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Beet 2024 12 December

History of the Jackson County Master Gardener Association

By Beet 2024 12 December

In 1862, the Morrill Act, which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln, created a nationwide system of land-grant colleges and universities to provide education in agriculture. The purpose of these institutions was to provide access to a liberal, practical higher education for people who could not otherwise afford to attend the private colleges of the time (i.e., the working or industrial classes). The land-grant focus was defined in statute, “…to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts.”

In 1868, Oregon State University, formerly Oregon Agricultural College, was established as the designated land-grant college in Oregon. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service in order to distribute objective, scientific-based information developed by land-grant colleges and research stations to citizens.

In January of 1979, Donald W. Berry, Area Extension Agent, and Peter Giffen, Home Horticulturist, offered area garden clubs and other experienced gardeners in the Jackson County area the opportunity to receive 60 hours of training over a 10-week period. No fees would be charged, but students agreed to volunteer 60 hours of service time to the community in the new Master Gardener program. Volunteers would then become leaders in horticultural community service and/or garden educational programs.

Peter Giffen was quoted as saying, “This training program has been developed in response to the recent overwhelming interest in home gardening by the public and the resulting flood of questions received each gardening season by the Extension office. A single horticulturist cannot handle all these requests – over 8,000 calls last year alone.” Although the program had been successful in the Eugene area for two years and had been instituted in 18 other states, this was the first time it had been offered in Southern Oregon.

Over 30 community members took that first class in 1979 and were certified as OSU Master Gardeners. A new group of gardeners has been trained every year since then, except during the Covid pandemic of 2021. Today the non-profit Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a membership of nearly 300 volunteers providing unbiased, research-based information on sustainable gardening to their communities through educational outreach programs.

Interested in joining us? Please see our website for information about all our programs (you don’t need to be a Master Gardener) and how to become a Master Gardener.

 

December in the Garden

By Beet 2024 12 December

This is the last article in the series concerning yearlong gardening based on the Gardening Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year Round & Month by Month by the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association.   I hope that you have enjoyed the articles.

In December, there is not much to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow next Spring and Summer.

By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

December is the time to:

  • Inventory any leftover seeds.
  • Request garden catalogues.
  • Continue to check your stored harvest of vegetables and fruits.
  • Dig and divide rhubarb. This should be done every four years.
  • Start to plan your garden(s) for next year. Evaluate what grew well in your garden this year and what changes you would like to make for this coming year. Maybe consider growing a new variety of vegetable.

 

 

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

Garden For Life

Pudding n’ Pie

By Beet 2024 12 December

 

 

 

Little Jack Horner   

Sat in the corner,

Eating his Christmas pie,

He pulled out a Prunus domestica

And said, “What a good boy am I!”

 

Known as Italian, Empress, and blue plums, you’ll not be disappointed putting in your own European prune plum.  Also in the Rosaceae family, likely native to the coastal Mediterranean regions of Italy, their exact history can only be speculated.

It’s likely P. domestica and its ancestor fruit is about 2000 years old and originated in the region around the Caspian Sea and Caucasus.  Pomologist Luther Burbank’s extensive records note evidence that dried plums (prunes), were staple foods of the Tartars, Mongols, Turks and Huns who maintained a crude horticulture from very early times.

Prune plums gradually spread to Europe by traveling peoples using trade routes carrying dried “prunes” as nutritious food sources.  The first record of prune plums in the US was 1771 when Prince Nursery of Flushing, NY advertised “33 kinds of plums for sale”.  Luther Burbank improved more hybridized plum trees of different species than any others in history.  His work on improving plum trees has been proven unequaled through varieties enjoyed and cultivated today in Europe, America and Australia.

One of the first to bloom in spring, these compact (10-12’) trees fill with multiple buds exploding into clusters of brilliant bright-white flowers.  After fertilization (likely thanks to your Mason bees), green fruits develop into ovate-shaped drupes turning from green to a blackish blue with a powdery bloom when ripe in late summer.  Did you know this bloom acts as a natural barrier from insects and bacteria?

There’s nothing quite like some succulent-sweet prune plums that you can’t usually indulge in, other than growing your own.  With Italian varieties being self-fruitful, you only need one tree for fruiting!  Surrounding a brownish, easily removed pit, the dense amber or yellowish-green flesh is unrivaled with its jammy-sweet texture.  The low-water/high-sugar ratio creates not only fruitiness with citrus undertones but makes for ideal dried fruits.

They’re high in antioxidants, Vitamins A, B1, C, Niacin, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus and Iron, and also taste great fresh or as a dried snack.  Aside from fresh eating and drying, these plums can be used straight out of hand in salads, sliced for appetizer plates, and fruit bowls. They’re great grilled, but most suited for baking since they hold their shape and turn lovely fuchsia shades when cooked in crumbles, cakes, dumplings, turnovers, tarts, jams, jellies, compotes, sauces; and, of course, in that Christmas tart or pie!

Although fruiting later, Italian Prune Plums live a lot longer than Japanese varieties.  Given full sun, they’ll thrive in moisture-retentive heavy-clay soils as long as they’re well-drained.  Somewhat disease resistant, they’ll likely benefit from an autumn and spring spraying of copper soap to deter leaf and bacterial/fungal growth.

They’re hardy to zone 3, so maintain them at more compact levels or espalier when space is tight or you desire an attractive addition to your garden space.

While 2-3 years may seem a long wait, your rewards will be delicious pop-in-the-mouth plums and that special Christmas pie!

 

Resources:

Specialty Produce

Italian Prune Plums Information and Facts      

University of Wisconsin-Madison

European Plum

Sow America

History Of Plum Trees And Their Hybrids

 

Plant Sources:

One Green World

http://www.onegreenworld.com

Raintree Nursery

http://www.raintreenursery.com

Recipe:    Plum Tart

Pastry:

10” removable bottom tart pan lined with brown parchment paper

2 ½ cups white whole wheat flour (oat flour alternative)

¼ cup organic sugar or coconut sugar

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

zest from one organic lemon

2/3 cup olive oil

Mix flour, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl with wooden spoon. Pour oil over and mix until dough forms together (don’t overmix).  Chill while making filling.

 

Filling:

3 lbs prune plums, halved or quartered and pits removed

1/3 cup coconut sugar

ground cinnamon

½ cup coarsely chopped pistachio nuts

Coarse sugar crystals (like turbinado)

Preheat oven to 375°

Roll out dough on plastic wrap then invert into tart pan.  Press into pan, piecing together spots that might have torn.  Trim crust by running knife along top edge of pan.  (any scraps can be cut in strips, placed on foil then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar to bake for about 10 minutes along with tart for extra treats).

Place plum halves cut side down or quarters cut side up in a rosette pattern starting from outside edge overlapping rows to middle of pan.  Sprinkle with coconut sugar, cinnamon and pistachio nuts.

Bake tart about 30-35 minutes covering with foil if pastry starts to brown too much.

Remove from oven and let cool for about 15 minutes, then remove pan sides and slide tart onto serving platter.  Sprinkle with coarse sugar.  Serve warm or chilled with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  About 8-10 servings.

 

 

 

 

 

JCMGA Board Minutes – October 11 2024

By Beet 2024 12 December

Board Members Present:

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

Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG

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

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

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

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

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Janine Salvatti, Chair, Gardens WG

Jane Moyer, Chair, Fundraising WG

Michael Hornbeek, Student Representative

Sandy Hammond, Member-at-Large

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Pam Hillers, Archivist

Cassandra Toews, Member-at-Large

Ronnie Budge, Chair, Community Outreach WG

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Guests:

Lynn Kunstman

Annette Carter

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the Board meeting to order at 9:35am.

Additions to the Agenda:  A request was made to add the minutes of the October 4, 2024 Board Retreat to the agenda.

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

Approval of the Consent Agenda:   A request was made to pull the OMGA Report from the agenda.

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 Meeting Minutes from September 13, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the September 13, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from October 4, 2024:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the October 4, 2024 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

OMGA Report:  Colet Allen, OMGA Representative responded to a question regarding a memorandum of agreement that was reported by the OMGA Executive Committee.   Colet will request further information and report back to the Board.

Finance Report:  Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the September financial statements for Board review and discussion.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the financial statements for September 2024.  Motion passed.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  OSU MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic reported that the Creepy Old House is now scheduled for demolition over a two-week period beginning October 21, 2024.   The Jackson County Commissioner decision to not allow Josephine County Master Gardener’s to volunteer in Jackson County was shared with the Board.  Grace reported that the “Plant-a-Row” project this year donated 815 pounds of produce to Access.

President’s Report:   President Barbara Low shared the following information with the Board:

  1. President Low reported that the monthly meeting with MG Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic and Farm Manager Jake Hoyman continues to go well, facilitating communication and a productive partnership.
  2. The Winter Dreams Summer Gardens symposium now has 60 registrations including 13 landscapers. The Board discussed additional advertising to boost registrations.
  3. President Low reported on the Board’s Fall retreat and thought the discussion went well.

Membership Secretary Report:   Membership Secretary Ann Ackles reported that the goal for this coming renewal is to get every member to sign all forms online including input on individual member interest areas.  Election ballots for the 2025 Board will go out in a couple of weeks and will include the new graduates.

Discussion:

  1. Alec Levine, Director of SOREC met with the Board to propose a written Memorandum of Agreement for use of the SOREC “dump trailer” recently purchased by SOREC. Dr. Levine responded to questions from the Board.  The Board will review and discuss the agreement at a later date.
  2. Proposal to Preorder New Gardening Shirts: Member-at-Large Kaleen Reilly proposed a preorder, online process for new gardening shirts for the incoming Master Gardener class.  Kaleen would like to pursue this process and will present more details for the Board’s discussion at a later date.
  3. Proposal for a Part-time Paid Position for the Native Plant Nursery: Lynn Kunstman asked the Board to consider a possible part-time paid position to help care for the Native Plant Nursery specifically from May through November.  The Board discussed various ways to do this.  The Board requested more information about options to inform further discussion.
  4. Possibility of Paid Labor in the Demonstration Gardens: Janine Salvatti also presented the need to have paid labor to supplement volunteer labor in the demonstration gardens.  Janine is gathering related information from statewide Master Gardener staff.
  5. Community Outreach Working Group and Marketing & Technology Working Group for 2025: President Low reported that both of these working groups will need new chairs for fiscal year 2025.   The Board discussed having new Member-at-Large positions fill these chair positions.
  6. Practicum Design Ad Hoc Committee Update: Jane Moyer shared with the Board that the contractor who the Board was most interested in has separated from his business partner and formed a new construction company.  Jane stated that a next step might be to just build a tool shed for approximately $12,500 and eliminate the current pod rental for storing tools.

Business:

  1. Nomination Committee: Nomination Committee Chair Marcie Katz presented the following 2025 Board of Directors Slate of Candidates to the Board:

President- Barbara Low

President Elect- Linda Millus

Past President- Marcie Katz (incumbent)

Recording Secretary- Kathy Apple (incumbent)

Membership Secretary- Ann Ackles (incumbent)

Treasurer- Keltie Nelson (incumbent)

Assistant Treasurer- Regula Pepi (incumbent)

OMGA Representative- Colet Allen (incumbent)

Archivist and Co- Archivist- (Vote for 2)

Carrie Holmes

Susan Hoehn

Teresa Jarrett

Members at Large- (Vote for 5)

Joanne Daane

Connie Lyssand

Tami Cisneros

Jory Kaplan

Mary Schrouder

Cathy Millbank

Rebecca Cohn

Kaleen Reilly

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the 2025 Board of Directors Slate of Candidates.  Motion passed.

  1. Approval of the Native Plant Nursery Logo: Lynn Kunstman presented the proposed logo for the Native Plant Nursery.  Use of the logo would also include reference to JCMGA and OSU.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the new logo for the Native Plant Nursery.   Motion passed.

  1. Additional Gardening Shirts for Graduation: Kaleen Reilly proposed purchasing additional gardening shirts in the V-Neck, purple shade for graduation.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve $220.00 for the purchase of additional gardening shirts.  Motion passed.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:40am.

Next Meeting:

  1. The next Board meeting will be held November 8, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary