President’s Message
🌧️ As we prepare to welcome a new year, it’s exciting to see the application process for the 2025 Master Gardener training open! If you know friends, neighbors, or community members who would make great additions to our program, encourage them to visit the OSU Extension website to apply. Let’s help grow our group with enthusiastic new gardeners!
For our current members, it’s time to renew your connection to the Benton County Master Gardener Association. Even if you’re not recertifying as a Master Gardener for the coming year, we value your continued involvement and want you to stay engaged with BCMGA. Paying your dues ensures that you remain part of this vibrant community.
Finally, this is a reminder for committee chairs to turn in your annual reports. These reports are a more vibrant way for OSU Extension to understand the ways that BCMGA Committees are fulfilling our mission of garden education. Otillia also welcomes any stories, pictures and information from members that she can include in her annual reports.
BCMGA Membership Activities
The BCMGA Calendar is on the website and has more information on these activities.
🌧️ BCMGA Board Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am via Zoom
🌧️ BCMGA Membership Meeting - Monday, January 13, 2025
Incoming Vice President Laura Horsey welcomes all BCMGA members to the next membership meeting for socialization and Continuing Education credits. Raffle prizes for in-person attendees.
Location: Extension Building, Sunset Room
Use East side entrance (other doors locked at night)
Format: Hybrid meeting (in-person and via Zoom)
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:00 p.m.
January Program, January 13, 2025 - Bringing Native Plants into Your Home Garden You may have heard the phrase “the right plant for the right place”, but how do native plants fit into this? Sara Roberts and Cierra Dawson of Benton Soil & Water Conservation District will discuss Oregon’s native plant habitats and how you can bring these into your own backyard. You’ll learn the best native plant species for different site conditions including dry shade, wet shade, dry sun, and wet sun.
BCMGA News
🌧️ At our BCMGA Board Meeting on Monday, December 9th, we had the pleasure of welcoming the newly elected officers who will officially begin their roles on January 1st. At the same time, we bid farewell to two incredible board members, Marge Alig and Lynn Trimpe, who are stepping down. Their service, commitment, and contributions have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for all they have done for the BCMGA.
🌧️ We need your input! As our membership meetings have shifted to a hybrid format, it seems our hospitality services—coffee, tea, and cookies—aren't being used as much. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey to help us decide whether to continue offering these refreshments at our meetings. Your feedback is appreciated!
🌧️ Dahlia Digging Season has arrived. Please contact Chere Pereira if you have dahlias to donate and we can set up a time at Nellie’s to wash and dip them. Be sure to label them carefully and if you don’t know the name, mark the color (and size and a description such as ball type or cactus type if you can).
🌧️ We are saddened to share the passing of Don Lauer on November 21, 2024. A Master Gardener since 2006, Don’s leadership, generosity, and passion greatly shaped BCMGA, from organizing the Farmers Market Clinic Table to co-chairing Insights into Gardening. His dedication to education and service earned him BCMGA’s highest honors. Don’s legacy will long be felt, and our thoughts are with Debbie and their family.
Volunteer Opportunities
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
🌧️ PHS Propagation Workshops for December are full! Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers spending time at the greenhouse and in the winter weather. You can see workshop dates and details on the Signup Genius.
🌧️ Plant Clinic has moved to Winter Hours - Check out this Signup Genius for openings on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the remainder of 2024.
Continuing Education Opportunities
These educational events are approved for Continuing Education Credit by OSU Extension
🌧️ Seed Library Lecture Series - Public Seed Library is a collaborative project of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library with educational support from BCMGA.
Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 12:30 to 2:00pm at the Corvallis-Benton Public Library
Summer Planted Crops for Winter Eating with Darren Morgan of Shonnard’s Nursery. Come and learn how to grow sweet potatoes or which squash and greens you can grow to feed yourself all winter.
🌧️ Gearing Up for Gardening - Free Lecture Series A perennial favorite of Benton County residents and Master Gardeners returns for 2025. Lectures are held on Tuesdays during January and February at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. The event flier is posted below or check out the website: https://www.bentonmg.org/gearing-up-for-gardening
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Kids in the Garden - Presented by a Master Gardener panel. Learn fun and engaging ways to introduce children to gardening. Foster a love for nature and hands on learning with age-appropriate activities
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Tool Sharpening and Care - Presented by Sharon Knight from Garland Nursery. Discover essential techniques to maintaining and sharpening your garden tools, ensuring their longevity and efficiency
🌧️ Recorded Webinars
10 Minute Universitytm: https://clackamascountymastergardeners.org/10-minute- university/videos/
Metro Area Master Gardener Program Webinars: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/webinars-recorded
Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/projects-events-gardens
🌧️ Growing and Belonging Resources
Into The Woods Podcast: o Episode 40: Indigenous Knowledge:
Episode 41: Indigenous Partnerships: https://inthewoodspodcast.com/2023/11/09/episode-41-indigenous-partnerships/
Extension News
🌧️OSU Extension Online Calendar has a calendar of Extension events throughout the state. This often includes MG lectures from other counties.
🌧️Solve Pest Problems: A new tool from OSU Extension to help manage pests around your home and garden with reduced risk to people, pets, and the environment. New entries are being added regularly on the SPP Website.
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