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Barbara Low

Plant a Row Opportunity Update

By Beet 2023 06 June

In the April issue of The Garden Beet, we introduced the idea of “Planting a Row” to help families in our community who are struggling to feed their loved ones. Beginning in late July, 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 started in Anchorage, Alaska, when garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels asked readers to plant an extra row of vegetables to donate to the local soup kitchen. The community took up the challenge and were able to provide fresh vegetables and fruit to others. The program went national in 1995.

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. 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.

Getting Out in the Community – Medford Open Streets Update

By Beet 2023 06 June

The Covid-19 pandemic was seriously disruptive for us all.  Forced to shelter at home, we were unable to participate in our usual activities.  Any new activities involving meeting with other gardeners were not to be done.  One of the great benefits of participating in a volunteer organization is the opportunities it affords us to socialize and do the things we enjoy doing with like-minded people.  We were robbed of these opportunities for nearly three years.  During the pandemic, many organizations such as ours lost several of their members.

Now at last we can get back to what we enjoy doing: sharing our love of gardening!  We have finally started getting back together with our in-person meetings, the annual picnic, Spring Garden Fair, Plant Pop-Up Sales, and so on.  It feels great to at least get partially back to normal!  Progress is made one step at a time.

Earlier this year, the City of Medford invited JCMGA to participate in the Medford Open Streets event, on May 20.  The Community Outreach Working Group discussed this opportunity.  We decided it was important to get JCMGA reconnected with the community.

Our Medford Open Streets ad hoc committee – Colet Allen, Marcie Katz, and Barbara Low – organized a JCMGA booth for this event.  We tried to get creative as we organized our volunteers and gathered materials for display.

The result was a very positive representation of JCMGA at the Medford Open Streets.  For this, we want to give recognition to our volunteers: Colet Allen, Marcie Katz, Barbara Steely, John Kobal, Sandy Hammond, Regula Pepi, Rob McWhorter, Kate McCaffrey, Janelle Whitfield, Marcia Harris, and Barbara Low.  We so appreciated your wonderful energy and smiling faces!  You did a great Job representing JCMGA.  Thank you!

 

June in the Garden

By Beet 2023 06 June

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

June is the time to:

  • This is the time to plan the fall and winter garden.

 

  • Plants which you can plant as seed outside (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Amaranth

o   Beans

o   Carrots

o   Corn

o   Dill

o   Leeks

o   Malabar Spinach

o   Lettuce

o   Okra

o   Pumpkin

o   Summer Savory

 

 

 

o   Basil

o   Beets

o   Chervil

o   Cucumbers

o   Edamame Soy Bean

o   Lettuce

o   New Zealand Spinach

o   Parsnips

o   Scallions

 

 

 

 

 

  • Plants to transplant this month (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Cantaloupe

o   Eggplant

o   Tomatoes

o   Celery

o   Peppers

o   Watermelon

 

  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Powdery mildew on grapes
    • Control for aphids, leafhoppers, squash pugs and leaf miners – if necessary
    • Root maggot fly

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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

 

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023

By Beet 2023 06 June

 

 

~~~~~ Exciting News! ~~~~~

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association is back, virtually!

Dates: Fridays, October 27 and November 3 and

Saturdays, October 28 and November 4, 2023

 

Comfort of your own Home via Zoom

Dig into four days of virtual garden immersion seminars taught by 14 presenters, all designed to help you plan next year’s spectacular garden. 2023 Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium is an ideal time to take stock while learning with experts about Gardening in Our Rogue Valley Climate.

 

Cost: $30. Pick your favorite topics or watch them all. Most sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time for paid participants.

 

Make it a family reunion & invite friends, family

and all your known far flung Gardening Enthusiasts!

 

Stay tuned — Details to follow

 

                                                         

OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.  Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made 7 days prior to the event by calling the Extension office 541-776-7371.

JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2023 06 June

 

 

Community Outreach Working Group

We are continuing to update the Speakers Bureau and updating the vetting process for potential speakers.

Talks are continuing concerning the concept of “Friends of JCMGA”.

Since the Member Services WG is discussing the same subject, we will have a joint meeting to discuss the idea of “Friends of JCMGA” on June 19th.

 

FUNDRAISING WORKING GROUP

chair is Sandy Hammond

The FUNrasing working group meets on the 3rd Friday of each month in the conference room. We do have fun tossing around ideas and seeing which ones will work. Part of the FRWG is grant writing, Garden Guides sales and bottle and can return.

We have started planning the Fall Festival, which will be October 14th.

 

Garden Working Group

Chair is Janine Salvatti

Garden Tours have started in our Demonstration Gardens.

We have also been busy getting new signage for the 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 have also started planning the Class of 2023 Graduation, which will be Saturday, November 4th.

Talks are continuing concerning the concept of “Friends of JCMGA”.

Since the Member Services WG is discussing the same subject, we will have a joint meeting on Monday, June 19th,  to discuss the idea of “Friends of JCMGA”.

 

SPRING GARDEN FAIR WORKING GROUP 

chair is Sandy Hammond

It was a great success!!!

 

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.

More details to follow.

 

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements – May 2023

By Beet 2023 05 May

 

JCMGA Photo Contest Reminder

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

 

Spring Garden Fair

  • Saturday, May 6th from 9:00-3:00 p.m.
  • At SOREC Extension, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point
  • This year we are pleased to announce the return of many of our perennial vendors who have stood by us through the COVID years. Our Native plant nursery will be selling a variety of native plants, also there will be plants grown by our Student Volunteers including vegetable plants and herbs. Our

Propagation nursery will have a variety of ornamental plants available. (see flyer)

 

Pollinator Project Native Plant Sale

  • Sunday, May 7th from 10-3:00 p.m. (see flyer)
  • In the parking lot behind The Pollinator Place in Phoenix

 

Ashland Garden Club Plant Sale

  • Saturday, May 13, 2023
  • The sale will start at 9:00 a.m. in the Ashland Safeway parking lot.

 

SGF Plant After Sale

  • Saturday, May 13, 2023
  • 9:00-3:00 p.m. at the SOREC Extension (see article)
  • Plants 50% off – not including Native Plants

 

Medford Open Streets Event

  • Saturday, May 20 from Noon-4:00 p.m.
  • JCMGA will have a booth to pass out gardening information, Plant Clinic information, and JCMGA information.
  • We will be asking for volunteers to set up, work the booth, and take down. (see flyer)
  • Contact Barbara Low if you would like to volunteer barbaralow@msn.com

 

 

Medford Open Streets Event – May 20th

By Beet 2023 05 May

 

Medford Open Streets Event

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Noon – 4:00 p.m.

 

Medford Open Streets is a free community event leveraging the city’s largest public space – its streets – to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation while fostering civic pride, stimulating economic development, and showcasing the community diversity.

Open Streets is an international program that temporarily repurposes streets for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing. With more than 130 documented initiatives in North America, open streets are increasingly common in cities seeking innovative ways to achieve environmental, social, economic, and public health goals.

 

  • JCMGA will have a booth to pass out gardening information, Plant Clinic information, transplanting demonstration, and JCMGA information.
  • We will be asking for volunteers to setup, man the booth, and take down.
    • Booth Set up will be 10:00 a.m. on May 20th
    • Volunteers working the booth will be from 11:30 – 4:00 p.m.
    • Booth Take Down will be 4:15 – 5:00 p.m.

Contact Barbara Low if you would like to volunteer barbaralow@msn.com

 

OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.  Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made 7 days prior to the event by calling the Extension office 541-776-7371.

May in the Garden

By Beet 2023 05 May

The weather is finally warming up!  The soil will get warmer, and we can successfully plant our vegetables – and for many of us ornamentals also.   

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

May is the time to:

  • Plants which you can plant as seed outside (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Amaranth

o   Beans

o   Cantaloupe

o   Chervil

o   Cilantro

o   Cucumbers

o   Edamame Soy Beans

o   Lettuce

o   New Zealand Spinach

o   Parsley

o   Potatoes

o   Scallions

o   Summer Savory

o   Swiss Chard

o

o   Basil

o   Beets

o   Carrots

o   Chives

o   Corn

o   Dill

o   Leeks

o   Malabar Spinach

o   Okra

o   Parsnips

o   Pumpkin

o   Squash

o   Sunflowers

o   Watermelon

  •                                                
  • Plants to transplant this month (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Artichokes, Globe

o   Broccoli

o   Cabbage

o   Basil

o   Brussels sprouts

o   Cantaloupe

o   Cucumbers o   Eggplant
o   Leeks o   Oriental Greens
o   Pak Choi

o   Squash

o   Tomatoes

o   Rhubarb

o   Peppers

o   Sweet potatoes

o   Watermelons

o   Tomatoes

 

  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Pea weevil
    • Root maggot fly
    • Powdery mildew on grapes

 

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 Warm

Garden For Life

 

 

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023

By Beet 2023 05 May

 

~~~~~ Exciting News! ~~~~~

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association is back, virtually!

 

Dates: Fridays, October 27 and November 3 and

Saturdays, October 28 and November 4, 2023

 

Comfort of your own Home via Zoom

Dig into four days of virtual garden immersion seminars taught by 14 presenters, all designed to help you plan next year’s spectacular garden. 2023 Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium is an ideal time to take stock while learning with experts about Gardening in Our Rogue Valley Climate.

Cost: $30. Pick your favorite topics or watch them all. Most sessions will be recorded and available for a limited time for paid participants.

 

Make it a family reunion & invite friends, family

and all your known far flung Gardening Enthusiasts!

 

Stay tuned — Details to follow

 

                                             

OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.  Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made 7 days prior to the event by calling the Extension office 541-776-7371.

JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2023 05 May

 

Community Outreach Working Group

JCMGA will have a booth at the Medford Open Streets Event on May 20th.  We have been busy preparing for it and are still looking for volunteers to help.

JCMGA awards Community Gardens Grants.  This year the grant selection committee, chaired by Mary Foster, awarded three $500 grants.  Recipients were Eagle Point Garden Club, Blue Heron Park in Phoenix, and Options for Housing Assistance and Resources in Ashland.

We have been working on updating the Speakers Bureau and updating the vetting process for potential speakers.

Talks are continuing concerning the concept of “Friends of JCMGA”.

Since the Member Services WG is discussing the same subject, we will have a joint meeting to discuss the idea of “Friends of JCMGA”.

 

FUNDRAISING WORKING GROUP

chair is Sandy Hammond

The FUNrasing working group meets on the 3rd Friday of each month in the conference room. We do have fun tossing around ideas and seeing which ones will work. Part of the FRWG is grant writing, Garden Guides sales and bottle and can return.  We have been busy brainstorming other possible Fundraising projects.

 

Garden Working Group

Chair is Janine Salvatti

We have been very busy getting the Demonstration Gardens ready for our upcoming Garden Tours.  We have also been busy getting new signage for the gardens.

 

Marketing and Technology Working Group

chair is Marcia Harris

Three Class of 2023 Student Master Gardeners have joined Lisa Brill to be JCMGA editors.

We have been reviewing our current technology and looking to see what we may need in the future.

 

Member Services Working Group

chair is Barbara Low

We completed the JCMGA 2023 Chapter Directory and members should have received their copy through the mail.  We are currently researching possible field trips for interested people to attend.

Talks are continuing concerning the concept of “Friends of JCMGA”.

Since the Member Services WG is discussing the same subject, we will have a joint meeting to discuss the idea of “Friends of JCMGA”.

 

Program Support Working Group

chair is Grace Florjancic

Students are finally applying the knowledge they have learned in class to solve problems in the Plant Clinic. Mentors have been impressed with the student’s eagerness to learn and their excitement to experience the unknown mysteries brought to the clinic. We are ramping up to a very busy spring, which is great for keeping the students on their toes!

 

SPRING GARDEN FAIR WORKING GROUP 

chair is Sandy Hammond

Spring Garden Fair is the main source of funds for JCMGA. It is held on the 1st Saturday in May. This year’s event will be held on May 6th on the Extension grounds. We have been very busy organizing this event.  We look forward to being able to provide this event to the public.

 

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.