tool shed, Peggy’s Greenhouse and the Infirmary taken away at SOREC’s expense.  The Board has agreed to rent a Pod to store the items from these three buildings temporarily.  This Pod will be located in the parking lot in front of the Native Plant Nursery.

As the plans develop, we will keep you informed.

Please feel free to ask Jane or me any questions you may have about this project.

 

Jul 01

The JCMGA Board Needs YOU!

By Beet 2024 07 July

 

We are looking for new, and experienced, members of Master Gardeners to serve on our Jackson County Master Gardener Board of Directors for 2025.  Could that be YOU, or someone you can recommend?

Please consider becoming a member of the board – the governing body of the association. The board adopts the budget, sets policy, and generally oversees the present and future direction of JCMGA.  Meetings are held the second Friday of each month.  Most board members also sit on one or more of the association’s working groups.  Your input is important, and fresh perspectives on how we move forward are the key to our success.

 

The following positions are to be elected this fall:

  • Vice-President/President-Elect
  • Membership Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Archivist
  • Oregon Master Gardener Association Representative
  • Five Members-at-Large

Job Descriptions can be found in the JCMGA Bylaws, which are located on the JCMGA Member Portal.

Contact Rob MacWhorter, President-Elect, at robmac2552@gmail.com or Marcie Katz, Past President, at marciek10@gmail.com if you want to nominate yourself or someone else.

Please submit any nominations by September 1st.

Jul 01

July in the Garden

By Beet 2024 07 July

In July, there is quite a bit to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow.  Our gardens still need to be cared for so that they will do well, and we will have a plentiful harvest. By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a great resource for gardeners to use. It is the Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month.  This great reference book for gardeners is mainly about growing vegetables, berries, and melons.

July is the time to:

  • Blackberries need at least 1” of water per week while growing and fruiting. Providing heavy mulch will reduce the frequency of watering.
  • Blueberries also require a constant supply of moisture while fruiting.
  • Potatoes should have their water supply decreased when you see their tops dying back.
  • When peppers start to blossom, spray them with a solution of Epsom salt (4 tablespoons per gallon of water). This will help to make them crisper and sweeter.
  • Plants which you can plant as seed outside (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Amaranth

o   Beets

o   Collards

o   Endive

o   Florence Fennel

o   Kohlrabi

o   Peas

o   Scallions

 o   Beans

o   Carrots

o   Dill

o   Escarole

o   Kale

o   Lettuce

o   Rutabaga

o   Swiss Chard

 

  • Plants to transplant this month (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Brussels sprouts

o   Cauliflower

 o   Cabbage

 

 

  • Fertilize and Prune
    • Asparagus
    • Trailing cane berries finish producing fruit- prune those vines which produced fruit. Prune to the ground
    • Fertilize fall-bearing raspberries when they start to bloom.
    • June-bearing strawberries should be fertilized once a year after harvest.
  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Powdery mildew on grapes
    • Corn earworm

 

Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month. This book contains a wealth of gardening information. You can purchase it at our local Grange Co-op or at the OSU Extension office for $21.00. It can also be purchased on-line at https://jacksoncountymga.org/shop/.  Note that a shipping fee will be applied.

 

Happy Gardening and Stay Cool

Garden For Life

 

Jul 01

OMGA 2nd Quarter Board Meeting Minutes

By Beet 2024 07 July

OMGA 2nd Quarter Board Meeting Agenda

June 7, 2024, 3:30 PM   Zoom

June 7, 2024     3:30 pm    Zoom
Agenda Item Discussion/Notes Discussion Leader
Welcome, Agenda Review Chris opened the meeting at 3:31 and called rolll:

Benton Co. – Paula, Central Gorge – Carol, Central Oregon – Karen, Clackamas – not represented , Clatsop – Missy Bright, Columbia – not represented, Coos – Mary Dixson, Curry – Julia Bott, Douglas – Patrice Sipos, Jackson – Colet Allen, Josephine – not represented, Lane – not represented, Lincoln – Laura Strom, Linn – Janice, Marion – Jim, Multnomah – Rich Becker, Polk – Sharon Hill, Tillamook – Diane Devens, Umatilla – Cary Wasem-Varela, Wasco – Dana Greyson

Washington – Debbie

Yamhill – Nancy

 Chris Rusch
Additions to the Agenda – Approval        . All
Approval of the Minutes of March meeting Let Chris know if there are any changes needed. Minutes are on the website All
Reports/Information
OSU Extension Program Coordinator report ●       Portland has a waiting list of 3,000 people who want to take the MG training. OSU is looking into other pathways for MG. Some people may not want full certification.  Jackson Co has implemented a “Friends of the Garden” pathway. Many people do not recertify but could or are very close. So, looking into how to support recertification efforts.

●       OSU is piloting a new onboarding system for new volunteers which may be used to facilitate recertification/form signing.  This will take some of the labor off of the program coordinators.

●       Would like updates on Seed to Supper.  There were 19 documented S2S classes offered this year. There will be major revisions in program materials this year. Will be looking for a new S2S partner.

 Dr. Leslie Madsen
2nd Quarter Financial Report Year to Date Unable to attend, emailed prior to meeting

Link to the Google Sheet (from Janet’s email)

 Janet
Database/List Serve ●       Missy has pared down the information so just email and phone contact info but not addresses.  She has a link on the spreadsheet to the OSU county websites with all of the addresses, direct emails, etc.

●       She is working on updating a list of county websites with their logos.

●       She will share a link to the Google Spreadsheet without editing rights. We can make our own copy to sort, edit, or download.

●       Missy is also updating the Gaggle Listserv as each name costs money. The decision was to include presidents and reps.

Link to the Google Sheet   (from Missy’s email)

 Missy Bright
Newsletter Ann Kinkley
Historian updates Available online. Linda Coakley
Joy of Gardening Conference update ●       Early bird registration ends June 15th.  There are over 140 registered and the goal is at least 200 people.  The registration process and website have been very streamlined this year.  More information is available on the OMGA website.

 

●       Janice sent the number of people from each county registered at JOG so far. Colet has challenged her county to fill a table.

 

●       Silent auction update – things are going well, heard from six chapters (which is normal for this time).  Items will need to be delivered Friday morning of the conference. There will be volunteers to help bring things in. Use the north entrance.

 

Please send Paula a brief description and the estimated retail value. We ask for the equivalent of $300-350 (10 items of $30-35). The sweet spot is between $25-50.  The value of expensive items is rarely recouped.   There has never been a minimum required bid and Paula is disinclined to do that. They average about 65% of the posted retail value overall.  Paula will put together a bidding system for us to consider (minimum bids, etc.).

plantdoc2746@gmail.com

 

Counties can also donate cash rather than items.

 Chris/Missy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paula

 
Awards and Grants The deadline was May 15th.  We received applications from Douglas and Polk counties for the Extension Educator grants.  We did not receive any Search for Excellence applications. Several other applications were received and funds will be awarded. Chris
Advocacy report No updates from previous report. Laura Strom
Website committee report The committee has been in a holding pattern. The next meeting will be in August. They will look at the website structure (links, pathways, etc.). Secondary concerns will be updating the look of the site.  There will also be some updates to language upon committee approval (Growing & Belonging). Leslie/Missy/Laura
New Business
MOU Review, committee request We will form a committee after the conference to work on updating our MOU with OSU.  The current Memorandum is on the website. Chris
Vote on request from Josephine County County Commissioners have decided to defund the extension program so MG’s status is up in the air.  They will vote on the budget at the end of June. If they are defunded, they will have to move out of their building very quickly. Funds will be held in a savings account for a year in the event that new commissioners are voted in and things change and/or they can reorganize.

 

Motion:  Paula moves that OMGA be the trustees of JC’s funds for a maximum of three years and revisit each year.   Seconded:  Patrice    All in favor.

 Chris

 

May 31

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements –June 2024

By Beet 2024 06 June

 

June

  • JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting – June 14th from 9:00-9:30 a.m. You are welcome to stay for our regular June Board meeting which will be from 9:30-11:15 a.m.
  • JCMGA Monthly Board Meeting – June 14th from 9:30-11:15 a.m.
  • JCMGA Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony – Saturday, June 29th. We will have a guest speaker, Robert Coffan. He is with the Monarch Advocacy.

(check the article in this Garden Beet about Robert Coffan)

July

  • OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference at OSU on July 12-13.
  • The JCMGA information table at the Josephine County Extension Expo July 19-20. Let Barbara Low know if you are interested in helping to work at the table.
  • We will start collecting produce (fruit and vegetables) donations on Wednesday, July 24th, from 10-11 a.m. – which will be given to Access.