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 26^th.
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 ________________

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 26^th.

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!

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)

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

• 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

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 19^th.

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 14^th.

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 19^th.

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

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 19^th,  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.