2025 JCMGA Member Survey

Many thanks to every Jackson County Master Gardener Association member who completed a short survey in January about the JCMGA. Data from the survey will help us plan future activities.

Your responses highlighted a few topics to address below:

Reassessing field trips: Organizing a field trip takes a great deal of time, and attendance was very low the past two years. Therefore, the Member Services Working Group will postpone organizing a field trip this year.

To clarify a misconception: Somehow, members or people in the community thought that marijuana was being grown on SOREC grounds. This is not true. Hemp was grown as part of a research project.

Ways to stay involved as a JCMGA member: There are two levels at which you can renew your membership:

• JCMGA member – complete a JCMGA renewal form and pay $25. You can complete it online, or print the form and mail it with a check to us. Enter the member portal and click on Membership Renewal on the right-hand menu.
• Be “recertified” so you can represent JCMGA while teaching a gardening class. You’ll need to complete the required number of volunteer and education hours, as well as complete the JCMGA renewal form and pay $25, as above.

Know what’s happening: The JCMGA Board Reports are available to all members. They are in the Member Portal on the JCMGA website. Once in the Member Portal, scroll down the menu on the right. Click on the “Board Reports and Minutes (Dropbox Link)” to find the Board and Working Group Reports.

JCMGA increased our visibility in the community: In 2024, we staffed our JCMGA information table at the Josephine County Home Builders Show; Blue Heron Earth Day Event; Medford Open Streets Event; Spring Garden Fair; JCMGA Fall Festival; and the Sanctuary One Event. In 2025, we plan to include one of the Growers Markets as well.

Comments made by respondents show the many ways in which our work is appreciated.

• We are becoming a strong presence in the Rogue Valley again, after COVID.
• Our members enjoyed the events we organized this past year, including: Community Education classes; the JCMGA Information Table; JCMGA Annual Picnic; Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens; and others.
• The hours and hours of work done by volunteers in the JCMGA Demonstration Gardens was appreciated by many members.

Respondents commented that our members are:

• Willing to volunteer and step in when needed.
• Willing to share their ideas and to make suggestions which help our organization to grow.
• Very passionate about gardening and have a willingness to share that passion and knowledge.
• Always eager to help when they can.

Again, my thanks to everyone who took the time to complete our survey.  Your input is invaluable in helping us plan activities for this year and next.