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Barbara Low

Aug 31

JCMGA Annual Picnic August 19, 2023

By Beet 2023 09 September

 

 

 

 

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association annual picnic was held at the SOREC Extension on Saturday, August 19th.  We had a wonderful time – good friends, delicious food, wonderful conversations. As part of our picnic, we briefly reviewed what we have accomplished as an organization this year!  Lots to celebrate!

  • Special thank you to Joe Alvord for stepping up at the last moment to BBQ our meat for the picnic!
  • Special thank you to Colet Allen for doing all the grocery shopping for this event!
  • Special thank you to our hard-working Member Services Working Group – Lucy Pylkki, Marcie Katz, Grace Florjancic, Linda Millus, Sandy Hansen, Trina Stout, Colet Allen and Barbara Low – for their work behind the scenes.

Also, a BIG thank you to Marcie Katz, our president, for her support, energy, and positive attitude during this challenging year.

Several people were recognized during this event for what they have done for JCMGA.  Below is a list of the awards that were given out.

Special Recognitions –

  • Grace Florjancic- “Compassionately Committed Coordinator” for stepping up and giving your full support and more to JCMGA
  • Jane Moyer & Lynn Kunstman — “Leadership through Example” for their above and beyond planning, teaching and leading the Practicum and its Mentors smoothly through new waters.
  • Keltie Nelson – “Master of the MailChimps” for her clever doctoring and timely ability to send the MailChimp communications to the members.
  • Sandy Hansen – “Fabulous Facebook Facilitator” for keeping our Facebook page looking professional, current and fun.
  • * Sean Cawley & Keltie Nelson – “Financial Wizards” who laboriously work with QuickBooks to manage our accounts, keeping us on track and out of the red.
  • Janine Salvatti – “Having A Keen Eye” producing the 2023 Directory cover photograph and inspiration for beautifying the gardens with Mosaic Glass.
  • Sandy Hammond, Lucy Pylkki, Sandy Hansen – “Event Organizers Extraordinaire” for their ambitious dedication and hard work bringing the Spring Garden Fair back to life in a new venue.
  • Heidi Gehrmann – “Amazing Program Support” for stepping up to facilitate the JCMGA through our transition between Program Coordinators.
  • Laurel Briggs – “Webmaster Wonder Woman” for expert problem solving and updating our JCMGA presence in the digital world.
  • Lisa Brill – “Excellence in Editing” for all the wonderful work “spit and polishing” our Garden Beet submissions.
  • Susan Koenig, Colet Allen, Barbara Low – “Virtual Ambassadors” for successfully leading the way taking Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens from limited capacity in-person classrooms to virtual classes and finding excellent speakers that teach plant science which now reach a much larger expanded audience.

 

State Master Gardeners Awards Nominees (these people were nominated for the specific award by JCMGA)

  • Susan Koenig – State Behind the Scenes Award
  • Jim Buck – State Growing and Belonging Award

State Master Gardener Awards Recipients 2023

  • Lynn Kunstman – State Master Gardener of the Year Award

 

County Master Gardeners Awards Recipients 2023

  • John Kobal – County Master Gardener of the Year Award
  • Regina Boykins – County Behind the Scenes Award
  • Trina Stout – County Growing and Belonging Award

 

Oregon Master Gardeners Association Longevity Awards

20-year Recipients:

FIRST NAME LAST NAME YEAR
Jim Becker 2001
Vickie Rader Belknap 1996
Richard Brewer 2003
Sydney Jordan Brown 2000
Jean Buck 2003
JoAnn Dixon 1994
Sheila Gleim 2000
Linda Holder 1998
Richard Hoskins 1998
Bob Law 1997
Claudia Law 1996
Joan Long 1998
Susan Maesen 1999
Lupe McHenry 1995
Regula Pepi 2003
Linda Robertson 2001
Carol Robinson 1999
David Rugg 2000
James Scannell 1997
Donna Smith 2000
Nicki Van Vleck 1998
Darcy Van Vuren 2002
Shannon Wolff 1996
Jody Willis 2003

 

30-year Recipients:

FIRST NAME LAST NAME YEAR
Becky Belau 1990
Peggy Corum 1989
Sam Elliott 1993
Betty Hewitt 1989
Liz Koester 1988
Ron Nitsos 1986
Ellen Scannell 1993

 

 

Aug 31

Jackson County Master Gardener Association Membership Options Available

By Beet 2023 09 September

Did you know that you have JCMGA Membership Options?

If you have successfully taken the OSU Master Gardener Course, you can be an Active Member of the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association by either –

  • Paying your $25 annual dues – nothing else required

OR

  • Paying your $25 annual dues, recording 20 hours of volunteer service on approved projects, and 10 hours of approved continuing education. This allows you to be an Active JCMGA Member and be recertified as an OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer.  The recertification allows you to teach gardening topics.

 

Aug 31

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023 Registration

By Beet 2023 09 September

~~~ Registration Is Open ~~~

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association is back, virtually!

 

Dates: Fridays, October 27 and November 3 and

Saturdays, October 28 and November 4, 2023

9:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Comfort of your own Home via Zoom

 

We have a variety of top-notch speakers who will be speaking on many interesting

and time relevant topics.

All sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time for paid participants.

Cost is $30 for 14 presentations.

Landscaper Board CEH re-certification available.

 

https://jacksoncountymga.org/winter-dreams-summer-gardens-symposium/

Email us at jcmgawdsg20@gmail.com if you have any questions

 

Make it a family reunion & invite friends, family

and all your known far flung Gardening Enthusiasts!

OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.

 

                                           

Aug 31

JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2023 09 September

 

 

Community Outreach Working Group

  • Have been working with the Member Services WG to create a “Friends of the Garden” proposal.
  • There have been more Master Gardeners who are interested in being a part of the Speakers Bureau.
  • We are continuing to investigate how to better support the Spanish speaking community in our valley.
  • We are looking at how to rejuvenate the Community Gardens and also provide them with support.
  • JCMGA has been invited to participate in the 2024 Josephine County Home Show at the Grants Pass fairgrounds (Feb. 16, 17, and 18) and the Southern Oregon Home Show at Expo in Central Point (May 3, 4, and 5). The COWG thought these both may be feasible, especially if JCMGA partnered with the Josephine County MGA. Although the May dates overlap the Spring Garden Fair, which will be held on the SOREC campus again, master gardeners who are less physically active may want to staff an information table at the home show instead of assisting at the SGF.

 

FUNDRAISING WORKING GROUP

chair is Sandy Hammond

The Fundraising Working Group meets on the 3rd Friday of each month at 1:00 in the conference room at the SOREC Extension. We sure do welcome newcomers to attend with brainstorming ideas. Our next event will be the Fall Festival on Oct.14th at the extension. We are planning a native plant sale, Christmas items including wreaths and other decorations. We will also be selling beautiful garden art made by the Fundraising folks. We hope to have food and other plant vendors join us. We love new ideas and fun participation.

 

Garden Enhancement Working Group

Chair, Janine Salvatti

The “ART-IN, the Gardens – A plein air event for artists of all skill levels” was cancelled because of the air quality.  We hope to reschedule it later.

We have been busy planning the Glass Art Class for September 15th from 9-12 p.m.  The location has been changed to the greenhouse.

 

Marketing and Technology Working Group

chair is Marcia Harris

Working Group members gave updates on what they have done this past month in regard to technology and JCMGA.

Keltie Nelson will be stepping down to send out MailChimps – starting January 2024.  Nicole Smith will take over at that time.

At this point, there will not be a September meeting for this working group.

 

Member Services Working Group

chair is Barbara Low

The Annual JCMGA Picnic was a success.  We had 65 people respond that they would attend the picnic, but only 50 attended.  This may in part be due to the adverse weather and air quality.  We had several awards/recognitions to hand out (State, County, and Special JCMGA).

The Community Outreach Working Group and Member Services Working Group have worked together to create and fine tune the “Friends of the Garden” proposal.  We will be presenting this proposal at the September Board meeting.

 

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group

chairs are Colet Allen, Susan Koenig, and Barbara Low

We have been busy organizing the Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023 Symposium.  This virtual event will be October 27, 28, November 3, and 4.   We have updated the registration form

Jul 28

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — August 2023

By Beet 2023 08 August

Every Wednesday in August

Monday, August 14th

  • Registration open for Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023

Saturday, August 19th

  • JCMGA Membership Annual Picnic at OSU Extension, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point.  It will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 26 from 9am to 12pm.

ART-IN, the Gardens – A plein air event for artists of all skill levels

  • are invited to draw, paint, photograph the scenic JCMGA Demonstration Gardens on:
  • Wander the gardens until inspiration sprouts, then settle in to capture your vision.
  • If you have questions, contact Janine Salvatti by text: 541-973-7456. Please share this invitation with your creative friends!

September 13th Field Trip to Oshala Farm in the Applegate

  • Oshala is a certified organic farm that uses regenerative, sustainable cultivation practices. 
  • The field trip is free and, if we have a sufficient number of MG participants, Oshala will give us an exclusive tour.
  • Additionally, we have the option to stay after the tour for a class on making tinctures and extracts. There will be a cost for the class, but it should be a really fun learning experience.
  • If you are interested in attending this event, please contact me by August 31st. Sandy Hansen (707) 332-4934, or sandyhansen08@gmail.com .

 

Jul 28

2023 Oregon Master Gardener of the Year Award Winner: Lynn Kunstman

By Beet 2023 08 August

Jackson County Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman is the recipient of the 2023 Oregon Master Gardener of the Year Award!!  Lynn volunteers tirelessly for JCMGA.  She is always eager to share her knowledge relating to gardening and native plants. She has helped many of us to realize the importance of planting native plants in our own gardens.  I for one have started planting more native plants and have noticed a marked increase in beneficial insects in my own yard and gardens.

Lynn has been a Practicum mentor and a Garden Bud for students in the Master Gardener Program.  She started the Native Plants Nursery which grew hundreds of plants to sell when we had no other plants during the pandemic.  Lynn is instrumental in teaching us about the importance of native plants and how to grow them in our yards.  At the same time, she is encouraging us to make our yards into pollinator havens.

Lynn also has a weekly appearance on the Jefferson Exchange radio station, fielding all sorts of gardening questions. Lynn has up to 8,000 projected listeners with this radio series.   She contributes regularly to the JCMGA Garden Beet Newsletter on a variety of gardening topics. Her work propagating and organizing sales of native and non-native plants grown by students in the Practicum is tireless.  The money from the plant sales is a source of income for JCMGA.

Lynn teaches many gardening classes, including one for our Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium.  She has taught at the OMGA Mini-College for the last three years.   

Lynn Kunstman has been very active in the leadership of the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association.  She served as the 2020 President-Elect, 2021 President, and the 2022 Past President.  Lynn spearheaded a “Go Fund Me” page calling and emailing Master Gardeners and friends to raise $10,367 for a water catchment system for the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association plant nurseries and demonstration gardens.

Lynn’s involvement in acquiring the water catchment system which we now have has allowed us to continue to grow and propagate plants in our nurseries.  Our well went dry (September 2021 and in the fall of 2022) and there were problems with the water pipes – yet we were able to water our plants using the water catchment system.

Using her innate leadership skills, Lynn challenges the Master Gardeners to step up and do what needs to be done.  She does this by example.  During the pandemic, Lynn’s leadership skills encouraged us to stay focused and continue as an organization. She was calm, organized, steady, focused, and supportive.

Lynn has made a huge impact on our organization with her emphasis on providing a healthy environment for our native pollinators by planting native plants whenever we can.  She is an excellent speaker and very knowledgeable in the subject of native plants.  Due to her presentations, many of us have started reducing our lawns and planting native plants instead.

Lynn has taken out her lawn at her home and planted many native plants.  She sets a model for what she has been speaking about – the importance of native plants to encourage pollinators and to provide them with the habitat they require to survive.  Her yard is recognized as a Native Plant Park.  She has been involved in tagging butterflies.

Congratulations to a very own Master Gardener extraordinaire – Lynn Kunstman!!!

Jul 28

Plant a Row Opportunity Update

By Beet 2023 08 August

We have started collecting any extra produce you grow and donating it to Access Community Action Agency of Jackson County. Access will distribute it to help feed others.

Plant a Row provides a great opportunity for us to help others who need a little extra help to feed their families.

How can you donate produce to people in need?

  1. Produce can be dropped off at the SOREC Extension at the Gathering Garden on Wednesday mornings from 9-10 a.m.
  2. Once you’ve dropped off your donation, we will have a record sheet which you may use to record how much produce (by weight) and what kind of vegetable/fruit you have donated so we can keep track! (The form is on the next page if you want to fill it out in advance.)
  3. We have a beautiful Plant a Row Food Donated Thermometer to record how much food we are able to donate to Access (by pounds). Thank you, Janine Slavatti, for creating the thermometer!!
  4. Encourage friends to participate even if they are not Master Gardeners.

 

If you have questions, please

contact Barbara Low at barbaralow@msn.com.

 

 

Plant A Row Project

 

Name _____________________________________    Date ________________

Type of Vegetable/Fruit Weight of Produce

 

Please drop off donations at the SOREC Extension

569 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502

At the Gathering Garden on Wednesday mornings from 9-10 a.m.

 

Jul 28

JCMGA Annual Member Picnic

By Beet 2023 08 August

JCMGA Annual Member Picnic

Saturday, August 19th

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

SOREC Extension Auditorium

569 Hanley Road, Central Point

 

  • A time to get together and celebrate all that we’ve accomplished this year!

 

  • Awards will be presented to our very deserving members!

 

  • BBQ hamburgers, garden burgers, and hot dogs will be available.
  • Contact Barbara Low at barbaralow@msn.com by August 14th to let her know:
    • how many people in your family will attend
    • how many hamburgers, garden burgers or hot dogs your family will want

 

  • We ask families to bring:
    • A side dish (last names beginning L-Z) and Desserts (last names beginning with A-K)
    • Your own plate, silverware, napkins, and drinking glass
    • Your JCMGA badge

 

  • A great time will be had by all!

 

Jul 28

August in the Garden

By Beet 2023 08 August

I am continuing this series of articles and hope that you find them helpful and inspiring. 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 28

JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2023 08 August

 

Community Outreach Working Group

chair is Ronni Budge

  • Work is continuing to be done to update the Speakers Bureau and help support new potential speakers.
  • We are looking into how to better support the Spanish speaking community in our valley.
  • We are looking at how to rejuvenate the Community Gardens and also provide them with support.
  • JCMGA has been invited to participate in the 2024 Josephine County Home Show at the Grants Pass fairgrounds (Feb. 16, 17, and 18) and the Southern Oregon Home Show at Expo in Central Point (May 3, 4, and 5). The COWG thought these both may be feasible, especially if JCMGA partnered with the Josephine County MGA. Although the May dates overlap the Spring Garden Fair, which will be held on the SOREC campus again, master gardeners who are less physically active may want to staff an information table at the home show instead of assisting at the SGF.

 

Fundraising Working Group

chair is Sandy Hammond

The Fundraising Working Group meets on the 3rd Friday of each month at 1:00 in the conference room. We sure do welcome newcomers to attend with brainstorming ideas. Our next event will be on Oct.14th at the extension. We are planning a native plant sale, Christmas items including wreaths and other decorations. We will also be selling beautiful garden art made by the Fundraising folks. We hope to have food and other plant vendors join us. We love new ideas and fun participation.

 

Garden Enhancement Working Group

chair is Janine Salvatti

We are the path maintainers, the provider of garden signage and information boxes, the common-area weeders, the haulers of DG, the creators & caretakers of the Entry Sign planter and the Gathering Place, the temporary helpers in gardens in need of a helping  hand, makers of glass art in the garden.  We look our best dusted in soil, dotted with those dang sticky weed seeds, and with garden hats askew-it’s more picturesque if I say at a “ jaunty angle”. Most of all we are appreciators of all the volunteer gardeners who work hard to maintain the Demonstration Gardens.

 

Marketing and Technology Working Group

chair is Marcia Harris

We have been busy looking at the technology which JCMGA has and asking if it meets our current and future needs.

 

Member Services Working Group

chair is Barbara Low

We are busy planning the Membership Picnic, which will be Saturday, August 19th. We hope that you will join us for this celebration!

We have developed a DRAFT proposal for the “Friends of JCMGA”.  The Community Outreach Working Group and Member Services Working Group are working together on this concept.

 

Program Support Working Group

chair is Grace Florjancic

While the 2024 Master Gardener training class is months away preparations have begun! Thank you to all the 2023 students for providing feedback about what worked well and what needed improvements. This is very helpful for me in creating the layout for the 2024 schedule. If you are interested in becoming a Garden Bud or know someone interested in becoming a Garden Bud, please let me know! Garden Buds play an important role in supporting our new students in class and helping them become familiar with the many aspects of our program.

 

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group

chairs are Colet Allen, Susan Koenig, and Barbara Low

We have been busy organizing the Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023 Symposium.  This virtual event will be October 27, 28, November 3, and 4.

We have secured our 14 speakers on a wide variety of topics.

There are details posted on the JCMGA website.

REGISTRATION will be open Monday, August 14th!

 

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