JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

Community Outreach Working Group

• Community Gardens Grants are available. May 15^th is the due date to submit an application for a grant.  Go to https://jacksoncountymga.org/community-garden-grants/  for details.
• JCMGA will have an information table at the upcoming Earth Day Blue Heron Event on April 19; at the Spring Garden Fair on May 3-4; and at the Medford Open Streets Event on May 31.
• School Grants will be available later this year.

Fundraising Working Group

• They have been working on fundraising opportunities.
• They will have a table at the Spring Garden Fair. Make sure to stop by to see what is available.

Garden Working Group

• They have been preparing for Spring.
• The Vegetable Demonstration Garden is being moved to a new location on the SOREC grounds.

 

Marketing & Technology Working Group

• New members have joined the group.
• We are working on several technology projects.

 

Member Services

• The 2025 Membership Chapter Directory is nearly completed.
• They are preparing for the JCMGA Annual Picnic

 

Program Support Working Group

• Volunteer Classes

One of my goals this year is to offer more trainings for you volunteers to boost your skills in all the great work you are already doing. This May, MG and Small Farms Coordinator Evie Smith will be traveling to Jackson County from Lincoln County to present to us. These classes all count as volunteer hours (Educational Event Planning – Indirect) and continuing education hours.

• Finding Reliable, Science-Based Resources- May 28 Afternoon (Time TBD).In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to determine if a gardening resource is scientifically-based, explore several resources for finding science-based gardening resources, and practice strategies for searching for reliable information. Please bring your laptop, tablet, or a device you can easily use for searching the internet. This is great for our presenters, Plant Clinic Mentors, and anyone interested in digging to find great sources of information.
• Best Practices for Adult Education- May 29 Morning (Time TBD). Wondering how to better engage participants in your Master Gardener workshops? In this workshop on best practices for adult education, we’ll talk through 5 strategies for developing and delivering engaging, memorable educational experiences for adult learners. You’ll get to spend some time thinking about how to put these strategies into practice, so Come to this session with an idea for a gardening topic or class you’d like to teach in the future! This continuing education credit counts towards our Growing and Belonging goals! In the VRS you can log this under continuing education – Growing and Belonging. We strongly encourage our volunteers to get at least an hour a year in the Growing and Belonging category to make our organization stronger.
• Seed to Supper

Seed to Supper is underway this April! We have 15 eager participants from Rouge Retreat’s three shelters. We are meeting at Hope Village to learn about veggie gardening this spring. There has been prep work of getting supplies ready and instructors prepared to teach throughout March. Now it is time to teach! We are excited to foster this relationship with Rogue Retreat and teach Jackson County Residents.

Spring Garden Fair Working Group

• They are working on the upcoming JCMGA Spring Garden Fair at the Jackson County Expo May 3-4. Make sure to save the date!
• They are currently looking for volunteers to help work the event. Please contact Barbara Low at barbaralow@msn.com if you are interested in volunteering.

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group

• They are working on the presentation schedule for the 2025.