Guide to The 2017 Central Gorge Master Gardener Program Offered by Oregon State University Extension Service Hood River County 2016 Seed to Supper class held at the FISH Food Bank, a class designed to teach gardening on a budget.
Welcome New Master Gardeners Welcome to the Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener Program in Hood River County. This guide is intended to provide an introduction to the program. Hopefully, it provides answers to frequently asked questions and is meant to be a resource to you throughout your time as a Master Gardener. The Master Gardener Program is designed to meet the information and education needs of gardeners in our community. Its purpose is to teach you more about the science and art of gardening. In turn, as a trained Master Gardener volunteer, you will provide information and technical assistance about gardening to the public through your volunteer service. Becoming a Master Gardener volunteer can be a very enriching and rewarding experience. During the next nine weeks, you will receive 60+ hours of classroom training on many aspects of gardening and horticulture. The series of Wednesday evening and Saturday classes are designed to strengthen your gardening knowledge and skills. The classes are taught by Extension personnel and other qualified educators. An important resource for the training is Sustainable Gardening: the Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook. You will receive a copy of the handbook, the cost of which is included in the program registration fees. There will be additional handouts for many of the classes, and you may want to come prepared to take notes. To complete the program and become a certified Master Gardener volunteer, you must participate in the training program, pass the final exam, and contribute 55 hours of volunteer service in approved activities such as plant clinics, educational workshops, and other projects designed to bring gardening information to the community. You must complete 18 of your volunteer service hours in plant clinics. Your volunteer service is recognized and highly valued by OSU. In 2016, Master Gardener volunteers in the Hood River program recorded around 4,400 hours of volunteer time. Using Independent Sector estimates, this translates into a dollar value of about $100,000. A veteran Master Gardener has been assigned as your mentor to assist you and to answer questions you may have during the training period and the volunteer service activities. Their goal is to help you get off to a good start and guide you through your first year as a Master Gardener. Don t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions. In tandem with the Extension Service, the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association supports the program by providing financial support for projects through fundraising activities, sponsoring additional learning opportunities, producing the monthly e-newsletter, and organizing many social activities. All Master Gardeners in the Hood River County program are asked to be members of the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association, but membership is optional. As a member of the Association, you are encouraged to attend chapter meetings and other social events and get to know your fellow Master Gardeners.
Your Connection to Oregon State University OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY The main campus is located in Corvallis, and each county office is an Extension of the university. The University has three missions: resident teaching, research, and outreach. As a Master Gardener, you are now a part of Oregon State University s volunteer staff. OSU EXTENSION SERVICE This is the educational outreach arm of OSU that extends research and education services of OSU to the citizens of Oregon. As part of the land grant university system, the OSU Extension Service serves both rural and urban dwellers. Extension Service personnel include Extension agents, program assistants, specialists, support staff, and a large number of volunteers like yourself. Extension works in five program areas: 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture, Family and Community Health, Forestry, and Sea Grant (ocean and coastal issues). As a Master Gardener, you are part of the Agriculture area. OSU EXTENSION OFFICE Most counties in Oregon have an Extension office staffed by agents, support staff and volunteers. Funding for staff typically comes from a combination of funds from Oregon State University and the local county. The partnership between the counties and the University makes the Extension Service possible. A portion of your Master Gardener volunteer service time will be spent in the local Extension office answering gardening questions. OSU EXTENSION AGENT This is a person employed by OSU to extend information and education to the citizens of Oregon. Each agent has a particular area of expertise and an assigned geographic area (one or more counties) and is a faculty member in an OSU department. Most, but not all, Extension agents with Master Gardener responsibilities are members of the OSU Department of Horticulture. Steve Castagnoli is the Extension Agent who provides overall program supervision and support for the program in Hood River County. OSU MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM ASSISTANT - the program assistant manages many aspects of the Master Gardener Program like inviting presenters to the training, determines the times and locations of plant clinics, manages volunteers and evaluates the program. Rachel Suits is the Program Assistant for the Master Gardener Program in Hood River County. She also works with SNAP-Ed in Hood River and Small Farms in Wasco and Hood River Counties. OSU EXTENSION SERVICE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM STATE COORDINATOR Gail Langellotto is the State Coordinator and has responsibilities for coordinating the Master Gardener Program on a statewide basis. These responsibilities include helping agents develop teaching programs for Master Gardener volunteers and coordinating activities and needs of a statewide nature. HOOD RIVER COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER WEBSITE visit the website: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/hoodriver/master-gardeners for all pertinent Master
Gardener information. The Current Master Gardener page is updated monthly and shows the current calendar and timely information. At the beginning of each month, Master Gardeners will receive an e-newsletter with current information. If you want to put something in the newsletter, please email it to Shari Bosler. Volunteer Opportunities New and recertifying Master Gardeners must complete a minimum number of volunteer service hours in approved activities to complete their certification. It will be important to track your volunteer hours and you can find a recording time sheet on the Master Gardener website. The Master Gardener projects provide educational opportunities beyond the end of classroom training. It is recommended to participate in 3-5 different projects your first year. By participating in these projects with other Master Gardeners, you will continue to learn, make new friends, and help OSU Extension meet the information and education needs of gardeners in our community. DIRECT EDUCATION Plant Clinics: All new Master Gardeners are required to complete 18 hours of volunteer service in plant clinics and recertifying Master Gardeners are required to complete 12 hours of volunteer service in plant clinics. You earn volunteer hours at all of the plant clinics. Clinics take place at the Hood River Extension Office, Gorge Grown Farmers Markets as well as at other locations during the year. You will research and answer gardening problems and questions from people in the community. When you look up information for someone else, you are learning too. Hood River Extension Office Plant Clinics: First year Master Gardeners are encouraged to work with their mentor at the first clinic and an experienced Master Gardener at all other clinics. At your first clinic, you learn how to answer phones, use the computer to access gardening information and how to fill out plant clinic forms correctly. Plant clinics are at Hood River Extension Office on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Gorge Grown Farmers Market, Weekend Markets and Festivals: Volunteering at these markets as an OSU Master Gardener give you the opportunity to interact with visitors and community members to answer many different types of gardening questions. Hood River Farmers Market, Mercado del Valle in Odell, Spring Fest in White Salmon, Huckleberry Festival in Bingrn plus other locations may all be opportunities for plant clinics in 2016. Hood River County Fair Display: Master Gardeners design and provide an educational display in the Floral Building at Hood River County Fairgrounds in Odell.
Hood River Library Waterwise Garden: Garden plots at the entryway of the Hood River County Library were designed and are maintained by Master Gardeners as an educational project for the community highlighting drought tolerant plants. The Learning Garden: Several garden features make up this demonstration garden around the OSU Extension office at the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Hood River. The Learning Garden currently consists of these projects: Compost Demonstration Area, Herb Garden, Fountain Garden, Hellstrip or Curbside Garden, Native Plant Garden, Bioswales, EcoLawn, Japanese Heritage Garden, Ornamental Grasses and Raised Beds. Central Gorge Community Garden Network: This project provides a networking platform for community garden leaders in the Central Gorge region to share information and learn from each other. This is a new project in 2017. The Next Door Inc. Gardens: The Klahre House gardens consist of raised beds and a kitchen garden at the Extension grounds. The Klahre House students learn gardening skills by doing most of the work at these gardens. Raices Cooperative Farm is a community garden and education cooperative for Latino families who grow vegetables on an acre of leased land on Barker Road. Wreath Project: Scheduled on the 1st Saturday in December, Master Gardeners, friends and family gather to create swags and wreaths primarily as a service project for the FISH Food Bank and some for personal use. Mount Hood Parkdale Bi-Centennial Memorial Garden: The Mt. Hood Parkdale Bi- Centennial Memorial Garden started in 1976. Master Gardeners work to clear and remove site obstructions for drivers coming to the Parkdale triangle. Master Gardeners, The Parkdale Garden club, Grange, Lion s Club and many other community members and organizations are restoring the garden to its former beauty. Seed to Supper: A comprehensive, 6-week beginning gardening course that offers novice, adult gardeners the basic gardening knowledge they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget. It originally developed as a joint effort of Oregon Food Bank (OFB) and the Oregon State University Extension Service, Seed to Supper is offered in collaboration with host agencies around the state. INDIRECT EDUCATION Central Gorge Master Gardener Association Mentor Program: The mentor program provides a welcoming atmosphere for new Master Gardeners from the time they sign up for the Master Gardener classes until they become well established in the program. Veteran Master Gardeners volunteer as mentors and are committed to assisting new members.
Garden Visits: Visits to the gardens of fellow Master Gardeners occur 3-4 times per year. These informal events allow us to enjoy new gardens, get ideas (and sometimes plants), eat good food, and have fun socializing with our friends. SUPPORT Spring Plant Sale: The annual plant sale is in May on the Saturday before Mother s Day. It is a fundraising event for the CGMGA and community projects. All Master Gardeners are asked to participate by providing plants, helping to pot plants or volunteering during the sale. Garden Tour: This tour of private and public gardens in the community is open to the public and conducted as both an educational event and fundraiser for the program. All Master Gardeners are asked to volunteer during the garden tour. Each garden on the tour has Master Gardeners working to guide folks through the gardens and answer questions. Each garden displays an educational them and provides refreshments. The next tour happens during summer 2017. Graduation Banquet: The Graduation Banquet held in October or November is a time to recognize our new Master Gardeners that have completed their first year of training/volunteer hours and to honor the years of service and achievements of all Central Gorge Master Gardeners. There are opportunities to assist with organizing the banquet as part of your service hours Hospitality Co-chairs: Facilitate coffee and tea, room arrangements for Master Gardener classes in the winter, and organize volunteers to assist with hospitality. Other Projects Projects may vary from year to year and other opportunities to earn volunteer service hours may be announced during class, via e-mail, in the e-newsletter, or at association meetings. If you have ideas for projects in the Central Gorge area, contact Rachel Suits 541-386-3343 ext. 38257, rachel.suits@oregonstate.edu. Master Gardener Member Classifications Master Gardener Trainee: a first year Master Gardener in the process of completing the certification requirements, which include participating in the training program, passing the final exam, and contributing 55 hours of volunteer service in approved activities, 18 of which must be in plant clinics. Veteran Master Gardener: a Master Gardener who has completed the program and wishes to remain active in the program beyond the initial year. Veteran Master Gardeners are required to recertify each year by completing 24 hours of training, passing the final exam and complete
24 hours of volunteer service, 12 of which must be in plant clinics. Veteran Master Gardeners must complete application materials and pay a classroom plus association dues. Lifetime Master Gardener: a veteran Master Gardener becomes a lifetime Master Gardener after completing 10 years of active participation in the program (years do not need to be consecutive). Lifetime Master Gardeners do not pay program fees or association dues but must complete application materials to remain on membership rolls. To remain certified as an active Master Gardener in the program and participate in plant clinics and other projects, they must complete 24 hours of training and 24 hours of volunteer service, 12 of which must be in plant clinics. Associate Master Gardeners: this is an option for Master Gardeners who want to remain affiliated with the program but not complete the training or volunteer requirements for recertification. Associates may participate in association events, but may not participate in projects requiring recertification. They are required to pay association dues. Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA) The OMGA is a separate, but closely aligned, organization from the OSU Master Gardener Program that provides several supporting functions for the program. It is a statewide, nonprofit organization made up of many county chapters, which together, make up the state association. OMGA is financed by dues contributed at the county chapter level. Representatives from each chapter meet with OMGA state officers at quarterly meetings held in various locations around the state. These meetings provide a networking opportunity and a forum for chapters to share ideas and activities. OMGA cosponsors the annual Gardener Mini- College with OSU. The Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA) serves four main functions to the Oregon Master Gardener Program: To enhance and supplement the Oregon State University Home Horticulture Program. To assume responsibility for performing special tasks and engaging in continuous activities related to the program. To promote a wide dissemination of information available as a result of University study and experimentation. Such information shall be in accordance with Oregon State University standards. To work with other gardening organizations to enhance gardening in Oregon, when appropriate. OMGA MINI-COLLEGE is an annual conference co-sponsored by OSU Extension Service and the Oregon Master Gardener Association. The conference includes classes, workshops, and seminars on horticultural topics, an OMGA quarterly meeting and annual awards banquets.
Mini-college is an opportunity to receive advanced training and learn from other Master Gardeners from throughout the state. It is also open to the gardening public. There will not be a Mini-College in 2017, instead OSU Extension is hosting the International Master Gardeners Conference in Portland on July 10-14 th. Central Gorge Master Gardener Association The CGMGA is a local chapter of OMGA. Members include Master Gardeners from Hood River county and adjacent counties in both Oregon and Washington. CGMGA is also a non-profit educational organization that helps to promote the OSU Master Gardener Program and provide opportunities for additional educational training throughout the year. Dues are $17 per year, of which $10 go to the CGMGA treasury and $7 go to the OMGA treasury. The membership year begins January 1 st and runs through December 31 st. Master Gardener trainees who finish the training program are members of OMGA and CGMGA through that year. CGMGA organizes several educational and social events each year. As a member of the Association, you are welcome and encouraged to attend all of these events. A committee consisting of elected officers and project leaders make up the CGMGA Executive Committee. This committee meets on the second Tuesday each month from 10am-noon at the Extension office conference room to manage the association business. The 2017 CGMGA officers are: President Shari Bosler President Elect Heidi Nastasi Secretary Christie Bradley Treasurer Nancy Slagle State OMGA Representative Sandy Montag State OMGA Representative Alternate Teena Fife Extension staff are ex-officio members. Master Gardener of the Year* 1996: Fred and Patricia Paige* 1997: Anna Nolen * 1998: Shirley Chrisman / Elizabeth Daniel * 1999: Roxanne Sponable* 2000: Scott Fitch* 2001: Jean Hadley* CGMGA Award Recipients Updated January 2017 2002: Angela Bridges* 2003: Colleen Garrabrandt* 2004: Patricia Paige 2005: Sandi Rousseau 2006: John Ihle 2007: Dede Garcia 2008: Anne Saxby / Rita Saling 2009: Cindy Collins 2010: Kathy McGregor / Jennifer Harty
2011: Jordan Kim 2012: Eric and Shari Bosler 2013: Nancy Slagle / Mary Parrott 2014: John Stevens 2015: Audrey Schneider 2016: Kathy Lien and Laurel DeTar Behind the Scenes Master Gardener of the Year 2002: Fred and Patricia Paige 2005: Scott Fitch 2007: Glenda Ryan 2009: Pam Crider 2011: Alan Yenne / Laurel DeTar 2012: Dennis Carlson 2013: Christie Bradley 2014: Crystal Pickerd / Leanne Hogie 2015: Ellen Penswick 2016: Becki Montgomery and Helga Reese Golden Trowel Recipients 2009: Coleen Garrabrandt 2011: Scott Fitch / John Ihle 2012: Dede Garcia 2014: Dennis Carlson 2015: Kathy Lien * Hood River County and Wasco County were originally combined as the Columbia Gorge Master Gardener Association. In 2005 Hood River County formed the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association.