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Janine Salvatti

Fig Pruning is Sometimes not for the Faint of Heart

By Beet 2025 04 April

As I write this article, I am remembering the first time I saw the Fig Grove pruned to such an extent that the fig trees were unrecognizable. I was shocked!

I don’t know the history of our small, seven-variety Fig Grove yet. It’s wedged deep in a corner between the storage pods and the Propagation Garden, garnering little notice or traffic. It took me quite some time to realize that such delectable fruit was growing on campus. The condition of the Grove then was so sad to see, as towering weeds engulfed the 25+ foot tall trees.

Then one day several years ago, I was gob smacked to see someone had weeded the area and made the trees visible. Usually this is a really good thing but, in this case, it revealed that every fig tree had been cut down to 5’ or so.  A grove of sticks! Though I knew nothing about fig trees at that time, I was pretty sure they would never recover.

I was wrong. They did. And vigorously!

Eventually, the grove fell on hard times again, as there were no volunteers to tend it. Left to their own devices, the weeds reemerged with a vengeance. The trees eagerly returned to their “wild” state; encroaching on and shading their neighbors; impressively exceeding harvesting size. The birds enjoyed a tasty feast, but not so much the humans.

Last year, the Garden Enhancement team determined to clean up the Fig Grove as one of many projects. We hitched up our wellies and waded into the weeds. Once they succumbed, we put down cardboard and tree chips. The end of season came too soon, so taming the weeds was as far as we got.

This spring, there were no weeds in sight. It was time to address the state of the trees. The first workday, Grace came through to take cuttings for demonstrating propagation to this year’s Master Gardener students. She also came armed with flagging tape to help us visualize cutting recommendations.

There were four of us the first day and we took out much of the smaller top growth in preparation for the chainsaws the next day. We filled the new trailer Jake had kindly moved to the edge of the grove.

The next day there were four of us again, as two new faces joined my husband and me. In total, we completed the job in about 32 hours.

Appropriately sized fig trees make working in the Fig Grove safer for volunteers, in that no ladders are required to harvest fruit or provide ongoing maintenance throughout the season. We used battery operated cordless tools with extension arms to keep our feet firmly on the ground and reduce the physical demands of the work. The cordless tools used were 10’ extendable pruners, handheld pruners, 4” chainsaws, and a 10” chainsaw on an extendable handle. We also used manual hand pruners and loppers.

Many thanks go to these volunteers- 1st day: Pete Livers, Connie Lyssand, Grace Florjancic, Janine Salvatti. 2nd day: Sam Elliot, Mary Schrouder, Les Nimmo (garden friend and Janine’s hubby), Janine Salvatti. Special thanks to Jake Hoyman, Farm Manager, for the big trailer.

Harsh pruning could be eliminated if a staunch commitment to a maintenance schedule Spring through October every year could be followed.  Later this season, a propagation opportunity will be offered, along with hands-on instruction. Figs are easy to propagate. Let’s have a fig tasting day so you can pick your favorites to propagate!

 

In the case of our Demonstration Gardens, it really does take a village. This is a worthy, educational, productive, and rewarding grove to tend. Would you be interested in working with figs or working with the Garden Enhancement Team? If so, contact Janine Salvatti, 541-973-7456.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snail Hack… A Surprise!

By Beet 2025 03 March

I never thought anything with the word snail in it could excite me, until I encountered recent horticultural posts about Seed Snails. Game to

experiment? This method of seed-starting has the potential to reduce the number of seed-starting pots, trays, and the space requirements you need, along with interim potting up. This method also has the added benefit of encouraging vertical root growth.

A simple picture or quick Google search would tell it all better than the following description, but here goes: Visualize wrapping material (often recycled weed barrier or packing materials) trimmed to a length and width to suit you; perhaps a ribbon of material 3 feet long by 8 inches or so wide. Soil is layered about one inch deep on top of the material, covering it end to end, but leaving an inch or so at each end clear. This is then rolled up from short end to short end, like a snail shell or jelly roll. You would stand the roll on one end and plant seeds into the top exposed end at a closer spacing than normal. The roll can be secured closed with a landscape staple or some type of tie or tape.

As the seedlings grow, the roll can easily be unrolled to add soil, eliminating the need to pot-up. When it’s time to plant out, just unroll. The roots will have grown vertically instead of horizontally and should easily separate for planting. A roll can be planted with a single crop or multiple crops and multiple rolls can be housed together in a container with drainage.

Is this genius?  Am I the last to know about this method? I’d love to know if you decide to try it and the results you experience. Happy gardening!

Custom-made Garden Benches

By Beet 2025 03 March

One of Santa’s elves brought two custom-made Garden Benches

for the Gathering Place

Author and photographer:  Janine Salvatti

 

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Joe Alvord (aforementioned ELF) for building and donating two beautifully rustic garden benches for the Gathering Place providing some much-needed splinter-free comfort for our volunteers and guests.

 

Creepy Old House – Phase Two

By Beet 2025 01 January

She’s Gone, Gone, Gone!

It’s a clean sweep! The Creepy Old House (COH) no longer stands as a sentinel when we pull into the SOREC driveway. The old tool shed went with her, and the infirmary greenhouse is now located in the propagation area. Having this area open and clean looking is a welcome sight!

The next steps are still pending.  In the meantime, the 2025 practicum classes will be conducted in Greenhouse 1. Stay tuned for updates!

 

Photo:  Janine Salvatti

Class of 2024 Graduation Celebration

By Beet 2024 12 December

Graduation is often symbolized by four-cornered caps and tassels in the air. For Master Gardener graduates, it is symbolized by a prized orange badge, a certificate of achievement, a bit of pomp and circumstance, and joining family and new friends for a graduation dinner. For the latter, graduates thoroughly dust off all the garden soil on their face and hands and briefly dispense with the real symbols of their passion – muddied boots, straw hats, bandanas, and jeans stained at the knees.

Looking back on my own first day of class, it was remarkable to realize that I had finally found those kindred spirits whose eyes lit up as soon as plants and gardening and soil became the common language. All Master Gardeners, whether long-standing MGs, or newly minted graduates, have felt awestruck as we encountered a deeper understanding of the impact we have on the web of life.

The Master Gardener program exists to educate graduates in the art and science of gardening. Importantly, the program’s additional goal is that Master Gardeners share their enhanced skills and knowledge of gardening and environmental issues with family and friends. As the saying goes, a single drop of water hitting a still pond makes many ripples radiating outwards – so too, each Master Gardener is a single drop that can touch many people.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association heartily congratulates its recent graduates on the completion of the program! To our newest Master Gardeners, may you delight in the joy of lifelong learning and gardening! We hope you’ll remain active members and reap the benefits of volunteering in the organization to support our mission to educate and inspire others.

Congratulations!

   

So Long, Farewell… (in Sound of Music Style)

By Beet 2024 11 November

The Creepy Old House (COH) had been home to many Master Gardener students over the years. We fondly remember its heyday for the friends we made and lessons we learned there.  But now the building will fade into our history, as Phase 1 of demolition started the week of October 21, 2024.

When I entered the demo gardens this morning (10/23/24) I was so surprised to see work commencing on the COH. This first phase is asbestos remediation.  Balfor is a local contractor and expert in this field.  One of their folks, Ben, took time to explain the many precautions they must take while working with asbestos, since no particles of asbestos can be released into the air.

They create something like a plastic balloon with separate enclosures for dirty and clean inside the COH. Their technicians wear full hazard suits. When the air is finally released into the atmosphere it is represented to be cleaner than the native air. It’s quite an impressive process!

Of course, there are several more phases to come. But as exciting as the new classroom project is, I admit I felt a pang of nostalgia as I took the ol’ girl’s photos.                                                                                                   

Mural Mania

By Beet 2024 10 October

Photos: Marcie Katz and Janine Salvatti

 

Mural mania took hold of the GEC (Garden Enhancement Committee) at the end of 2023. The ugly storage pods bookending the Gathering Place were like a persistent fly annoying us every time we worked or met in that area. We wanted members and guests to have a pleasant and peaceful place to meet and mingle on the grounds away from Hanley Road.

 

This led us to develop a loose plan. We bought supplies, found free paint samples at Drakes Paint, and finally set to work in July of this year. Those pods are 8×20 feet! They loomed blank and scary for the uninitiated!

The photos attached don’t do justice to the colors or details. The surface texture of the pods make good photos impossible. You really need to come and appreciate them in person!

Artists and fabulous artist assistants:

Table Rock Pod (aka: Rogue Valley Postcard): Marcie Katz, Primary artist. Assistant artists: Chris Veach, Carrie Redfern, Alice Ingraham and Jane Moyer’s granddaughter, Addy.

Whimsy Pod:  Janine Salvatti, Primary artist. Assistant artists: Pam Cashwell, Alice Ingraham, Kari Gies, Carrie Redfern and Chris Veach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We send a heartfelt thanks to a few of our many volunteers!

 

Chris Veach, Carrie Redfern, Kari Gies, Janine Salvatti, Pam Cashwell and Marcie Katz.

 

 

 

 

 

Pam Cashwell and Kari Gies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Florjancic                                                                    Alice Ingraham

Illinois Valley/Cave Junction Garden Club Demo Garden Tour, September 2024

By Beet 2024 10 October

Photos by Marcie Katz and Janine Salvatti

You know how in life some things are more fun than others? Well, about 15 friends from the Illinois Valley-Cave Junction Garden Club made the hour-long jaunt to visit our demo gardens for a tour. What a super group!

Marcie and I showed them around the gardens. They were enthusiastic and inquisitive. They had varied levels of gardening experience and were keen on native plants and the environment. In fact, individuals in the group spent $120 in the Native Plant Nursery! These purchases sparked quite a good-natured debate since most folks carpooled and car space was limited. “Load person or plant…person or plant?” We were lucky it did not devolve into rock-paper-scissors!

We started the tour in the Gathering Place and ended there with cold drinks and time for sharing. The weather was lovely under our big old oak and was perfect for making new friends. Their group went on to lunch and some headed into Jacksonville for the community-wide garage sale.  Kind of a perfect day in my book.

As a personal aside, I’d like to share an “aha moment”. The Illinois Valley-Cave Junction Garden Club could not accept our initial tour invite for late May, as explained by their president, Ron Morse, because “that’s a very busy time for our gardeners”. They requested late August or early September. We agreed on September 6th. I fretted about the timing; I didn’t want to disappoint them since our gardens are at their best in May and early June. To my relief, I discovered our gardens presented very nicely, even in September. Our guests were not disappointed.

Are there other JCMGA activities that might be suitable for an expanded timeline to decompress our spring calendar?

A special thank you to Alice Ingraham MG 2024 for her creation of the impressive panel (one of two) she loaned us for the tour. She created these out of cardboard!

Thanks for the Memories, Creepy Old House….

By Beet 2024 09 September

 

So many of us fondly remember learning and working in the Creepy Old House, squeezing into the cramped propagation house, fumbling for tools in the dark and dank tool shed, and being reluctant to enter the cobwebby isolation greenhouse.

Well…

Although the timing is a bit ethereal yet, Jackson County plans to demolish the COH and propagation building and drag off the old tool shed. The isolation greenhouse may be saved, if it can be moved elsewhere on site. In addition, the driveway into SOREC Demonstration Gardens is going to be widened to 3 lanes to permit safer Hanley Road ingress and egress. The boundaries of the new driveway are not yet known.

Our Board of Directors appointed Jane Moyer to form an ad hoc Design Committee to work on a plan to replace these essential structures with new ADA compliant buildings designed to meet our classroom, storage, and tool shed needs now and in the future. The buildings will be placed on the original COH site and include an open plan lathe house in the space between the classroom and the toolshed.

The Design Committee brainstormed a long list of necessities based on long familiarity with the old buildings, their deficiencies, and potential future demands. Three bids were requested, one was favored due to the contractor’s thorough understanding of our needs and financial limitations. It was not the lowest or highest bid.

We expect to have an initial contractor drawing to share with you in the next month or two.

Next, paying for this project is a top priority. The JCMGA Board has agreed to use some of its savings and research what other funding sources may be available. (Bake sales are at the bottom of our list.)

Any questions or ideas can be directed to Jane Moyer, whose foresight was the inspiration for this project.

Look for periodic updates in The Beet as new information becomes available.

This upgrade is such a positive step for JCMGA. Exciting and uplifting!

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

By Beet 2024 07 July

A future gardener and intrepid young soul braving the rain and cold of the 2024 Spring Garden Fair.

This young man and his gardening family passed our Rock Painting booth in the pouring rain. Mom and Dad were happily training him in the “garden work ethos” to prepare him for all-weather gardening. He could hardly wait to get home and plant his treasures!