Updates on learning online

Updates on the Oregon Flora Project, volunteer resources, and 2021 Level-Up and Elevated Skills Training

Dear Gardeners,

If you’re already familiar with the Oregon Flora Project, or if you haven’t checked them out yet, be sure to visit their new website: they have launched a redesigned website and Volume 2 of the Flora of Oregon. The Oregon Flora Project aims “to increase knowledge and awareness of the plants of Oregon through publication of technically sound, accessible information for diverse audiences.” They catalog roughly 4,700 plants of Oregon that “grow in the wild without cultivation” – including native, naturalized, and exotic species. Features of the new website include plant identification tools, a section on gardening with native species, and fact sheets for every Oregon plant. Be sure to also check out the various inventory projects, each of which “has a theme and contains numerous species lists from places [in Oregon] reflecting that theme.”

Next, be sure to bookmark and become familiar with the new Volunteer Resources page for current volunteers and students. Here you will find requirements for graduation (2020 class) or recertification (current MGs). You’ll also find copies of required forms, and an explanation of different volunteer hour categories.

Finally, the online public horticulture class series is here! The 2021 Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level-Up Series schedule of webinars is posted, along with links for more information and registration. It’s also where a recording of the webinars will be available afterwards.

Registration info for the 2021 Elevated Skills Training for current Master Gardener Volunteers (including the 2020 class) will also be available on this website in February. Here is the current schedule (may be subject to change):

Jan. 22: Overview of Thinkific and the 2021 Elevated MG Skills Training

Jan. 29: Zoom Basics


Jan. 29: Advanced Zoom

Feb. 5: iNaturalist for Master Gardener Volunteers

Feb. 5: Garden Plant ID with the OSU Landscape Plants Database

Feb. 12: Best Practices for Online Plant Clinic


Feb. 12: Using the Extension Client Contact Database to Improve Plant Clinic Responses


Feb. 19: Taking Your Master Gardener Social Media to the Next Level


Feb. 26: Best Practices in Youth Gardening Programs

Feb. 26: Superpower Your Educational Garden


March 5: Community Science and the Master Gardener Program

March 12: Showcase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Efforts in Other States

March 12: OSU Extension’s Diversity Training for Volunteers

March 19: Building Community Partnerships to Broaden Outreach

March 25: Recipes for a Collaborative Community

Looking forward to seeing you all at these webinars and training sessions!

– Erika