2025 Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Presentations – Part 2

There are still more incredible speakers participating in this year’s Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium to tell you about. The WDSG Working Group has worked hard to bring you some top-notch presenters for this four-day, virtual seminar. These presentations have been selected to help you plan your next year’s spectacular garden. Join us on October 17,18, 24, and 25 from the comfort of your own home via Zoom. Registration begins August 15th.

Last month we introduced seven of the speakers in our interesting lineup.  Here you will get to learn about five more.

 

How to Manage Blueberries, Caneberries, and Strawberries in Your Home Garden Presented by Logan Bennett

Join Logan for an engaging and informative session on how to manage blueberries, caneberries, and strawberries in your home garden! This talk will delve into the specific environmental needs of each crop, the common pests you might encounter, and the best practices for pruning and fertilizing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you’ll gain valuable insights on how to cultivate these delicious berries successfully at home. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your gardening skills and enjoy a bountiful harvest!

Logan Bennett holds a Master’s Degree in Soil Science and a Bachelor’s in Natural Resources Management. He has three years of experience as an extension agent at Oregon State University, working as part of the Small Farms and Master Gardeners Program. Previously, Logan worked as a crop consultant specializing in perennial crops. Logan’s interests include Direct Farm Marketing, soil science, hogs, poultry, blueberries, and apples. Logan has expertise in soils, integrated pest management, permanent cropping systems, and small fruits, making him a valuable resource for farmers and gardeners alike.

 

Introduction to Soil: Physical and Biological 

Presented by Scott Goode

This presentation will touch on how soils form, what comprises a healthy soil, how the life-forms in the soil are organized and what we can do to promote a healthy soil.

Scott Goode is a retired environmental scientist who has worked in water treatment, bioremediation, and modeling the role of environmental factors in soil chemistry. He is currently developing carbon removal and petroleum-free farming technologies.

 

           Soil! – What it is & How it works…

Presented by James Cassidy

It’s ALL about SOIL! Most people only have a vague idea of what soil is and how it works. You will learn more than you ever thought possible from this lecture. What soil is, how soils form, the reason you are alive, what nutrients are, how soil stores water and nutrients, and how to access published on-line soils data to improve your understanding of this critical resource! The fundamentals that ALL humans on the planet Earth should know!

James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University for over 20 years. The introductory class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular. James is also the founder and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club – OSU’s student farm. Coming from a non-traditional background (music industry for over 40+ years) he is passionate about soil and is popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style. The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on its list-serve and continues to grow. Over 25,000 students have participated in the farm’s programs. The farm is in its 25^th season and is largely self-supported through produce sales and cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops.

 

De-Bunking Gardening Myths

Presented by Jane Collier

Did you know that coffee grounds are not acidic, or that grass clippings do not cause thatch?  Do you think drought tolerant plants don’t need watering? This presentation will de-bunk these, and many more gardening myths.

Jane Collier is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener who teaches for the award-winning 10-Minute University™ Program. Jane’s gardening knowledge encompasses growing vegetables and small fruits, insect pests, and container gardening. Today, she and her husband farm their five-acre home garden which yields a bounty each year.

 

 

Fire Adapted Landscaping Best Practices and Understanding Defensible Space Presented by Brian Hendrix

Brian’s demonstration is designed to help gardeners improve their understanding of what “being Fire Adapted” really means for landscaping and gardens, and how these best practices work together with home gardening techniques to best protect your home and property from wildfire risks. We’ll utilize a Master Gardener’s home risk assessment to introduce terms and activities relating to wildfire mitigation, learn basics about effective plant spacing and maintenance for improved defensible space and the differences between a “Firewise” and “Flammable” plant.

Brian Hendrix is the Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator for Ashland Fire & Rescue. He has served since 2017 and is a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. Before taking over the FAC Coordinator role in 2021, Brian was the Weed Abatement Coordinator and a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for AF&R’s Wildfire Division. Brian lives in Ashland with his wife and 3 sons.