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Jackson County Master Gardeners

Sep 01

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — September 2025

By Beet 2025 09 September

 

 

September

  • Nominations for the 2026 JCMGA Board due. Contact Linda Millus.
  • JCMGA September Board Meeting will be on September 12th.
  • JCMGA Board Fall Retreat will be on September 19th.
  • JCMGA Fall Plant Sale will be Saturday, September 27th at the SOREC Extension.
  • We are collecting produce (fruit and vegetables) donations on Wednesdays from 9-12 p.m. – which will be given to Access. Please bring your produce to the Gather Place at the SOREC Extension.

 

October

Sep 01

Coordinator’s Column

By Beet 2025 09 September

 

Hello Gardeners,

You all have spent time out in the gardens learning about and maintaining the plants, but did you know that you can invite your friends and family to volunteer and learn alongside you?

The demonstration gardens have been a thriving way to gather and learn with one another. The gardens have been opened up for non-Master Gardeners to volunteer and join in on the action. Through Friends of the Garden, parents, spouses, kids, and friends of Master Gardener Volunteers have been getting their hands dirty! This is another way for us to share our knowledge and joy of gardening with the larger community of Jackson County.

How do you bring in someone to become a Friend of the Garden? It’s easy! Reach out to Grace Florjancic at grace.florjancic@oregonstate.edu to make sure a waiver is signed and your Garden Friend has an orientation of the demonstration gardens. Bringing a friend is also a great way for a Master Gardener to get back into the swing of volunteering in the gardens.

Happy gardening!

 

Sep 01

JCMGA 2026 Practicum Mentors Needed

By Beet 2025 09 September

Nicole Smith and I are the leaders of the JCMGA Practicum, and we are excited about being a part of the upcoming JCMGA 2026 Practicum. We need new mentors! New mentors will be paired with an experienced mentor, and training will be provided for each Practicum lesson. We are here to support all of our mentors and Master Gardener students.

We are among the very few Master Gardener programs in Oregon that offer a Practicum. The Practicum gives a unique opportunity to have enough hours of practice for students to feel confident that they deserve to be called a Master Gardener when they graduate from the Master Gardener and Practicum programs. The Practicum is focused on home gardening and includes a variety of lessons which are designed to help students become more effective gardeners.

What is the time commitment?

  • September 17: kickoff meeting for Practicum 2026
  • October TBA: Practicum Teams begin meeting once a month. The four teams are Seed, Greenhouse Maintenance, Native Plants, and Curriculum. You choose the team you want to be a part of!
  • December TBA: 2-3 afternoons to clean and prepare the greenhouses for the upcoming Practicum.
  • January 7: 2026 Practicum Training Meeting
  • January 28-Mid-May: Weekly Wednesday Mentor meetings are held to review the upcoming week’s Practicum lesson and provide any necessary updates.
  • January 29-Mid-May: Practicum for students begins.

o You would be working with one group of Practicum students once a week

I have found this to be a very meaningful and wonderful experience. We look forward to expanding our team of knowledgeable, caring, and supportive individuals

 

Jackson County Master Gardener™ Practicum (MGP)

Mentor Expectations

  1. Attitudes
  2. Willingness to share gardening knowledge in a pleasant and friendly way
  3. Understanding that there is always more than one way to ​accomplish a task, with a recognition that consistency is needed between MGP sessions
  4. Respect for students as educated adults who often know more about gardening than we do
  5. Ability to treat students with kindness, dignity, and respect at all times
  6. Willingness to have open-minded discussions of practices and procedures during mentor meetings without making personal attacks or taking the discussions personally
  7. Willingness to check email daily and respond promptly when needed
  8. Requirements
  9. Graduated of the Master Gardener Program
  10. Completed the optional Practicum
  11. Certified or re-certified Master Gardener
  12. Member of JCMGA (membership renewed and annual dues paid)
  13. Meetings/ Work Days
  14. Attending meetings, training, and workdays September-January (may be canceled if necessary)
  15. Attending Wednesday meetings when MGP is in session to review the lesson for the week and discuss any issues that have come up during the week (~2 hrs each week)
  16. Helping with Wednesday care of plants and any other needed tasks that arise (time required is dependent upon the number of plants and the weather)
  17. Helping on additional workdays as needed (time required dependent upon task)
  18. Working with Students ~4 hrs/wk
  19. Working with co-mentors to facilitate weekly meetings with students ~3.5 hrs/wk
  20. Sharing responsibilities with co-mentors for teaching, supervising student activities, maintaining records, cleanup, etc.
  21. Meeting weekly with co-mentors to plan & assign week’s activities ~30 min/wk
  22. Working with co-mentors to assure that all tasks are accomplished each week ~30 min/wk
  23. Reviewing all documents and videos on the website and/or handouts in class (time varies each week)
  24. Coming to your weekly session prepared to teach (time varies each week)
  25. Sharing the Load
  26. Joining one or more Practicum teams (Curriculum Team, Seed Team, Greenhouse Maintenance Team, Native Plants Nursery Team) to work on items that are needed for the Practicum to run.
  27. Sharing one-time and on-going tasks required to keep the MGP running smoothly
  28. Participating in the Spring Garden Fair and/or the MGP After Sale
  29. Sharing the joys of being a mentor
  30. The Mentor Attitude
  31. Camaraderie with other mentors
  32. Continued learning
  33. Opportunity to give back to the community
  34. Sense of satisfaction
  35. FUN!

We hope that you will seriously consider joining our team!

Contact me at barbarlow@msn.com if you have any questions and if you would be interested

in joining our Practicum Mentor Team.

Sep 01

2025 Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Presentations – Final Speakers

By Beet 2025 09 September

The Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium is growing nearer by the day. I know you have been waiting patiently since last month to see the final five presentations which have been expertly crafted and brought to you by the JCMGA Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group. The wait is over, here they are!

Registration is open. Have you reserved your virtual spot? Join us October 17, 18, 24, and 25 from the comfort of your home via Zoom and dream your summer garden into being.

 

Oregon Butterflies and the Native Plants That Host Them   

Presented by Lynn Kunstman

North American insects have evolved to feed on native plants. If we want to increase the number and variety (abundance and diversity) of butterflies in our yards and gardens, we need to nurture those plants on which their larvae feed. Each family of plants hosts a specific suite of butterflies with whom they share evolutionary relationships. In some cases, a single Genus of plant hosts a specialized lepidoptera species – as with milkweed (Asclepias) and the monarch butterfly. This presentation will show you Oregon’s beautiful native butterflies and the plants that support them. Get ready to add some winged color to your yard by choosing native plants!

Lynn Kunstman began gardening with her parents in Lafayette, California as a young child. She has a degree in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University and, after moving to Ashland in 1986, obtained a Master of Science in Education from SOU. After teaching middle school special ed and science for 22 years, she retired to Medford, where she grew a huge vegetable garden; harvesting and preserving food crops year-round. She became a Master Gardener in 2012, and a Master Food Preserver in 2013. Most recently her focus has been on gardening for wildlife and pollinators. Lynn is the Master Gardener Speaker on the monthly gardening show Garden for Life on Jefferson Public Radio. Her quarter acre lot in Medford is certified as a Monarch Way Station, a Pollinator Garden, and a Wildlife Habitat. In 2023 she was named Oregon State Master Gardener of the Year. She established and runs the native plants nursery at Jackson County Extension Campus. She also rears, tags and releases monarch butterflies as part of a citizen science effort through University of Washington.

 

What’s Your Garden Future? Talking Climate Change with Oregon’s Gardeners

Presented by LeAnn Locher

Across Oregon, gardeners are noticing the impacts of climate change and adapting their practices in creative and meaningful ways. In this session, we’ll share what we’ve heard from hundreds of gardeners—what they’re seeing, what they’re doing, and what support they need most. We’ll also introduce the Garden Future campaign, a statewide effort to support climate-resilient gardening with practical tools, resources, and community connections. Join us to explore how your garden can grow a more resilient future.

LeAnn Locher is an award-winning communications strategist with more than 20 years of experience spanning national agencies, nonprofit consulting, and higher education. At Oregon State University Extension, she serves as the lead communication strategist for the Master Gardener program, where her work has earned national recognition for public engagement and outreach. LeAnn is the strategist behind Garden Future, a statewide initiative that explores how Oregon gardeners are experiencing and responding to climate change. Her work focuses on co-creating a climate-resilient gardening culture grounded in science, community values, and practical action. She is the Statewide Outreach Coordinator for the OSU Extension Master Gardener program.

 

 

From Soil to Soul: Regenerative Veggie Gardening

Presented by Rhianna Simes, M.S. Ed.

Grow Regeneratively: Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy You. We will cover how to incorporate veggies into a beautiful garden and landscape that feeds your family, tips on what grows well, seed selection, and ideas for season extension. If you are what you eat, you want to grow something really good! Come learn how!

Rhianna Simes (wry-anna sims) recently retired from 10 years as an instructor at the Oregon State University Extension Service, where she developed the Land Steward program, and coordinated the Master Gardener program for several years. Rhianna earned a Master of Science in Education and Botany from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, as well as a certificate in Plant Pathology from OSU. Rhianna lives with her husband and two young children outside Phoenix, OR. They operate their own certified organic farm called Verdant Phoenix Farm & Nursery (verdantphoenix.com), which specializes in organic plant starts, willow basketry, perennial food, healthy soil and natural farming. Rhianna is also a nonprofit consultant and grant writer with Growing Assets for Nonprofit Excellence.

 

 

The Basics of Limnology: Water Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, and Wellness Benefits from Water Features

Presented by Zach Wooldridge

In my presentation I will discuss the positive effects of water and being near water, and the wellness that the sound of water can bring. I’ll also discuss how water gardens and hydroponics improve upon and bolster our traditional gardens.

Zach Wooldridge is the owner of Neptune’s Ponds and Water Gardens. He has over 20 years of construction experience, getting his start in excavation and large-scale farm ponds. He currently designs and builds custom water features including Koi ponds, swim ponds, waterfalls and backyard oases. He’s not just a builder – he’s an artist at heart and is known for creating peaceful, nature-inspired beautiful spaces. In his free time he enjoys playing pickleball and spending time with his wife and 3 kids.

 

Lawn Alternatives

Presented by Lucretia Weems

Are you curious about changing some or all your landscape to something beyond the traditional grass lawn? Join us in exploring several sustainable and attractive options and learn more about the growing Unlawning Movement.

Classically trained in the UCLA Landscape Architecture program, Lucretia Weems has been gardening and designing landscapes in the Rogue Valley for over 20 years. She has been taking out lawn in her own homes for even longer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jul 30

President’s Corner

By Beet 2025 08 August

What a busy month!  After all the work in the spring and early summer preparing the vegetable garden, now comes the time to watch our plants grow and produce.  The past week I have been harvesting onions, figs, blueberries, plums, and a few tomatoes.  Nothing tastes as good as produce freshly picked from your garden!  I hope that you are enjoying your gardens and some of their produce.  It takes hard work, but it is well worth the effort.

Jackson County Master Gardeners Association has also been busy with a variety of events:

  • The JCMGA Annual Picnic was held on June 28th at SOREC. Our presenter, Robert Coffan, did a terrific presentation on the Monarch butterfly.  Joe Alvord did a fantastic job cooking our hamburgers, garden burgers, and hot dogs. A big thank you to our Member Services Working Group for organizing this event.  A wonderful time was had by all that attended.
  • Our OMGA and JCMGA Awards Nominations Committee has been busy at work and spent many hours submitting nominee names to the OMGA for award consideration. Linda Millus was the chair of this committee. Great job!  Her article with the awards details is included in this August Garden Beet.
  • We have started collecting the extra garden produce which will be donated to the Medford Access Program as part of our Plant A Row All produce is collected every Wednesday at the Gathering Place at the SOREC Extension from 9:00-12:00 p.m.
  • We had nine JCMGA members attend the JOY of Gardening Conference this year! It was a great conference with a variety of classes to choose which to attend. In the evenings we got together for dinner – we had a great time.  I encourage you to consider attending the JOY of Gardening Conference next Summer.
  • The Fundraising Working Group has formed a committee to begin work on updating the Rogue Valley Garden Guide Month-By-Month.
  • The Marketing and Technology Working Group has added a new column to our monthly newsletter, The Garden Beet. It is the brainchild of Susan Hoehn and is called “Growing Knowledge: A Homegrown Advice Column by Jackson County Master Gardeners.”
    • This month’s topic is tomatoes!  Make sure to take a look at the article to see what Master Gardeners suggested for growing tomatoes.
  • We are also adding another new column to our Garden Beet – simply called “Critter Photos”. All photos are the work of Erin Galbraith.  Check it out.
  • Our Demonstration Gardens plants took a hit during the freak storm that hit the Rogue Valley a few weeks ago. Hanley Road was closed for approximately one week while they were repairing downed power poles and lines.  This meant that there wasn’t any electricity at SOREC and we couldn’t get to the gardens to water the plants by hand (since there wasn’t any electricity to run the well pumps).  A BIG THANK YOU to John McCole for parking by the baseball fields and walking to our Native Plant Nursery to water the potted plants!  That was way above and beyond of John!

It is time to start working on getting your nominations in for the JCMGA 2026 Board of Directors.  Please submit any nominations by September 1st to Linda Millus. (check the article in this Garden Beet).

We have many volunteers who are working hard for JCMGA in many ways.  A BIG THANK YOU to all of our volunteers!  Please remember to take care of yourself during this heat wave.  Your plants and you need to make sure to drink water, find shade, and relax.

 

 

 

 

Jul 30

JCMGA and OMGA Annual Awards and Recognitions for 2025

By Beet 2025 08 August

At our JCMGA Annual Picnic, as well as the OMGA Joy of Gardening conference, some of our outstanding members were awarded and celebrated for their dedication to our organization.  Many thanks to the Nominations Committee for the time and energy they spent nominating candidates and selecting finalists. The nomination committee included the following people: Colet Allen, Anne Ackles, Linda Holder, Kathy Apple, Grace Florjancic, and Linda Jo Millus.

Several of this year’s recipients were actually on the Nomination Committee, so it was a little tricky keeping their nominations a secret – but I think we did it.  Congratulations to the recipients of these well-earned awards and recognitions:

Oregon Master Gardeners Association Longevity Recognition – 20 Years of Exceptional Service

  • Viki Ashford
  • Judith Burgess
  • Rebecca Hawkins
  • Sharon Maurin
  • Jane Moyer
  • Bob Reynolds

Lifetime Membership Awards

  • Sandy Hammond
  • Sherry Morgan

2025 State Master Gardener of the Year Award winner – Barbara Low (one of four awarded this year)

Barbara has shown exemplary leadership and educational dedication since 2020. At just about everything happening, from meetings to events, she is always present.

Barbara has been President Elect and President of JCMGA for the past three years. She has been Chair or Co-Chair of Member Services, Marketing and Technology, Fundraising, Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens, and Spring Garden Fair Working Groups.

She is the Co-Director for the Practicum education program, and a Practicum Mentor once a week from January through May. Barbara also volunteers weekly at the Plant Clinic.

She is the Editor, and writes articles for The Garden Beet, the JCMGA newsletter. She is a presenter for the JCMGA Speakers Bureau. Barbara sets up and staffs the JCMGA booth at several local events each year, where she promotes the Master Gardener Program.

Barbara was instrumental in supporting the Josephine County Master Gardener Association during their dissolution.  She was a Speaker at the Joy of Gardening, where she presented on Companion Planting.

Barbara excels at leadership, and is noted for her kindness, integrity, humility and grace.

 

State Behind the Scenes Award winner – Colet Allen

Colet works tirelessly for the JCMGA and OMGA. She is full of new and creative ideas that she has seeded at both the County and State level.

Colet serves on the JCMGA Board as the OMGA Representative. She has been a member-at-large on the Board. She has been continuously active and involved since her graduation in 2012.

She is on several working groups, including the Spring Garden Fair, Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens, Membership Committee and Community Outreach – where she organizes and implements our Speaker’s Bureau across the Rogue Valley.

Colet actively participates in events such as the Master Gardeners Graduation, Joy of Gardening, annual picnic, Spring Garden Fair, and other special events. She also volunteers as a Garden Bud (student mentor) during Master Gardener classes.

Colet was instrumental in starting the Friends of the Gardens for JCMGA, and helped implement garden tours for our local garden clubs and non-profit associations.

Colet is also active with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), where she supports the Master Gardener education classes. Always mindful of people in the community who are sometimes forgotten, Colet ensures that our projects include underserved groups, such as seniors and people with disabilities.

 

Jackson County Growing and Belonging Award Winner – Lindsey McNab

Lindsey is a current student in the class of 2025. Even though she has just finished the in- class portion of the program, she has already become a stellar volunteer.

Lindsey is very active in the Marketing and Technology Working Group. She has taken on many of the media tasks and does an excellent job.

Lindsey worked with Grace delivering the Seed-to-Supper programming to Rogue Re-Treat’s shelter residents. She has also signed up to table at Rogue Food Unites’ free mobile pantries. Here she will join others to conduct microgreens activities and share bilingual gardening resources for our community members who most need it.

Although new to JCMGA, Lindsey has already had a large impact on our community.

 

 

2025 State Behind the Scenes Nominee – Marcie Katz

Marcie has been nicknamed the “Energizer Bunny” for her excitement and never-ending work performance for the Jackson County Master Gardener program.

Marcie has been President Elect, President and Past President.  She is Co-Chair for the demonstration Gardens, Spring Garden Fair and Garden Enhancement (caring for the garden paths and signage) Committees, and has worked on the Advisory and other committees.  She has been a Practicum mentor since she graduated in 2019.

Marcie can be counted on wherever there is a need, and always has a smile. This last year, she selflessly stepped up to fill the void left by two leaders in our association who had family emergencies. She took on an additional practicum, plus purchased supplies for the practicum as needed.

When membership was down after Covid, and gardens became neglected, Marcie worked diligently and successfully to draw Master Gardeners back to JCMGA and the SOREC gardens.

Marcie consistently supports the educational mission of the JCMGA by teaching Master Gardener classes on sustainable gardening, coordinating conference and seminar series, and volunteering at the Plant Clinic.  For variety, from spring to fall Marcie can be seen weed whacking all around campus.

Marcie is an amazing resource of information and help. Though not always in the limelight, her many accomplishments have a very positive impact.

 

2025 Jackson County Behind the Scenes nominee – Pam Hillers

 

Pam has been an active member in JCMGA since her graduation in 2015.

She was a Board member and Membership Secretary from 2016-2018.  She also ran the raffle booth at Spring Garden Fair, and served as a Garden Bud for the Master Gardener class.

Pam Hillers has been a dedicated archivist  from 2019-2024. She has led efforts to reorganize our vast archives. While not in the forground, these activities hold the history of the JCMGA and are a valuable resource for understanding how decisions were made and guidelines were designed to implement many association activities. Pam researched various rulings and by-laws to support board decisions, and made sure to archive all pertinent materials.

Pam is an excellent keeper to our JCMGA archives.

 

 

2025 Jackson County Behind the Scenes Award winner – Nicole Smith

Nicole is a dedicated volunteer who always has a smile on her face.

She worked diligently at her role as the Co-Chair of the Practicum classes for 2025 and will continue that work for the 2026 year. She trains the Mentors, helps select the seeds to be planted by the classes, and reviews/ updates Practicum lesson plans. As a Practicum Mentor, she teaches the Master Gardener classes as well.

All this while having an infant in arms!

Working with the Marketing and Technology Working Group, Nicole ensures the JCMGA website is functioning well and the content is up-to-date. She also creates multi-media posts for the JCMGA Facebook group.

We cannot always observe Nicole at work because it is behind the scenes. But we do see the impact she has on the Practicum and our online communications to JCMGA and the community at large.

 

Congratulations to all of our illustrious nominees and winners for 2025!

 

             

                                                                           

                         

                               

                                           

 

 

 

Barbara Low

Colet Allen

 

Lindsey McNab

 

              

 

Jul 30

The JCMGA Board Needs YOU!

By Beet 2025 08 August

 

We are looking for new, and experienced, members of Master Gardeners to serve on our Jackson County Master Gardener Board of Directors for 2026.  Could that be YOU, or someone you can recommend?

Please consider becoming a member of the board – the governing body of the association. The board adopts the budget, sets policy, and generally oversees the present and future direction of JCMGA.  Meetings are held the second Friday of each month.  Most board members also sit on one or more of the association’s working groups.  Your input is important, and fresh perspectives on how we move forward are the key to our success.

The following positions are to be elected this fall:

  • Vice-President/President-Elect
  • Membership Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Archivist
  • Oregon Master Gardener Association Representative
  • Five Members-at-Large

 

Contact Linda Millus, President-Elect, at lmillus@outlook.com  if you want to nominate yourself or someone else.

Please submit any nominations by September 1st.

Jul 30

2025 Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Presentations – Part 2

By Beet 2025 08 August

There are still more incredible speakers participating in this year’s Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Symposium to tell you about. The WDSG Working Group has worked hard to bring you some top-notch presenters for this four-day, virtual seminar. These presentations have been selected to help you plan your next year’s spectacular garden. Join us on October 17,18, 24, and 25 from the comfort of your own home via Zoom. Registration begins August 15th.

Last month we introduced seven of the speakers in our interesting lineup.  Here you will get to learn about five more.

 

How to Manage Blueberries, Caneberries, and Strawberries in Your Home Garden Presented by Logan Bennett

Join Logan for an engaging and informative session on how to manage blueberries, caneberries, and strawberries in your home garden! This talk will delve into the specific environmental needs of each crop, the common pests you might encounter, and the best practices for pruning and fertilizing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you’ll gain valuable insights on how to cultivate these delicious berries successfully at home. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your gardening skills and enjoy a bountiful harvest!

Logan Bennett holds a Master’s Degree in Soil Science and a Bachelor’s in Natural Resources Management. He has three years of experience as an extension agent at Oregon State University, working as part of the Small Farms and Master Gardeners Program. Previously, Logan worked as a crop consultant specializing in perennial crops. Logan’s interests include Direct Farm Marketing, soil science, hogs, poultry, blueberries, and apples. Logan has expertise in soils, integrated pest management, permanent cropping systems, and small fruits, making him a valuable resource for farmers and gardeners alike.

 

Introduction to Soil: Physical and Biological 

Presented by Scott Goode

This presentation will touch on how soils form, what comprises a healthy soil, how the life-forms in the soil are organized and what we can do to promote a healthy soil.

Scott Goode is a retired environmental scientist who has worked in water treatment, bioremediation, and modeling the role of environmental factors in soil chemistry. He is currently developing carbon removal and petroleum-free farming technologies.

 

           Soil! – What it is & How it works…

Presented by James Cassidy

It’s ALL about SOIL! Most people only have a vague idea of what soil is and how it works. You will learn more than you ever thought possible from this lecture. What soil is, how soils form, the reason you are alive, what nutrients are, how soil stores water and nutrients, and how to access published on-line soils data to improve your understanding of this critical resource! The fundamentals that ALL humans on the planet Earth should know!

James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University for over 20 years. The introductory class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular. James is also the founder and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club – OSU’s student farm. Coming from a non-traditional background (music industry for over 40+ years) he is passionate about soil and is popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style. The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on its list-serve and continues to grow. Over 25,000 students have participated in the farm’s programs. The farm is in its 25th season and is largely self-supported through produce sales and cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops.

 

De-Bunking Gardening Myths

Presented by Jane Collier

Did you know that coffee grounds are not acidic, or that grass clippings do not cause thatch?  Do you think drought tolerant plants don’t need watering? This presentation will de-bunk these, and many more gardening myths.

Jane Collier is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener who teaches for the award-winning 10-Minute University™ Program. Jane’s gardening knowledge encompasses growing vegetables and small fruits, insect pests, and container gardening. Today, she and her husband farm their five-acre home garden which yields a bounty each year.

 

 

Fire Adapted Landscaping Best Practices and Understanding Defensible Space Presented by Brian Hendrix

Brian’s demonstration is designed to help gardeners improve their understanding of what “being Fire Adapted” really means for landscaping and gardens, and how these best practices work together with home gardening techniques to best protect your home and property from wildfire risks. We’ll utilize a Master Gardener’s home risk assessment to introduce terms and activities relating to wildfire mitigation, learn basics about effective plant spacing and maintenance for improved defensible space and the differences between a “Firewise” and “Flammable” plant.

Brian Hendrix is the Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator for Ashland Fire & Rescue. He has served since 2017 and is a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. Before taking over the FAC Coordinator role in 2021, Brian was the Weed Abatement Coordinator and a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for AF&R’s Wildfire Division. Brian lives in Ashland with his wife and 3 sons.

 

 

 

 

 

Jul 01

President’s Corner

By Beet 2025 07 July

Sharing Gardening Information

As I was sitting in my husband’s hospital room reading a book, his nurse came in and asked what kind of book I was reading. I told him that I was reading a murder mystery. He asked if I read any other genres. I said that I usually read historical fiction – mainly World War II, and gardening books also. He was surprised to find someone else who liked to read books on gardening. Over the next couple of days, we talked about what gardening books we would recommend, what plants we liked to grow in our garden, what challenges we had with gardening, and why we liked to garden. It turns out that we are both passionate about gardening – but with different viewpoints.

We were strangers before we started talking about gardening, but gardening gave us some common ground outside of what was going on in the hospital room. By taking the time to talk and listen to each other, we learned many things about gardening from a different perspective. Sometimes all it takes is to be willing to talk and listen to others.

He recommended that I read the book “The One-Straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka. I have never heard of this book. I checked it out and the reviews were fairly positive. Since he was so passionate about this book, I decided to read it after I finish my current book. Maybe I will learn some new gardening information or find affirmation for what I already have learned.  Either way I will learn another perspective.

As Master Gardeners, we have several opportunities to learn more about gardening, including all the variety of components which are involved. Some of these learning opportunities include:

When we learn gardening information, it is important to share what we have learned and be willing to learn from others. Here are some ways to share information:

  • When working in the JCMGA Demonstration Gardens, talking about the garden you are working in and also about your own individual garden.
  • Write a short article about a gardening book that you would like to recommend to others.
  • Write about a gardening tip which you have found helpful in your own garden.

Enjoy your garden and share what you learn!

 

 

Jul 01

The JCMGA Board Needs YOU!

By Beet 2025 07 July

We are looking for new, and experienced, members of Master Gardeners to serve on our Jackson County Master Gardener Board of Directors for 2026.  Could that be YOU, or someone you can recommend?

Please consider becoming a member of the board – the governing body of the association. The board adopts the budget, sets policy, and generally oversees the present and future direction of JCMGA.  Meetings are held the second Friday of each month.  Most board members also sit on one or more of the association’s working groups.  Your input is important, and fresh perspectives on how we move forward are the key to our success.

The following positions are to be elected this fall:

  • Vice-President/President-Elect
  • Membership Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Archivist
  • Oregon Master Gardener Association Representative
  • Five Members-at-Large

 

Contact Linda Millus, President-Elect, at lmillus@outlook.com  if you want to nominate yourself or someone else.

Please submit any nominations by September 1st.