Chapter Chat - February 2025 - Correction

Editors Note:
My apologies for the extra email, but I forgot to include an important article submitted by our Grow1 / Give 1 team. I believe many of you will find this interesting and perhaps decide to become a grower!

Calling All Gardeners!

WCMGA’s 4th annual Grow1/Give1 Campaign is underway for 2025. Last year we grew and gave out 879 determinate tomato and pepper starts in Washington County to folks with limited income by holding distribution events at local food pantries. Can you help us get to 1000 this year?

Great reasons to participate:

We reach communities generally underserved, helping them to “Grow Your Own”
The chapter provides seeds and 4”pots to the growers
Earn Program hours when you help staff a distribution event (about 3 hours/event)
Earn Partner hours for other G1/G1 event preparation activities
Enhance and share your gardening expertise with other MGs and the community
Expert technical assistance is always available for growers
Many activities can be done on your own schedule

There are many tasks available to you to earn hours and support this effort. But right now, the time to start seeds is fast approaching and there is always room for more growers.

Never started tomatoes or peppers from seed?

Not to worry. This is an opportunity to learn with the support of fellow master gardeners. And to help with that effort, next Friday (2/7) at noon and Saturday (2/8) at 10 am, the G1/G1 team are hosting one hour grower meetings on zoom. Each meeting will:

Share a little about Grow1Give1; our mission, past years and how 2025 is shaping up
Introduce you to our growing gurus Stephanie & Teresa
Delve into the world of starting and nurturing seedlings
Answer questions
Give you contact info to Stephanie & Teresa should you need questions answered once you get started

Growers only need to attend one meeting. Multiple times are offered in hopes that at least one will work well with your schedule. (As a grower, I can say these are super interesting and helpful. I’m willing to bet that even those with years of experience will pick up some great tips.)

The G1/G1 team will provide the seeds and know-how
Seeds will be distributed in sets of about 15 which is the amount that fits in a regular 'flat' you would buy at the nursery in 3" pots
You will provide the potting mix, pots, care, light, water, etc.
We will ask you how many sets of 15 seeds you have room to grow. That is how many packets of seeds you will be given to grow
The team has seeds for 3 types of tomatoes and 3 types of peppers. You have the option of choosing the type or just growing what the team selects for you

Please, take advantage of this unique opportunity and sign up!
Complete a short online form at:
https://forms.gle/aZvwRECT2ojiXVzn9
or find a link on the Member Portal page of the WCMGA website, to let us know how you could help. We will follow up with you.

Questions? Contact Marilyn Berti at mcbberti@gmail.com (503) 866-0759