Hello Gardeners,
As we wind down for fall, it is time to log all of your volunteer hours into the Volunteer Reporting System! Whether you volunteered for 5 hours or 500 hours this year, it all adds up and counts. We use these hours to show just how mighty our organization is.
Volunteer Reporting FAQ
When do I need my hours reported by?
Volunteer hours and continuing education hours are due by October 31st 2025.
What is the website to report my hours?
What category should my volunteer hours fall under?
Direct Education: Did I teach a class? Did I write an article for others to learn from? Did I give gardening advice (Plant Clinic, leading a demo garden workday)? Did my actions directly lead to another person’s learning?
Indirect Education: Did I help with background tasks (scheduling, room setup, WDSG meeting) that made a class happen? Did I hand out educational materials at a tabling event?
Support: Did I help support JCMGA with tasks other than ones that lead to another person’s learning? Did I volunteer with fundraising? Did I attend meetings other than for an educational event (JCMGA working groups, Board meetings)?
Do your best to select the most appropriate category. I review all the submissions and can correct the category if needed.
How many volunteer hours do I need?
The class of 2025 needs a total of 45 hours to graduate.
Returning Master Gardeners need 20 volunteer hours to remain certified. Of those 20 hours, at least 10 of your hours should be in the direct or indirect education category.
How many continuing education hours do I need?
The class of 2025 does not need any additional education hours this year. You all got numerous education hours in class this spring. However, if you did take an additional class or webinar, please log those hours!
Returning Master Gardeners need 10 hours of continuing education to remain certified. I encourage you to get at least one hour of continuing education relating to Growing and Belonging. This could be on topics about garden accessibility, gardening with different age groups, best practices for teaching, gardening practices from other cultures, growing foods from other cultures, Indigenous knowledge, and much more. This helps us hone our skills when teaching, planning events, and designing programs to reach more Jackson County residents.
What if I need help logging my hours?
Please reach out to me at grace.florjancic@oregonstate.edu for help with logging your hours! I will host in person office hours on October 22nd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the SOREC Small Classroom to help out. If you want to get started earlier, or that date does not work for you, just reach out and we can find a time to meet up.
In prior years, another MG Coordinator hosted a virtual volunteer hour reporting party in October. I do not have a date and time yet for this event, but it is another way for you to have a set focus time on logging hours and ask others questions you have about entering your hours.
Happy volunteer hour reporting!
Hello Gardeners,
On average, late May and early June is the start time of chemical sprays. There are various non-chemical management options that can be done throughout the year to reduce this pest’s population. The SOREC entomologist, Robert Orpet, is tracking the Degree Days, or temperature heat units, to determine when the moths will emerge from their overwintering spots. Once these adults are out and about, undoubtedly chatting each other up over a drink of nectar, it is called the Biofix Date. We can track Degree Days to know when the eggs will hatch. The vulnerable caterpillar eggs and juveniles that appear next are what chemical sprays target. This is why timing is very important for effective spray management. Thankfully, the Plant Clinic shares that information with gardeners, and you don’t need to do the calculations yourself!
Oregon State University Extension
