BCMGA Membership Meetings

Membership meetings are open to members of BCMGA, Master Gardeners, and trainees, as well as the public. These meetings are great opportunities to get acquainted with the Benton County Master Gardener community and learn something new at the same time. Meetings occur in January, February, March, April, May, and October. Each meeting includes a presentation that counts toward continuing education recertification hours. 

 

Meetings may be attended via Zoom, but we encourage you to attend in person and enjoy social time before and after the meeting. Coffee and tea are provided, and you are welcome to bring a treat to share. We have a raffle for those who attend in person. You receive 1 raffle ticket for attending, 2 tickets for wearing your badge, and 3 tickets if you wear your badge and bring a treat.

 

Meetings are in the Sunset Room in the Sunset Building at 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333. Doors open at 6:30pm and the program starts at 7:00pm. Use the entrance on the east side of the building because all other doors to the building are locked at night.

​

Can't attend the meeting? Find recordings of the speaker presentations at the BCMGA YouTube channel. Recordings are generally posted within one week of the meeting date.

​

2025 Meeting Dates

​Monday, January 13, 2025​

Monday, February 17, 2025

Monday, March 17, 2025​

Monday, April 21, 2025

Monday, May 19, 2025

Monday, October 20, 2025​

​

March 17, 2025 Membership Meeting

​

It's Monday, March 17th at 7:00 in the Sunset Room. The door opens at 6:30 and after

a few short announcements the presentation will begin shortly after 7:00 p.m.

Our speaker is Marisha Auerbach, Permaculture Educator and Designer; Steward,

Permaculture Rising Farm and Nursery, Olympia, Washington

Her topic is “Food Forests: A Fun Way to Enhance Habitat and Yield”

Membership meetings are open to all members of BCMGA - Master Gardeners and

trainees - as well as the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a gardening friend

and wear their badge for an extra raffle ticket. Bringing a treat to share will earn another

raffle ticket!

In-person attendance is suggested as Marisha will bring books from her collection to

peruse. There will be opportunities to mingle with other Master Gardeners, and a

chance to win a raffle prize. As a reminder, the Sunset Room is on the east end of

the county's Sunset Building, 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis 97333. Other

entrances are closed at that time.

To attend remotely, use this Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/91804334907?pwd=H5Ebxca4zmdcTNjR6Om5dbtoK0qCec.1

Password: 730422

​

Program details --

​

Five Minute Committee Update: Kathy Clark covering the Plant Sale.

​

Presentation: Food Forests are cultivated intentional forests using edible and useful

plants, assembled to enhance ecological function and maximize relationships. They are

a great way to provide food for your household and community while enhancing carbon

storage in the soil. Food forests are delightful places to relax and play, inviting for

humans and many other species. Marisha Auerbach will highlight food forest examples

from our northwest region and ways to integrate this innovative stewardship concept

into your landscape.

Speaker:  Marisha Auerbach is an internationally recognized permaculture

educator, designer, consultant, and speaker based in Olympia, Washington. She runs

Permaculture Rising, a farm and nursery. For the past twenty years, she has been

growing and preserving most of her own food year-round. Marisha developed

the Permaculture Food Forests Online course and teaches through Oregon State

University. Marisha maintains a diverse collection of unique plants and seeds available

to clients in our bioregion. Marisha has a BA from The Evergreen State College and has completed various

postgraduate permaculture coursework and certificate programs. Marisha has taught

over 100 permaculture design courses and advanced workshops, developed the

Certificate in Holistic Landscape Design at Bastyr University, and has taught at Portland

Community College, Pacific University, Bastyr University, and the Maharishi University

of Management. Marisha teaches a permaculture design course annually at the Maya

Mountain Research Farm in Belize in February.

Marisha collaborates with others in the bioregion through Fertile Ground, a hub of

connection for restoration, and local food production. She also contributed to the Free

Introduction to Permaculture course offered by Oregon State University.

Hope to see you on Monday, March 17th!

​

Laura Horsey
laura.horsey@gmail.com