Chapter Chat - September 2024
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Tuesday, September 3, 2024
7:00 - 8:00 PM PDT - Free Webinar, Open to All
Registration Required
8:00-9:00 PM PDT - Members Meeting
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Join the Washington County Master Gardeners and speaker Lynn Kunstman for a webinar on increasing biodiversity in your yard. Planting native plants is crucial to ecosystem health and protecting life on our planet. Plant choice matters and choosing native plans helps to restore and ensure vital ecosystem services in our landscapes. Based on the work of Dr. Doug Tallamy, this presentation will address seven steps you can take to create healthy, productive gardens and help save pollinators and birds.
Lynn Kunstman has a degree in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University and a Masters in Science from Southern Oregon University. A former middle school special education and science teacher, Lynn became a Master Gardener in 2012 and a Master Food Preserver in 2013. Most recently her focus has been on gardening for wildlife and pollinators. Her quarter acre lot in Medford is certified as a Monarch Way Station, a Pollinator Garden and a Wildlife Habitat. She established and runs the native plants nursery at Jackson County Ext. Campus.
This program is approved for one hour of MG Education Credit
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August was a busy month!
Our new MG Statewide Manager, Leslie Madsen came up for a visit with the Metro Chapters and toured each of our gardens. We are lining her up for a Chapter speaker presentation in the new year.
The interns have been scrambling to get their volunteer hours in. For Program hours they must be paired with a perennial who knows the ropes and it’s been challenging getting perennials signed up for the Helpline, Farmers Markets and the Zoo. If you can help that would be great!
Need Program hours?
Fewer than ten Washington County MGs are working on the Helpline. We really need more, especially to work in person at the office to handle walk-ins. If you are trained on the software program Infinity but aren’t comfortable on your own, call me and we’ll have you shadow one of us. If you are interested but not trained, Infinity training is scheduled monthly. Sign up here:
https://forms.gle/gkFes9MDd1E4fWYJ9
Our Fall Social is Saturday the 21st from 4:00 – 7:00. See more information below. Interns and perennials - please come!
You will also see a note about vacancies on the Board and help needed with the Directory. WCMGA can’t function without people doing the behind-the-scenes work, so please consider helping out on the Board – we’re actually a fun bunch!
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WCMGA 2025 Board Position Nominations
Each year WCMGA holds elections at the November Chapter meeting for about half of the WCMGA Board positions with terms ending in December.
There are two positions for which we are seeking at least one nominee---Vice President and Business Manager. Job descriptions are posted to our WCMGA Member Portal on our website at
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/board-information/
If you are interested in learning more and perhaps being a nominee, please contact Sue Ryburn sueryburn@comcast.net .
Serving on the board is a great way to learn about WCMGA and the Master Gardener program overall and, to work with other MGs to help to make the Chapter function effectively. It is also a fun group to work with!
Membership Directory Coordinator
We’re looking for a person to help Karen Graham update the 2025 Directory and take over responsibility next year. The bulk of the work is November – January as members renew their memberships and a few hours in the spring when Interns join. It takes a few hours each of those weeks to update the information. Basic computer skills are needed and attention to detail.
The work is done from home, on your own time and serves as Partner volunteer hours.
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Native Hellstrip is thriving.
Interns Help the Education Garden Shine!
The garden is aglow in late summer! New additions are thriving, including our native hellstrip. Some shrubs and perennials are a bit too happy – the fall editing and relocating list will be guiding us soon. We are so grateful for the many interns who have earned some of their partner hours maintaining and improving the Education Garden this summer. It has been a pleasure to learn about what brought them to the Master Gardener Program. They are quite a talented group!
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Dark Sky Report – And What is Bortle?
The Education Garden and Learning Garden each had sky quality meters installed in March as part of the DarkSky Oregon project. The meters measure brightness in the night sky – darker skies being desired for migrating birds and resident flying wildlife. Data from the second quarter were downloaded and submitted to DarkSky Oregon in early August. Michael McKeag from DarkSky Oregon offered this synopsis: "Looks like on a clear, moonless night zenith sky brightness can get as dark as 19 mag/sq arc-sec, Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky)." One way to measure artificial light pollution is by the Bortle Scale – 1 being so dark you may be able to see other galaxies and 9 being the brightest level of light pollution. Our gardens continue to collect these important data for DarkSky Oregon to increase awareness of light pollution and share possible methods to reduce unnecessary nighttime lighting.
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Horsetail tamed in Fragrance Garden
Horsetail Tamers
When the Education Garden was created in 2018, some unwanted plants came in with the soil. One particularly pesky plant – considered a weed in the Ed Garden – is horsetail. Equisetum avrense, or Common Horsetail is a fern relative that can thrive as far north as the Arctic. Even a small piece of root from deep rhizomes can sprout a new tail. Horsetail became a particular problem in the Fragrance Garden, coming up in healthy clumps among perennials, steppingstones, and shrubs. Our Ed Garden Team decided to go all out this summer to conquer the horsetail by forming the Horsetail Tamers. During our regular work party the Tamers prioritize pulling horsetail to literally starve it of photosynthetic energy. The Fragrance Garden is looking great now!
Other Happenings
• The next In the Garden Series (IGS) class will be “Putting the Garden to Bed” on Saturday September 28th in Building 4, Room 103 at PCC Rock Creek.
• If you would like to be added to our Education Garden email list, contact Susan Albright or Sue Ryburn.
• Our 3rd Saturday of the Month Work Parties continue (weather dependent). Contact Larina Hoffbeck if you would like more details.
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The Learning Garden Fair was a fun event for kids and adults at the beginning of summer, held at our Learning Garden. The garden was beautiful, and 108 visitors enjoyed many activities. In addition to visiting the Let’s Talk Plants table with gardening questions, adults found MGs in each garden area who answered questions specific to the plants in that area. Children planted vegetables, and learned hands-on about composting, hummingbirds, and pollinators.
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Cindy Muir and Jennifer Rosenquist ready to welcome visitors.
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Jennifer Stonier and Shirley Wolcott at Let’s Talk Plants table.
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Holly Foote, Kim Dodds, and Terri Rottman sharing wise watering techniques.
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Cynthia Radler with a hands-on composting activity.
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Sue McCullough preparing for vegetable planting.
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Some great community partners also participated. The Oregon Bee Atlas provided extensive information on gardening and pollinators. Eco School Network and OSU Food Hero offered visitors the opportunity to learn about their programs and get many free resources.
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Susan Albright at Oregon Bee Atlas booth.
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Maureen Quinn at the Food Hero booth.
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With great appreciation, we thank the following members of the WCMGA MG community for their team effort before and during the Learning Garden Fair: Cynthia Radler, Jennifer Stonier, Kim Dodds, Terri Rottman Holly Foote, Hope Preston, Kari Woyak, Lorill Hirschberger, Mary Hewitt, Minoo Sweet, Ron Spendal, Shirley Wolcott, Angela Berti, Larry Schick, Anna Stubbs, Annette Bell, Bob Campbell, Candy Wells, Cindy Muir, Dan McDonald, Deb Hansen, James Galbreath, Jennifer Legault, Jennifer Rosenquist, Jorie Helwig, Judy Chadbourne, Judy Fenker, Marilyn Berti, Marilynn Turner, Pam Martin, Robin Burnham, Sarah Graham Wolfe, Steve Kister, Susan Albright, and Tamara Newton Baker.
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Volunteers at the Learning Garden Fair.
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The Vegetable Garden, Urban Edibles, Herbs, and Small Fruits areas have all enjoyed bountiful harvests this summer. 250 pounds of vegetables, herbs, and fruit were donated to Westside Food Brigade, a Food Bank partner, through July.
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Suzanne Burnett with an extra harvest just before the scorching hot weather in July.
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MG Michael Donoghue delivered an interesting class on Making Composting work for You on August 17th. The participants learned a lot of ideas for how to compost at home. New compost bins, installed at the end of last year, and a new soil container built recently by Steve Kister showed the attendees compost at various stages of the process.
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Thanks to all who provided photos for our update! Including, but not limited to, Jorie Helwig, Dan MacDonald, and Anna Stubbs.
Learning Garden regular work parties will resume in February on Thursday mornings. For more information contact Steve Kister kansammy@yahoo.com or Robin Burnham robin.e.burnham@aol.com.
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Join Washington County Master Gardeners for an introduction to nature journaling led by OSU Extension MG Volunteer, Mary Hewitt and Artist, Terri Rottman.
Learn how to use simple prompts and materials to more deeply connect and engage with nature and draw and write about what you see. We'll show examples and guide you through the process of creating a nature journal page in a fun, interactive environment. Reap the benefits of spending time with others in nature and learn a little something about plants and pollinators along the way. You'll take home your first entry and the inspiration and knowledge you need to start your own journey of discovery. Bring your own journal, pens, and pencils to class or use provided paper and writing/drawing materials. Class is for adults and children ages 10-17, accompanied by an adult. No experience necessary.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/introduction-to-nature-journaling/
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Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association for a free class on Putting the Garden to Bed. Fall is a terrific time for planning and completing tasks to prepare for winter, as well as to set up your garden for success year-round. We will share tips on planting trees and shrubs in the fall, tasks to prepare the vegetable and fruit garden for winter and techniques to protect the soil.
The session begins in Bldg. 4, Rm. 103. After the presentation we will take a 5-minute walk to the WCMGA Education Garden to demonstrate some of these tips. We’ll provide a list of helpful reference resources. The class will be lead by OSU Ext. MG Volunteers, Lisa Hansen and Sue Ryburn.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/putting-the-garden-to-bed-2/
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Please join our Fall Social to meet and greet friends old and new.
September 21 from 4pm - 7pm
Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate
8005 SW Grabhorn Rd, Beaverton
There will be finger food and beverages, door prizes, and the opportunity to enjoy the Learning Garden. We will also be recognizing members' awards and achievements, including our own Larina Hoffman, OMGA State Master Gardener of the Year.
Our popular Little Free Library at the garden can always use any books you have that need a new home. We will have "blue bags" for your bottle returns to benefit our Chapter. The Plant Propagation Team can use any new or used 3" or 4" plastic pots you bring.
If you want more Partner Hours, you can volunteer for set up (3pm - 4pm) and/or take down
(7pm - 8pm). Send me your name, email, what you want to volunteer for and thank you in advance for helping.
Terry Wagner
Chapter Relations
503 724-7965
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This Master Gardener of Note, Jennifer Legault, has done double duty this year volunteering in both gardens throughout the year and filling in for Kari Woyak, Lead for the PNW Natives area at the Learning Garden, while Kari was unable to be in the garden for an extended period. Jennifer took on the challenge of proceeding with implementation of a planned renovation of many areas of that garden, including replacing the upright logs along the Natives paths, removal of assorted plants, and planting and caring for new plantings. She also provided guidance for others including community volunteers and 2024 interns who worked with her in the Natives. Thank you, Jennifer!
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2024 OSU Statewide Master Gardener Awards
Master Gardeners of the Year
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Larina Hoffbeck’s career in the Master Gardener Program, now in its sixth year, is remarkable in the scope of her volunteer work. Larina excels in every role she undertakes as a Master Gardener, clearly enjoying her work with children, youth, and families, and connecting with people who have never heard of Master Gardeners before. She has created children’s education kits, such as “Invertebrates/Vertebrates” and “Calling All Pollinators!” which are utilized across the Metro area. One of her notable creations is “Storytime in the Garden.” As the volunteer coordinator for the Gardenfest Plant Sale, she recruits and helps train 70 fellow Master Gardeners for this significant event. She has also staffed the Ask Extension helpline, organized and taught MG training classes and workshops, created new volunteer opportunities, and served on the team redesigning and launching a new chapter website. Additionally, she assists in teaching PCC Rock Creek Landscape Technology Students in the WCMGA Education Garden and coordinates the In the Garden Series.
Her focus as a Master Gardener is to make the program more accessible and inclusive for both volunteers and the public. She strives to reach groups that don’t typically interact with Master Gardeners, as seen in her work with the bilingual program Grow1Give, HomePlate Youth Services, and as a founding member and chair of WCMGA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Larina has also participated in the statewide Growing and Belonging Committee and has helped craft accessibility and inclusivity assessments for her local chapter. Larina’s positive and inclusive approach and calm demeanor help create a more welcoming and equitable environment for volunteers and clients alike.
Congratulations, Larina!
There were three winners of the 2024 Master Gardener of the Year Award. In addition to Larina, congratulations also to Richard Little, Linn County and Gene Nesbitt, Yamhill County.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vocabulary
September, 2024: Inclusion/Inclusive
Inclusion - “The invitation for someone to actively engage as their authentic self in their environment.”
Inclusive – “To include or encompass all topics, services, or items expected to be covered. To not exclude any of the parties or groups involved.”
https://hr.cornell.edu/culture/inclusion-belonging/learning-and-development/dei-glossary
The members of the WCMGA DEI committee recognize that the terms and phrases used when discussing topics related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion may be unfamiliar or confusing to many people. Definitions may also change over time. Since gardening is for everyone, we’d like to help foster understanding of DEI vocabulary with our members and other readers of Chapter Chat and the WCMGA website.
We're featuring a different phrase or term each month throughout 2024 on our webpage here: https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/wcmga-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-committee/
We hope you’ll check back each month for new words and phrases as well as examples of how Master Gardeners can incorporate these concepts into our work with the public and with our own members.
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The 3rd Annual Grow1 Give1 Campaign was a success! Grow 1 Give 1 is a program that provides tomato and pepper starts to limited income residents of Washington County. We've had dramatic growth for this campaign in its three years growing from giving away 360 plants at two food pantry locations to giving away 879 plants in 14 events at 7 food pantries in Washington County from Tigard to Forest Grove. Thank you to the 41 Master Gardeners who helped with the 2024 campaign.
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This book is a joy to read, written with Amy Stewart’s forté of understated humor and deep connection with the people featured in the book and their stories. Her watercolor portraits of the 50 obsessed people and watercolor illustrations of their obsessions bring their stories to life. The portraits are a gift to her readers bringing an uncommon dimension beyond the telling of their stories.
Amy tells these stories with touching inspiration of the symbolic meaning of the trees to each of these people. The stories, from around the world, are about community, paths to healing and reconciliation, and the future. The collectors are grouped by the main reason each of them collects trees, with chapters such as Healers, Ecologists, Artists, Curators, Community Builders, Preservationists, Visionaries, and more.
In her introduction Amy says, “When you ask people to tell you about the one activity they do not for money, not out of necessity, but to indulge their deepest passions and their wildest curiosities – well, you’re in for an intimate conversation.” She hopes readers are inspired to plant a tree but cautions to be careful because trees can be addictive!
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