Beet 2023 11 November

What Does the Garden Ecology Lab Do?

The Oregon State University Garden Ecology Lab was founded in 2017 to advance our understanding of how to plan, plant, and manage garden systems to promote environmental and human health. We are one of two labs in the United States, and the only one in the Western half of the United States, to specifically focus on studies of garden ecology.  People studying ‘garden ecology’ conduct research in private garden spaces, in addition to community gardens which are easier to access. Research in both private and public garden spaces provides a broader view of how garden management and design influences ecological outcomes. In addition to researching plants, soils, microbes, etc., the OSU Garden Ecology Lab looks into the full supply and management chain that influences gardens: nursery producers, landscapers, gardeners, etc.

What Has the Garden Ecology Lab Discovered?

Much of our work is centered on garden insects, which are excellent models for studying urban biodiversity, species’ responses to environmental change, and food-web and ecological function in garden habitats. We have also branched out into social science, soil science, and microbiology. Because of our work on native plants, we are delving deeper into the botanical sciences, including studies of plant physiology.

Uniting our work is a common interest in urban ecology. This is timely, given regional, national, and global urbanization trends. In six short years, we have made many novel and important contributions to the sciences. Specifically, we have:

• Identified 10 Pacific Northwest Native plants that are most attractive to bees (peer refereed publication).
• Found that gardeners generally didn’t prefer bee-attractive native plants (peer refereed publication).
• Developed an infographic to help raise gardener acceptance of bee-attractive native plants (peer reviewed Extension document).
• Identified five Pacific Northwest Native plants that are most attractive to predator and parasitoid insects (journal publication and Extension document in preparation).
• Studied how cultivation of native plants and native cultivars affects bee, syrphid fly, and butterfly visitation (award-winning scientific posters in 2022 and 2023, with two journal publications in preparation).
• Studied how cultivation of native plants and native cultivars affects plant traits that are important to bees, such as nectar volume, pollen nutrition, UV guides (journal publication in preparation).
• Studied how cultivation of native plants and native cultivars affects the use of flowers as nest site materials in leaf-cutting bees (journal publication in preparation).
• Developed a technique that scientists can use to take bee-vision photos of flowers outdoors. Examples include a group art gallery show at OSU, a solo art gallery show at the Pine Meadows Ranch for Art and Agriculture in Sisters, and an OSU Honor’s thesis, and journal publication in review.
• Assayed the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of vegetable garden soils tended by Master Gardeners, and found that excessive fertility was the norm (peer refereed publication).
• Extended the urban soils study by further characterizing garden soil bacteria, and the extent to which microbes transfer to and influence gardeners’ skin microbiome (peer refereed publication)
• Identified the bee communities of Portland-area gardens (iNaturalist guide, with a social media campaign, species guide, and journal publication in preparation)
• Compiled and analyzed the global list of garden bees, to identify the bee types that are favored versus excluded in garden systems (peer refereed publication in press)
• Identified the potential value of gardens as conservation areas for pollinators, in a mixed agriculture and urban landscape (peer refereed publication)

What Are Our Future Plans?

Future work will be guided and informed by you – gardeners who can help determine high priority questions that our lab could address within our areas of expertise or with collaboration. Potential ideas for future studies include:

• Determining the pollination and predation impacts of syrphid flies in gardens.
• Studying the carry-over effect of garden trees for urban cooling and moderation of urban dust, from garden sites where trees are planted to areas outside of property boundaries.
• Studying the trade-off between letting summer lawns go dormant and urban heat, versus watering summer lawns, and evapo-transpirative (ET) cooling. This study would also examine the trade-off between urban heat and ET cooling with alternative lawn plantings.
• Studying how mixed- versus single-species plantings of pollinator attractive plants influence garden pollinator communities.

We are collaborating on two projects that are somewhat ancillary to residential gardening systems, but whose outcomes are likely to benefit gardeners who grow food in apartment buildings or on rooftop gardens.  Our collaborators are:

• University of Oregon architects: to develop model designs for closed-loop, building integrated agriculture systems that use heat and water waste from high-rise buildings to grow food. We are testing prototype urban agriculture window ‘beds’ on the fifth floor of the PAE Living Building in Portland, OR.
• OSU Nursery Plant Physiologists: to grow a hydroponics training program in Oregon. This work is focused on commercial growers but could also benefit home-growers.

What Does it Cost to Run the Garden Ecology Lab Research Program?

It costs $106,000 annually to host two graduate students and pay for research expenses. These students work under the guidance of Dr. Langellotto, Lab Director and Professor of Horticulture, on a variety of projects. The OSU Horticulture Department underwrites student tuition which reduces our annual fundraising goal to $86,000.

Please consider contributing to support garden research. If you use a check, please write Oregon Garden Research Fund, Acct 4100-16055 in the check memo line. If you contribute in other ways, please add this note in the appropriate location. Mail to:

Oregon State University Foundation

4238 SW Research Way

Corvallis, OR 97333.

 

If you donate with a credit card, go to https://give.fororegonstate.org/PL1Uv3Fkug, select the amount and frequency, then type in Oregon Garden Research Fund under “I want to give to”. Complete the rest of the form.

Contributions are tax-deductible per IRS rules. Oregon State University’s federal tax ID is 93-6022772

 

Now you can become a part of the permanent history of the Jackson County Master Gardener Association!

Our archival collection of records, photographs, scrapbooks, newsletters, and much more dates to our beginning in 1979. The role of archivist is to curate this important collection by directing researchers to needed information. By selecting and storing new information of day-to-day activities, the archivist also captures the ongoing work that is accomplished by our wonderful gardening members.

The archivist-elect position is open next year, working first with our current archivist, Pam Hillers, then moving into the archivist position in 2025.

For additional information, please contact either:

• Pam Hillers, archivist at pamhillers@hotmail.com
• Linda Holder, previous archivist at lholder@charter.net.

We’d love to talk to you!

 

 

Community Outreach Working Group

• Worked on the Budget Request for 2024
• Special Events:
  • The Builders Association welcomes JCMGA’s participation in their home shows in Josephine County in February and at Expo in May. There would be no charge for a booth, but they ask for our help in advertising the events. Ronnie Budge suggested the booth could be like the one JCMGA developed for Medford Open Streets in Hawthorne Park. When Colet Allen meets with the president of the Josephine Co. MGA, she will ask about their participation in the Jo. Co. home show in 2022, specifically if they presented “webinars” or other programming.
• Friends of the Gardens:
  • Colet reported that Grace Florjancic needs to finish some administrative details before the new Friends program can begin. The COWG may assist the Member Services WG with other planning.
• Speakers Bureau:
  • Colet is still working on training new speakers. Although the Jackson County Library wanted to have a winter series of gardening programs, no JCMGA members volunteered to present. However, there will be a spring gardening series. Topics: Butterflies; Beneficial Insects; Native Grasses.

Recent presenters were disappointed by the small attendance at both in-person and Zoom library programs. Colet will discuss this with library representative Spencer Ellis. It was recommended that if speakers have handouts to share (whether with in-person or Zoom audiences), they be distributed after the presentations and not before.

• School Grants:
  • John Kobal is trying to reach every school in Jackson County to let them know about the grants and the application deadline of November 3. Once applications are received, committee members will visit the schools in person to learn more about their proposals before awards are made.

 

FUNDRAISING WORKING GROUP

chair is Sandy Hammond

The JCMGA first Fall Festival was a success.

 

Garden Enhancement Working Group

Chair, Janine Salvatti

We are continuing to work in the gardens and are now getting them ready for the cooler temperatures.

 

Marketing and Technology Working Group

chair is Marcia Harris

Marcia is stepping down as chair.  We are looking for someone to take her place.

 

Member Services Working Group

chair is Barbara Low

The MG Class of 2023 Graduation Celebration is on November 4 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the SOREC Extension.

We are sending out a survey to our current and past members to find out what they like about JCMGA and what they would like to have improved.  This will be a very short survey.

 

Program Support Working Group

Chair is Grace Florjancic

We are entering the busy season for the Program Support Working Group. Much is happening with planning for the 2024 year. We are scheduling speakers for the community education classes, scheduling locations for Seed to Supper classes, and finalizing details for the 2024 MG Training class. Reach out to Grace Florjancic grace.florjancic@oregonstate.edu if you are interested in joining the Program Support Working Group. There is much to do to get the community education classes rolling!

 

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group

chairs are Colet Allen, Susan Koenig, and Barbara Low

Registration is now open Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023 Symposium.  This virtual event will be October 27, 28, November 3, and 4.

The links for the recordings will be sent out the week of November 5^th.

There will be a satisfaction survey sent out the week of November 5^th and the data collected will be used to plan for next year’s Winter Dreams Summer Gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 11, 2023

The Board of Directors meeting was called to order by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. with President

Marcie Katz presiding.

Board Members Present in person: Marcie Katz, Barbara Low, Jane Moyer, Colet Allen,  Sandy Hammond, Janine Salvatti, Lucy Pylkki, Cassandra Toews, Rob MacWhorter, Pam Hillers,  Grace Florjancic

Board Members Present by Zoom: Sandy Hansen, Sean Cawley, Ronnie Budge, Regula Pepi, Trina Stout, Dee Copley

Absent: Margaret Saydah, Keltie Nelson, Marcia Harris, Kathy Apple

Guests Present in Person: Heidi Gehman

Guests Present by Zoom: Sherri Morgan, Nicole Smith, Lynn Kunstman

Consent Agenda:  Ronnie Budge asked two questions:

1. In the Finance Report, what does “PST” mean? Treasurer Sean Cawley will provide

the answer at the October meeting.

2. Revenue to date for Winter Dreams Summer Gardens was provided in the Finance

Report but not included on the pie chart.  Treasurer Sean Cawley explained the pie

chart only shows revenue through the end of July.  It will be included on the next one.

Ronnie Budge moved and Lucy Pylkki seconded the Consent Agenda be approved.  Passed

Additions to the Agenda: Barbara Low asked that By-laws Committee and board meeting

minutes be added to the agenda.

Approval of Agenda: Marcie Katz moved to have the agenda approved as amended.  Janine

Salvatti seconded.  Motion passed.

Approval of Minutes: Barbara Low pointed out Colet Allen’s name was misspelled in the list of board members present at the August board meeting. Barbara Low also pointed out it was decided she would not attend the Jackson Co. Commissioners meeting.  Pam Hillers moved and Cassandra Toews seconded the July board meeting minutes be approved as corrected.

Passed.

Announcements:

1. Janine Salvatti reported a workshop will be held September 15 in Greenhouse #2 for

making glass mosaic garden art.  It will be open to Master Gardeners and the public.

Participants can find the supply list in the August Garden Beet and by Mail Chimp.

Plastic left over from the picnic will be used to cover the tables.  The Gardens

Enhancement Committee will prepare the greenhouse.

2. Barbara Low reported 60 people made reservations for the picnic but only 50

attended.  Joe Alvord stepped in at the last minute to cook.

3. Sandy Hammond reminded board members the Fall Festival will be held October 14.

Setup will be Friday, October 13.  Plant sale booths will be located in the parking lot.

All other sales will be in Greenhouse #2, including holiday items.

4. Barbara Low announced a nominating committee is needed for 2024 officers. Board

members who volunteered include Barbara, Kathy Apple, Lucy Pylkki, and Colet Allen.

Nominations will be announced at the October board meeting.

5. Barbara Low asked all Working Groups to check the website for accuracy of any

information pertaining to them.

6. Extension Office Manager Heidi Gehman explained the new facilities rental

agreement (See Attachment #1).  The rental agreement will be in force for a trial

year.  There will be reduced or no rental fees for groups affiliated with SOREC (Master

Gardeners, Food Preservers, 4-H, Land Stewards, etc.) at Heidi’s discretion except for

fund-raising events.  After the first year, the rental for fund-raising events may

become a set fee plus a percentage of the proceeds.  Pop-up Sales will require a

conversation with Heidi and will be charged at her discretion depending on the needs.

7. Heidi was also asked about the Josephine Co. Extension.  When the commissioners

cancelled all Extension funding, they didn’t seem to realize Extension included

programs other than 4-H.  Master Gardener Coordinator Danielle Knueple has

resigned. In Jackson Co., there have been issues for some 4-H families that are

unhappy with changes being made.  However, one commissioner expressed gratitude

for the attention given to address these issues, including two large public meetings

with Dr. Ivory Lyles and other 4-H leadership from OSU.  Lena Hosking, 4-H

Coordinator and Stephen McIntire, Program Assistant have both resigned.  The

positions will be posted.

Coordinator’s Report:  MG Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported

1. all Master Gardeners (both perennial and students) should turn in their hours for

November 1, 2022–October 31, 2023 as soon as possible by recording them in the

online VRS (https://vrs.osumg.org/sec_Login/) or by giving Grace a paper copy.

Working group and committee chairs are asked to let Grace know about any

opportunities for students to earn hours.

2. she will be working 4 hrs./week with the Josephine Co. Master Gardener Program

until they hire a new coordinator.

3. Plant A Row has collected almost 300 lbs. of produce for ACCESS. Barbara Low has

been transporting it when ACCESS couldn’t come get it.  Sean Cawley has donated

from the Vegetable Demonstration Garden.

Discussion items:

1. Sherri Morgan reported on the last SOREC Advisory Committee meeting: Alec Levin is

planning to enlarge the committee by adding more community members, the Creepy

Old House will be coming down, Alec will be getting plans drawn for the grounds

improvements including a pavilion, Gordon Jones has transferred to Crook County.

 

 

2. President-elect Barbara Low asked to have the Bylaws Committee do an annual

review as prescribed in Policy 1.2 and Article IV Section 4.  In addition to Barbara,

members will include Kathy Apple, Sandy Hansen, and Jane Moyer.  Pam Hillers

suggested the Bylaws Committee should be a standing committee rather than ad hoc.

This will be discussed at the October meeting.

Motion Items:

1. Barbara Low reported an evaluation of Question Pro that JCMGA uses for surveys, is

due.  After discussion of the benefits, Ronnie Budge moved and Colet Allen seconded

                that a positive evaluation be given.  Passed.

2. Jane Moyer reported the donor of the $10,000 grant, would like to have a ground

plaque placed in the Lavender Garden to acknowledge their contribution.  Kendyl

Berkowitz has provided a suggested format

(https://www.donor-recognitions.com/Cast-Aluminum-Plaques-p/castplaqueal.htm).  Kendyl thinks she

can get the donor, Fortune Brand, to pay for the plaque. Cassandra Toews moved and

                Janine Salvatti seconded that JCMGA accept the suggested format for the plaque.

The motion passed.

3. Barbara Low moved and Cassandra Toews seconded that approved board meeting

                minutes be included in The Garden Beet with The Garden Beet publisher editing as

                needed.  Motion passed.

4. Barbara Low, on behalf of the Member Services Working Group and the Community

                Outreach Working Group, moved the Friends of the Gardens proposal (Attachment

                #2) be accepted by the board.  Unanimous approval.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED: President Marcie Katz adjourned the meeting at 11:23.

 

NEXT MEETING: Board Meeting Friday, October 13, 2023, 9:00 chit-chat, 9:30 meeting

                       

Submitted by Jane Moyer, Recording Secretary

 

Friends of the Gardens Program Proposal

The Community Outreach Working Group and the Member Services Working Group have been discussing the possibility of starting Friends of the Gardens Program.  A Joint committee was formed at the end of June.    The Joint Committee consisted of Colet Allen, Grace Florjancic, Barbara Low and Linda Millus.  John Kobal joined us in August.  The draft proposal was given to the Community Outreach Working Group and the Member Services Working Group for their approval.  Both groups have discussed it and offered suggestions.  At the August 21^st Joint Meeting the suggestions were made part of the proposal.  It will be presented to the JCMGA Board for their approval at the September meeting.

 

Friends of the Gardens Program Description

This program would consist of :

1. JCMGA Volunteer Coordinator(s)
   1. Act as the contact person between the GEMS and the Friends of the Gardens participants
   2. Vital to have communication between the JCMGA Volunteer Coordinator, the GEMS, and the Friends of the Gardens participants.
   3. The JCMGA Coordinator will check in with the participants to see how everything is going. This will be done after the first month of volunteering, the 3^rd month of volunteering and at the end of November.
   4. Will develop a basic checklist for new volunteers including what needs to be completed.
   5. Establish a schedule with the GEMs to lead the group of volunteers through the Demonstration Gardens each week. The week before a GEM is leading volunteers, check with that GEM to be sure they are still available to lead volunteers.
   6. For incoming volunteers, the coordinator will give them an overview of what volunteering will look like including the day of the week and hours volunteering occurs. Let them know they will need to attend an orientation before they begin volunteering. Orientations will most likely just be 1-2 new volunteers at a time and can be held whenever convenient, they don’t have to be on the main workday.
   7. Will make sure that all required OSU forms – including the Code of Conduct Form – is signed before working in the gardens.
   8. For existing volunteers, email them a weekly reminder of the upcoming volunteer day. Include any specific notes about the day like the weather or a cancellation of the day.
   9. Will record each participant’s volunteer hours
   10. TBD — Grace Florjancic will be acting Volunteer Coordinator until we have one.

 

2. MG Program Coordinator’s Role: the OSU side of paperwork.
3. The MG Program Coordinator would be responsible for ensuring all Friends of the Gardens have their waivers signed before they begin working in the gardens.
4. The coordinator will have contact information and emergency contact information for these volunteers.
5. While establishing the Friends of the Gardens program, Grace is willing to help with coordinating orientation days for the new volunteers, promotion of the program, and working with MGs interested in becoming the Friends of the Gardens coordinator to show ways of keeping organized and scheduling.

 

 

3. GEMs
   1. GEMS would email their volunteers to update them on the Demonstration Garden work that is planned to be done and work reminders.
   2. GEMS would let us know specifically what they would want Friends of the Gardens participants to do.

 

 

4. Friends of the Garden
   1. Participants will be non-member volunteers who work with GEMS in the Demonstration Gardens.
   2. Friends of the Gardens participants would work on Wednesday’s from 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. with GEMs as they are already working in the gardens that day. Participants could start the first week of April and end the last week of November. An average of 5 Friends of the Gardens volunteers in the garden for 3 hours each week in this time period would equate to an additional 480 hours of volunteering in the gardens.
   3. We feel that participants may want to work in a specific garden – because of individual interests. They would also have the opportunity to move around to other gardens at a later date as long as GEMS involved agree.
   4. Volunteers will check-in and sign out in the office. This way we can keep track of their hours.
   5. To ensure the safety of our volunteers, there should be limits on the tools they have access to. Anything powered like a blower or mower should be handled by a MG.
   6. Anything that needs to be sprayed should be handled by a MG, even if that spray is safe for human contact.
   7. Required to attend an Orientation before working in our Demonstration Gardens.

• Structure of the day
• Tool safety
• Proper gardening attire
• Importance of being up to date on tetanus shots
• Check practicum orientation lesson for other items which should be included

Benefits of Program

We see these individuals as ambassadors for JCMGA and SOREC.  They are a way to make us more visible in the community.

Beginning with one segment of volunteering, Demonstration Garden maintenance, would simplify the work in coordinating volunteers, keeping the volunteer group together as a unit to build comradery, and it is what most non-MGs are interested in doing. But although we expect most Friends of the Gardens volunteers to assist in the Demonstration Gardens, volunteers who wish to have other assignments may be accommodated.

One main benefit of having non-MG volunteers in the gardens is that they can start working in the gardens earlier than students can. There are many big-ticket items like leaf removal and pruning that occur in mid spring while the students are still in class. Another benefit is that currently GEMs often have trouble keeping up with the work involved with garden maintenance but with more volunteers it will lighten their workload.

 

 

Targeted Audience

Our targeted audience are those individuals who are interested in gardening but not a Master Gardener.

The minimum age will be 10 years old and accompanied by an adult.  All waiver forms would have to be signed by the guardian.

The minimum age for someone to volunteer without a parent/guardian is 16 years old.  Guardian would have to sign the waivers.

No maximum age limit.  Volunteers will supervise their needs – such as drinking water, taking breaks, sitting in the shade ….

 

Possible Perks for the Friends of the Gardens

• Knowledge gained in working with GEMS in the gardens.
• Possible discounts in organization (TBD)
• Invitation to Annual Membership Picnic
  • Give out a Friend of JCMGA Award
• Social interaction with people who also enjoy gardening.

How to Advertise It

• Facebook
• Garden Beet
• Add a page on JCMGA website.
  • General information about program
  • Waiver documents available
  • Orientation Video