Beet 2024 04 April

Board Members Present (In-Person or Via Zoom):

Barbara Low, President, Co-Chair, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Marcie Katz, Past President

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Pam Hillers, Archivist

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Co-Chair, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Lucy Pylkki, Member-at-Large & Co-Chair, Spring Garden Fair WG

Ronnie Budge, Chair, Community Outreach WG

Janine Salvatti, Chair, Gardens WG

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Janet Wright, Student Representative

Board Members Absent:

Rob MacWhorter, Member-at-Large

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Cassandra Toews, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Chair, Fundraising WG

Randa Linthwaite, Member-at-Large & Co-Chair, Marketing & Technology WG

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 9:34am by President Barbara Low.  President Low welcomed Janet Wright, the new MG student representative to the Board.

Additions to the Agenda:  Kathy Apple asked to have the Finance Report pulled from the Consent Agenda.

 Approval of the Consent Agenda:   The Finance Report was pulled from the Consent Agenda.  A question was raised as to what the initials NPNT meant in the Fundraising WG report (Native Plant Nursery Team).  President Low noted that the same report included the 2024 Fall Festival date as September 28^th which conflicts with the Board Retreat scheduled for September 27^th (Fall Festival set-up date).  The Board Retreat was rescheduled for October 4, 2024.  The OMGA Report referenced a financial letter which should have identified the OSU Foundation as the correct recipient of the letter.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the Consent Agenda as amended.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Agenda:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed.

 Approval of the Board Minutes from January 12, 2024:  The minutes were amended to correct name misspellings and add “Motion passed” after every motion to be clear on outcome.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the January 12, 2024 Board Minutes as amended.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Retreat Minutes from January 26, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the January 26, 2024 Board Retreat Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

 Announcements:

1. President Low shared that she has sent the plaque honoring Irv Johnson and a letter acknowledging his accomplishments to his family.
2. President Low has initiated monthly meetings with Grace Florjancic, Past President Marcie Katz, and SOREC Farm Manager Jake Hoyman to improve communication and collaboration amongst all parties.
3. President Low reminded the Board that a nomination committee will need to be formed to make OMGA award nominations for 2024. Nominations are due May 15, 2024.
4. A letter was sent to the OSU Foundation authorizing the scholarship award for the current school year.
5. Sandy Hammond has organized a JCMGA booth for the Josepine County Home show February 16-18, 2024 at the county fairgrounds.

 Business:

1, Bylaw Revision: Recording Secretary Apple presented the second reading of the proposed JCMGA Bylaw revision.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed revisions to the JCMGA Bylaws.  Motion passed.

3. Review & Approve Revisions to the JCMGA Policy 3.5 OSU Scholarships: Secretary Apple presented the proposed revision to Policy 3.5.  A new policy regarding Community Garden grants will be drafted by Sheri Morgan and Ronnie Budge.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed revision to Policy 3.5 OSU Scholarships.  Motion passed.

1. MG Program Coordinator Report: OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that three class sessions have now been held with the new 2024 MG class.  Former students have been participating for refresher updates. The renovation plans for the SOREC grounds are still in limbo until the property sewer and septic issues can be resolved.
2. Plants for Gramps Rural Grant Opportunity: OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported on a grant opportunity and seeks JCMGA’s support as a fiscal agent.   The grant provides horticultural education at rural libraries for seniors with the additional goal of decreasing social isolation and improving mental health.  Grace believes the grant can easily be administered in conjunction with her current responsibilities.  Grace asks that JCMGA be the recipient of the grant monies and disburse the funds according to the requirements of the grant.  The question was raised as to what, if any, liability JCMGA might incur.  Sandy Hammond will be asked to check with our liability insurance carrier.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the application to the Plants for Gramps Rural Grant contingent on clearance by the JCMGA liability insurance carrier.  Motion passed.

1. JCMGA President-Elect & Member-at-Large: President Low reported that no one has expressed interest in the President-Elect position to date.  Additionally, Randa Linthwaite, Member-at-Large & Co-Chair, Marketing & Technology WG has resigned her position.  President Low will now Co-Chair for Marketing & Technology along with Keltie Nelson as the other Co-Chair.  This leaves the Member-at-Large position vacant.
2. OMGA Alternate Representative: OMGA Representative Colet Allen reported that she has been in touch with members who may be interested in the appointment to this position.  She will follow up with the Board in March.

 

1. Financial Report: Secretary Apple asked to have this report pulled off the Consent Agenda for a question.  The item was tabled until the March Board meeting.
2. Board Retreat: President Low led the Board in a discussion of proposed strategic goals and objectives for 2024.  A final draft will be presented at the March Board meeting.  Working groups will be asked to prioritize activities under each objective for what is most important and can be reasonably accomplished given limited resources.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:30am.

Next Meeting:   The next Board meeting will be held March 8, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

 

 

Sanctuary One at Double Oak is a nonprofit working farm and animal rescue in the Applegate Valley.  We believe that people, animals, and the Earth are better together. Our mission here is to provide a refuge for animals and a healing place for people, while promoting environmental stewardship.

We are always looking for volunteers for the farm, as we only have 5 employees to manage 55 acres. Volunteering at Sanctuary One Care Farm can be a very meaningful experience for both people and animals alike.  By contributing to the healing of rescue animals and growing of crops, volunteers have the opportunity to heal and grow themselves.

What most people who visit the farm don’t realize is that we also have gardens!  We have a learning & healing garden, a permaculture garden, a fruit forest, and a lavender labyrinth. All the fruits and veggies we harvest are either sent to Access Food Bank or used here on the farm to feed the animals. Last year we donated over 1,500 pounds of produce to the food bank!

We are also an official pollinator site for the Xerces Project for invertebrate conservation. We have received 40 different pollinator plants from Xerces, including milkweed to help attract monarchs and other pollinators to the Applegate Valley.

Most of our volunteers want to help with animal related jobs, with few expressing an interest in gardening. We are reaching out to invite you to come and take a tour, see what our farm and gardens are all about, and possibly become a volunteer.  We ALWAYS need help in the gardens, and we have other volunteer opportunities as well. If you have some time you can contribute to this worthwhile cause, we’d love to meet you!

Sanctuary One conducts tours every Friday and Saturday at 10:00 am, beginning on April 27^th, and running through October.  Come and check us out.  Also, please visit our website at sanctuaryone.org.  You can email Janelle Whitfield directly at janelle@sanctuaryone.org with and questions you may have.  Thank you for your interest.

Hello Gardeners,

I am very excited to announce that JCMGA has been awarded funding from the Rural Older Adult Mini Grant that we applied to earlier this year! This grant is through the Oregon Health Authority and its goal is to help support social engagement among isolated rural and remote older adults. I see great opportunity for gardening to fit into this grant’s goals.

Horticulture therapy is an emerging practice to use gardening for improving mental health. Hospitals have shown quicker recovery times when patients have greenery in their rooms or a window with a view of nature. There have been studies showing a boost in mood when plants are just in the room with us! Beyond making us happier, working with plants has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve memory. Horticultural therapy focuses on learning new skills, activating the senses, building social connections, and improve coordination.

Our programing funded by this grant will take place in the rural libraries of Jackson County as meeting locations. Cohorts of about 6-10 participants will meet for six weeks doing various gardening activities based on horticultural therapy ideas. Activities range from learning to grow plants indoors, creating art with plants, and using herbs for a tea party. We hope that people will form lasting connections with their groups as well as foster a love for plants.

As we age, we have to change the way we garden and enjoy our plants. This program is designed with that in mind. My grandma is a lifelong gardener but when she entered her 90’s she had to take a big step back from her outdoor plants. I helped her grow plants in containers on her porch and set her up with some indoor plants. She has been so happy to continue her lifelong love of plants in a way that is easier on her body than outdoor gardening was. I hope that people leave this program with the knowledge and skills to keep gardening and adapt the way they garden to fit their needs. I also hope participants make some new friends along the way.

Do you want to get involved?

If so, please contact me at grace.florjancic@oregonstate.edu. This new program is a short 6-month grant, so we are quickly getting this ball rolling!

The OSU Plant Clinic is here to help you.

We are located at 569 Hanley Road, Central Point.

You can contact us at sorec.plantclinic@oregonstate.edu  or  541-930-8420.

Change of Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.   (April-October)

 

Samples are always appreciated when you have a plant or insect questions.

Please bring samples, whether insects or plants.

Go to https://beav.es/ScJ  for how to collect samples.

It’s time to nominate someone for State Behind the Scenes Master Gardener of the Year, and our local county JCMGA Master Gardener of the Year and Behind the Scenes Master Gardener of the Year. This year you can also nominate a volunteer who has worked to advance Growing and Belonging. ~~~~ All nominations are due by April 15th. ~~~~ The annual Master-Gardener-of-the-Year Award recognizes outstanding dedication and service in support of sustainable gardening to benefit all of Jackson County and/or the entire Oregon Master Gardener program. Describe your nominees’ contributions in education and outreach, such as work in the Plant Clinic, teaching classes, serving as a mentor, planning and organizing a major project, or other activities. Include any leadership roles they have held. If their work has had an impact beyond the borders of Jackson County, e.g., if other county Master Gardener programs have adopted projects that started in Jackson County, be sure to mention that! The annual Behind-the-Scenes Award can also be for service just in Jackson County or statewide. It recognizes individuals who work quietly and unselfishly in ways that may not be noticed by everyone, e.g. by preparing and serving refreshments, keeping accurate records, maintaining and repairing the physical plant, or seeing projects through to completion. In addition to our Master Gardener of the Year, and Behind the Scenes awards, 2023 marks the first year recognizing and celebrating the volunteers who have significantly contributed in advancing diversity, inclusion, access, and/or equity among Master Gardener volunteers and the communities we work with. In 200 words or less, describe your nominees’ activities as fully as you can ​with specific examples​, and e-mail your nominations to ​Barbara Low at Barbaralow@msn.com