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Jackson County Master Gardeners

July in the Garden

By Beet 2024 07 July

In July, there is quite a bit to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow.  Our gardens still need to be cared for so that they will do well, and we will have a plentiful harvest. By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a great resource for gardeners to use. It is the Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month.  This great reference book for gardeners is mainly about growing vegetables, berries, and melons.

July is the time to:

  • Blackberries need at least 1” of water per week while growing and fruiting. Providing heavy mulch will reduce the frequency of watering.
  • Blueberries also require a constant supply of moisture while fruiting.
  • Potatoes should have their water supply decreased when you see their tops dying back.
  • When peppers start to blossom, spray them with a solution of Epsom salt (4 tablespoons per gallon of water). This will help to make them crisper and sweeter.
  • Plants which you can plant as seed outside (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Amaranth

o   Beets

o   Collards

o   Endive

o   Florence Fennel

o   Kohlrabi

o   Peas

o   Scallions

o   Beans

o   Carrots

o   Dill

o   Escarole

o   Kale

o   Lettuce

o   Rutabaga

o   Swiss Chard

 

  • Plants to transplant this month (make sure to check the soil temperature)
o   Brussels sprouts

o   Cauliflower

o   Cabbage

 

 

  • Fertilize and Prune
    • Asparagus
    • Trailing cane berries finish producing fruit- prune those vines which produced fruit. Prune to the ground
    • Fertilize fall-bearing raspberries when they start to bloom.
    • June-bearing strawberries should be fertilized once a year after harvest.
  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Powdery mildew on grapes
    • Corn earworm

 

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 and Stay Cool

Garden For Life

 

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements –June 2024

By Beet 2024 06 June

 

June

  • JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting – June 14th from 9:00-9:30 a.m. You are welcome to stay for our regular June Board meeting which will be from 9:30-11:15 a.m.
  • JCMGA Monthly Board Meeting – June 14th from 9:30-11:15 a.m.
  • JCMGA Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony – Saturday, June 29th. We will have a guest speaker, Robert Coffan. He is with the Monarch Advocacy.

(check the article in this Garden Beet about Robert Coffan)

July

  • OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference at OSU on July 12-13.
  • The JCMGA information table at the Josephine County Extension Expo July 19-20. Let Barbara Low know if you are interested in helping to work at the table.
  • We will start collecting produce (fruit and vegetables) donations on Wednesday, July 24th, from 10-11 a.m. – which will be given to Access.

President’s Corner

By Beet 2024 05 May

The Jackson County Master Gardeners Association consists of volunteers who work tirelessly to promote gardening.

This past month we have been busy preparing for our upcoming annual Spring Garden Fair. This event is our main fundraiser and time to celebrate what we have been able to accomplish as a group.  These groups include:

  • The Garden GEMS and their supporting gardeners who work in the Demonstration Gardens on the SOREC Extension Campus. They gather weekly to do weeding, trimming, fertilizing, planting, etc.  The gardens are beautiful and reflect their workers’ care and love for them.
  • The Class of 2024 Master Gardener students, who are just beginning to work in the Demonstration Gardens and the Plant Clinic after completing their class work, are getting their volunteer hours in to become certified.  This group of volunteers are energetic and eager to learn and help in any way that they can.  What a privilege to work with them!
  • The Class of 2024 Practicum students, who have been busy planting seeds, transplanting seedlings, watering all our greenhouse plants, fertilizing the plants, and monitoring the growing conditions of those same plants which we will be selling at our Spring Garden Fair! It has been an energizing experience working with them and with the Practicum Mentors – a dedicated bunch of Master Gardeners!
  • The JCMGA Marketing & Technology Working Group, who worked hard at getting the publicity out about our upcoming Spring Garden Fair.
  • A SPECIAL thank you to Marcie Katz and Lucy Pylkki for chairing the Spring Garden Fair Working Group! They have worked long hours getting this event coordinated with all its moving parts.  They have done a fantastic job!
  • Finally – A BIG THANK YOU to all our Spring Garden Fair volunteers – who are ready and willing to help make this event a success.

 

Come join us for the

JCMGA SPRING GARDEN FAIR

Saturday and Sunday, May 4 – 5

at the SOREC Extension Grounds

                       569 Handley Rd, Central Point, OR

 

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — April 2024

By Beet 2024 04 April

 

April

  • Articles for the May Garden Beet due by April 15th. Send articles to jcmgabeet569@gmail.com
  • Have nominations for Oregon Master Gardener Association Awards and Jackson County Awards – April 15th (see article in this Beet)
  • Earth Day Event at Blue Heron Park – April 20th (see flyer in this Beet)

 

May

  • Spring Garden Fair – May 4 and 5 at SOREC (see flyer in this Beet)
  • Medford Open Streets Event – May 17th (see flyer in this Beet)
  • JCMGA Board Retreat – May 24th from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

 

June

  • JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting – June 14th from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  • JCMGA Monthly Board Meeting – June 14th from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
  • JCMGA Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony – Saturday, June 29th. We will have a guest speaker, Robert Coffan. He is with the Monarch Advocacy.  Details will be in the May Garden Beet.

President’s Corner

By Beet 2024 04 April

I hope that you are enjoying our “false spring” weather.  I’ve been busy in my own yard implementing garden plans which I made this past winter.

While working in my garden one day, I realized how much is involved in making my garden work.

I realized how many things I do to “work in my garden.” These include pre-planning, researching, drafting, editing, putting everything together – modifying as needed – and finally enjoying the fruits of my labor.  The same is true for the Jackson County Master Gardeners Association.  Our Board of Directors meets monthly to review the working groups’ accomplishments and their future plans.

Over the past three months, our board has been working on the 2024 Jackson County Master Gardener Association Strategic Plan.  This plan shows how all the working groups function together to accomplish the board goals.  The 2024 Strategic Plan is a working document and is a guide for us to follow.  I am including our Strategic Plan in this Garden Beet.  Please look it over and let me know if you have any questions.

We are very fortunate to have dedicated board members who are willing to think outside the box and work together to solve the inevitable challenges that arise.  Thanks to the creativity and dedication of these many talented individuals, we have some wonderful events planned for this year.  These include:

  • Starting a new volunteer program – The Friends of the Gardens.
  • Participating in the Earth Day Fair at Blue Heron Park, Phoenix, on April 20th. We will have an informational table. This event is from 12-4 p.m
  • Holding the Spring Garden Fair on May 4 and 5 at the SOREC Extension grounds, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point. Practicum students from the Class of 2024 Master Gardeners have been working tirelessly planting seeds, transplanting seedlings, monitoring the greenhouses to make sure that the plants have optimum growth opportunities, etc.
  • Participating in Medford Open Streets on May 17 from 4-8 p.m. We will have an information table at this event and a tomato transplanting activity.
  • Holding the JCMGA Membership Annual Meeting on June 14th at 9:30 a.m. in the Auditorium in the SOREC Extension building.
  • Hosting the JCMGA Annual Picnic on Saturday, June 29th, starting at 5:30 p.m. We moved the picnic from August to June, hoping it would be less hot and the skies would be smoke-free. This year we are planning on having a guest speaker. Stay tuned for details.
  • Coordinating the Plant A Row project. As we did last year, we will collect extra produce from your gardens to distribute to Medford Access to help feed those in our community who need the extra help.

These are the activities for just the first half of the year.  More activities are being planned as we speak.  We love to celebrate all that we have accomplished!

Many thanks to everyone for all that you do in our community to make it a better place. We are a great organization with many wonderful people all working to share our love and knowledge of gardening.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns.  You can contact me either at barbaralow@msn.com or 541.840.1615

Take care and happy gardening, Barbara

Garden for Life

 

Spring Garden Fair 2024

By Beet 2024 04 April

As daffodils and tulips give way to irises and lilies and the trees unfurl their leaves into a spectrum of greens, it brings hints of summertime and thoughts of a garden. With spring in the air, it’s time to plan what to put in your garden. What better way than by coming to the Jackson County Master Gardeners Spring Garden Fair?

Like a rite of passage, the fair is always on the first weekend in May.  According to many, it is “THE” place to pick up all those essential garden plants.  We offer organic vegetables, herbs and flowers raised by our very own Master Gardener students. In addition, the Native Plant Nursery grows and sells a wide variety of ground covers, trees, shrubs, and annual and perennial natives which will bring the pollinators flocking to your yards.

This year, we will have over thirty vendors at our two-day Spring Garden Fair held at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, 9am-4pm on Saturday May 4th and 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 5th.

Come browse multiple local nurseries, the Bonsai Society exhibit, garden art, bee and worm experts, garden tools, furniture and sheds. Take one of our many gardening classes or have lunch in the food court while watching the kids paint rock art. There will be drop-off stands to hold your purchased plants so your hands will be free to continue shopping and plant cart service for ease in loading your car! Admission is free with a $5.00 per car parking fee, so bring your friends and carpool! Let’s start off this spring with a bang at the Spring Garden Fair! We hope to see you there!

 

April in the Garden

By Beet 2024 04 April

Spring is here! Daffodils, grape hyacinth, and tulips are popping up.     

I am continuing this series of articles and hope that you find them helpful and inspiring. In April, there is quite a bit to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow.  Our gardens still need to be cared for so that they will do well in the spring and summer. By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a great resource for gardeners to use. It is the Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month.  This great reference book for gardeners is mainly about growing vegetables, berries, and melons.

April is the time to:

  • Plant grapes
  • Plants which you plant as seeds to transplant later
o   Basil Cantaloupe
o   Cabbage o   Celery
o   Cucumbers o   Eggplant
o   Peppers o   Squash
o   Watermelon o   Tomatoes
  • Plants which you can plant as seed outside
o   Beets o   Carrots
o   Chervil o   Chives
o   Collards o   Cilantro
o   Corn, sweet o   Dill
o   Florence Fennel o   Kohlrabi
o   Kale o   Leeks
o   Lettuce o   Parsnips
o   Parsley o   Peas
o   Radishes o   Potatoes
o   Salsify o   Scallions
o   Swiss Chard       Tomatillos
  • Plants to transplant this month
o   Broccoli o   Cabbage
o   Cauliflower o   Chinese Cabbage
o   Endive, Escarole o   Jerusalem artichokes
o   Leeks

o   Onion

o   Pak Choi

o   Rhubarb

o   Lettuce

o   Oriental Greens

o   Parsley

o   Tomatoes

  • Time to fertilize
    • Established artichokes
    • Established blackberries

 

 

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 and Stay Warm

Garden For Life

 

How Did the Jackson County Master Gardener Association Get Created?

By Beet 2024 04 April

 

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association is one of many programs in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, several Canadian Provinces and South Korea. How did this program come into being?

In 1862 the Morrill Act, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, created a nationwide system of Land Grant Colleges and Universities to provide education in agriculture. These institutions provided access to 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 (OAC), was established as the designated Land Grant College in Oregon. In 1914 the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service to distribute objective, scientific-based information developed by land grant colleges and research stations to citizens.

In 1973, Dr. David Gibby of Washington State University created the first Master Gardener Program to meet the high demand for gardening advice, particularly for the urban setting. The program began training volunteer gardeners in King and Pierce Counties in Washington state and the concept quickly spread.

In January 1979, Donald W. Berry, Area Extension Agent and Peter Giffen, Home Horticulturist, offered area garden clubs and other experienced gardeners in Jackson County the opportunity to receive 60 hours of training over a 10-week period at no charge with an agreement to volunteer 60 hours of service time to the community in the new Master Gardener program. The 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 eighteen other states, this was the first time it had been offered in Southern Oregon.

Over thirty community members took that first class in 1979 to achieve certification as OSU Master Gardeners. A new group of gardeners has been trained every year since, except during the Covid pandemic of 2021. Today the non-profit Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a membership of nearly 300 volunteers who provide 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.

Garden for Life!

 

 

References

Jackson County Master Gardener Association, About Us

Wikipedia, “Master Gardener Program”

Extension Master Gardener Program (national)

 

April JCMGA Working Groups Summaries

By Beet 2024 04 April

 

Community Outreach Working Group

Chair, Ronnie Budge

  • Update on Community Gardens:
    • Sherri Morgan held her first meeting with the Community Gardens Network. They discussed JCMGA’s grant program and set a deadline of May 1 for applications. Sherri will work with Barbara Low to update the grant and contact information on JCMGA’s website.
  • ­Update on Josephine County Home Show:
    • Sandy Hammond reported that it was well worth the time of the seven JCMGA volunteers who staffed our information booth over three days. They sold $700 worth of Garden Guides and garden hats, distributed numerous flyers, and took names of persons interested in being contacted about upcoming JCMGA activities.
  • Update on Bee City Phoenix Earth Day Celebration:
    • Kathy Rogers, Barbara Low, and Grace Florjancic will staff a JCMGA information booth at Blue Heron Park on April 20.
  • Update on Medford Open Streets Project:
    • JCMGA will have an information booth in downtown Medford on May 17 from 4-8 pm.
  • Update on Speakers Bureau:
    • Colet Allen is beginning to plan a fall series of programs for the Medford and Rogue River libraries.
  • Update on Friends of the Gardens:
    • A promotional flyer has been prepared using the new logo. It will be reformatted for rack cards and there will be a page about the program on the JCMGA website. An orientation video is being prepared. There will be an informational meeting on March 22 which people can attend in person or via Zoom.
  • JCMGA 2024 Strategic Plan:
    • The draft Strategic Plan was reviewed with an eye towards the COWG’s role in carrying out the activities listed, and suggestions were made for adding or removing the COWG at various points. Barbara Low will make the revisions. It was agreed that all of the activities the COWG is currently involved in should be continued, but at a level that can be sustained with available volunteers. For example, booths should be informational only, without trying to sell plants, which requires much more effort.
  • Volunteers:
    • There was discussion about the need to involve more members in the work of JCMGA and to train individuals to take over from current leaders of activities.

Fundraising Working Group

Chair, Jane Moyer

  • Met and discussed the upcoming Spring Garden Fair. We will be selling the Garden Guides at the Earth Day event on April 20 and at the Medford Streets Event on May 17.

Garden Working Group 

Chair, Janine Salvatti

  • The Demonstration gardens are starting to be cleaned up. The Fig Garden pruning project is on hold because of Janine’s injury.
  • They are scheduling several volunteer work parties in the gardens.

Marketing and Technology Working Group

Co-Chairs – Barbara Low and Keltie Nelson

  • We have worked on a JCMGA Marketing plan.
  • We are looking at training people for the different areas that we manage so that more than one person is able to do the task.

Member Services Working Group

Chair, Barbara Low

  • JCMGA Chapter (Membership) Directory is just about ready to be sent to the printers..
  • We finished the details for the Information Meeting on the Friends of the Gardens which is Friday, March 22. This program will start in April.

Program Support Working Group

Chair is Grace Florjancic

  • I am very happy to announce we have been awarded funding to pursue some horticultural therapy activities with older adults in our rural libraries. It is a short 6-month grant, so we are quickly getting this ball rolling! Check out the Coordinator’s Colum for more details.

Spring Garden Fair Working Group

co-Chairs – Marcie Katz and Lucy Pylkki

  • They are busy getting ready for the Spring Garden Fair, which is May 4 and 5 at the SOREC Extension.
  • Volunteers are still needed. Colet Allen and Barbara Low are working on getting volunteers.

Winter Dreams Summer Gardens Working Group

chairs are Colet Allen, Susan Koenig, and Barbara Low

  • We are getting the presenters for the 2024 WDSG!
  • We have taken the suggestions from the 2023 WDSG Survey to help decide what topics we wanted to include in the 2024 WDSG.