Program Support Working Group Report

Community Classes

On February 22^nd we held a rose pruning class for the community taught by Master Gardener Rosenell Florencechild. It was a great time to see Master Gardeners and Jackson County residents come together to learn about rose care. Many great questions were asked and discussions held. We had plenty of time to get our hands working and our pruners snipping.

Seed to Supper

Seed to Supper is back in action! This year we have scheduled classes at Rogue Retreat’s Hope Village to serve residents of their three shelters; Hope Village, Kelly Shelter, and The Crossings. Classes are scheduled from the end of March through the end of April. Participants receive a helpful workbook full of the activities done in class, basic gardening information, and nutrition information to keep with them after the course ends.

Next year, we hope to continue this relationship with Rogue Retreat as well as expanding to more locations. In the past, this course has been offered throughout the county at housing authority locations, community gardens, and other community spaces.

At the Statewide MG level there are future updates on the way for Seed to Supper. Currently the format is 6 weeks of 2-hour classes for participants. This can be difficult for people to fit in their schedules. The first week’s topic of the course is a heavy hitter with designing a veggie garden. The instructors will be providing feedback to the Statewide MG Program to help the Seed to Supper working group think about updates and improvements to the program.

Cultivating Companions

We will be back in the libraries this fall for more Cultivating Companions: Growing Connections Through Plants! We have dates and times set up to serve older adults with Talent Library and Gold Hill Library. As we approach the start dates of the programs, I will have fliers you all can share with your friends, family, enemies, and neighbors in these towns. We have some instructors from last year’s groups excited to be a part of this program again as well as space for new instructors to join us.

Gold Hill Library: Thursdays Sep 4 – Oct 16  12:30pm-2:30pm
Talent Library:  Thursdays Sep 4 – Oct 16  2:00pm-4:00pm