Skip to main content
All Posts By

Barbara Low

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.

 

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!

 

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

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!

 

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — July 2023

By Beet 2023 07 July

 

Wednesday, July 26th

 

 

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.

Plant a Row Opportunity Update

By Beet 2023 07 July

Beginning this month, you can donate any extra produce you grow, and Access Community Action Agency of Jackson County 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. Grow food! Whether you have a community garden plot, or just a few tomato plants, every pound helps.
  2. Produce can be dropped off at the SOREC Extension by the Free Table on Wednesday mornings from 9-10 a.m. This will start July 26th.
  3. 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.)
  4. 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!!
  5. 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

By the Free Table on Wednesday mornings from 9-10 a.m.

beginning on July 26th.

 

JCMGA Annual Member Picnic

By Beet 2023 07 July

                         Saturday, August 19th

                         5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

                         SOREC Extension Auditorium

                         569 Hanley Road

 

 

 

  • A time to get together and celebrate what we have accomplished this past year!

 

  • Awards will be announced!

 

  • JCMGA will have BBQ hamburgers, garden burgers, and hot dogs available. We will be sending out Mail Chimps later asking members to respond if they will be attending; how many members of your family will be attending; and whether you/they will want a hamburger, garden burger, or hot dog.

 

  • We are asking 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 to be had by all!

 

 

July in the Garden

By Beet 2023 07 July

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

 

JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2023 07 July

 

Community Outreach Working Group

  • Work is continuing to be done to update the Speakers Bureau and help support new potential speakers.
  • We are looking at the possibility of providing those gardeners who are blind with a digital version of the Garden Guides.
  • We have started discussing how we might provide support to our community of Spanish speakers.
  • Discussing how we can help get the word out about the wonderful resource we have in the Plant Clinic.
  • Mary Foster has resigned as chair of the Community Gardens. We are talking about how we want to proceed.
  • John Kobal reported that he is devising a plan to assimilate new student volunteers into the School Grants Committee.

 

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.

 

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 have also started planning the Class of 2023 Graduation, which will be Saturday, November 4th.

We had a Joint Meeting with the Community Outreach Working Group to discuss the concept of “Friends of JCMGA”.  It was decided that we form a Friends of JCMGA Committee to work out details for a possible proposal.

 

Program Support Working Group

Chair: Grace Florjancic

We are adding an online zoom option to our evening community education classes! This makes it easier for those working farther away from the extension office to still be able to attend evening classes. Hope to see you there (or from far away)!

 

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.

 

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — June 2023

By Beet 2023 06 June

 

JCMGA Photo Contest Reminder

  • We will be again having a Photo Contest for the front cover of the 2024 JCMGA Chapter Directory.

 

 

Saturday, June 3rd

  • Come join us in Lithia Park to enjoy some nice scenery and the company of the Master Gardener community. Lithia Park has a new addition many of us may be interested in seeing: the Japanese Garden.
  • Bring your own lunch to eat at one of Lithia Park’s many picnic tables or dine downtown in Ashland after touring the garden.
  • When is it? From 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Where is it? The Ashland Japanese Garden at Lithia Park in Ashland Oregon More Information: ashlandjapanesegarden.org

 

Friday, June 9th

  • Annual Member Meeting from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  • This will be a hybrid meeting. In-person in the Auditorium at the Extension and through Zoom.

 

Thursday, June 22nd

  • JCMGA Field Trip to Stout Family Farm at 6:30 p.m.

(see article in this issue)

 

 

Saturday, June 24th

  • Native Plant Popup Sale at the OSU Extension, 569 Hanley Road, from 9:00-2:00 p.m.

 

Saturday, August 19th

  • JCMGA Membership Annual Picnic