CMGA General Info

The San Francisco Peaks as seen from Timberline 5 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
Photo by Cindy Murray.

Welcome to the Coconino County Master Gardeners Association blog. The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to create a corps of well-informed volunteers, and to deliver quality horticultural education programs adapted to our regional high elevation environment. The purpose of the association is to provide support for those volunteers and Master Gardener graduates, continuing education, and opportunities to participate in community programs that increase the visibility and participation in the Master Gardener Program.
The Coconino Master Gardener Association (2009) began in 2009. This blog contains information on:
-How to become a member
-Volunteer and Education hours reporting
-Calendar of Events
-General gardening information articles
-Master Gardener Association Documents and forms
-References and Resources
-Interesting Websites and Blogs
-Old Gardening Etcetera columns
-Recipes
-Book Reviews
-How to contact Board or Committee Members
Meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday from 600pm - 8;30pm. We meet at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 1601 N. San Francisco. This includes continuing education and a business meeting.

Reporting Master Gardener Hours

All master gardener trainees and certified master gardeners need to report their hours.
Beginning in 2010 certified master gardeners need to have 6 Education hours and 12 Volunteer hours in order to maintain certification.The on line reporting system allows you to report Education or Volunteer hours. You can sign in to record hours in the right hand column under Recording Volunteer and Education Hours. Just click on the U. of A.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new reporting system, please contact Brenda Smith (A - M) or Sue Madden (N - Z). Their contacts are listed at the bottom of the blog under
Contacts.



Ideas for hours------
--Attend monthly meetings
--Work on an association committee
--Work at an informational booth for the Master Gardeners
--Be a speaker about gardening topics at a variety of venues

--Host a garden tour
--Work at a fundraising event (Plant Sale - Garden Tour).
--Work at a MG site (Olivia White Hospice, the Arboretum, Riordan Mansion, or school gardens (many others)). Check out the Assoc. Doc. & Forms under Volunteer Sites.
--Work in the Extension office
--Write an article for the newspaper column -Gardening Etcetera
-Volunteer with the Seed Library
Be creative! There are many ways to fulfill your hours. Just remember for volunteering it needs to be a non-profit endeavor or an approved for profit site.

Change in Contact Information

Have you moved or changed your e-mail address, but would still like to be contacted about high elevation gardening information from the Extension? The Coconino County Extension Master Gardener Program has a site that will let you change your information on-line.

Click here to change your contact information!

Event Calendar

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Vegetable Gardening in Flagstaff


Jim Mast, long time Master Gardener in Coconino County will be teaching a class on Vegetable Gardening in Flagstaff. Come join him at the East Flagstaff Library on Tuesday, May 25th, beginning at 6:30pm. Free lecture, no reservations required. Come early - seating is limited.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Earth Spirit Essential Oils

Single lessons or a five week course is being offered on the therapeutic applications of healing yourself, others, and the planet with sacred essential oil scents.

Where: Fill Circle Pilates at the corner of Beaver and Dale, 320 N. Beaver St. Park in parking lot on Dale and enter through the back door. Classes in upstairs studio. Bring a backjack or pillow to sit on.

When: Sundays from 5-7pm. May 9th Introduction and the warming, fire element oils; May 16th Respirator/air element oils; May 23rd Florals and the water element oils; no class May 30th due to holiday weekend; June 6th Grounding and the earth element oils; June 13th Ether and the sacred scents

Cost: $50 for all 5 classes or $15 a class

Who: Teachers certified b y David Crow, L.Ac./Floracopeia. Contact Deana Tatro 928-607-1546 or Jessa Fisher 928-5814-2264 or nectarhands@gmail.com for more info.

Friday, April 16, 2010

MG Association Meeting Minutes 4/15/10

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 4/15/10
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Attending: Jim Mast, Steve Shields, Ed Skiba, Loni Shapiro, Hattie Braun, Crys Wells, Julie Holmes, Shawn Padilla, Robin Lang, Ann Cotton, Paul Lambert, Val Bryant, Ruth Ellis, Irene Matthews, Andrea & Galen Guerette, Sue Norris, Sheila Murray

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda
Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda. Introduction of speakers

6:40pm-7:25pm Continuing Education
Research at the Arboretum, Rules for Collecting and Some Basic Plant ID
Sheila Murray
Research Botanist – The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Sheila reviewed the mission of the Arboretum, research including who they partner with, and specific projects that have been done in the past. She then talked about current research. She defined what a rare plant is, and demographics that effect it. Threats to rare plants were discussed, and federal and state laws to protect plants. The remainder of her talk covered rare and endangered plants at the Arboretum: Allium goodingii, Argemone plelacantha ssp. Pinnatisects, Asclepias welshii, Astragalus creminophylax var. cremnophylax (plant from the Grand Canyon was covered in detail due to current research), Astragalus humillimus, Astragalus montii, Carex specuicola, Castilleja kaibabenis, Crysothamnus molestrus, Cimicifuga arizonica, Erigeron maguirei, Hedeoma todsenii, Penstemon clutei, Purshia subintegra, Ranunculus aestivalis, Salix arizonica, Senecio huachucannus, Senecio franciscannus. The last part of the talk was about rules for seed collection and participating in the Arboretum’s collection projects. The web site for the Arboretum is: www.thearb.org. You can find Sheila on the site. She has her own blog. She is available for questions about identification and collecting.

7:25pm-7:40pm Foodlink – FUSD School Gardens
Sue Norris
Sue talked about Foodlink’s grants for starting school gardens within FUSD. Some have been operating for some time but others are just beginning. They are looking for master gardeners to work as consultants to these new programs. She provided pictures for each site and a brief description of what their plans are. If you are interested in being involved in school gardens contact Sue Norris for further info. sue@tonynorris.com. Watch this site for an update on specific school gardens. They have two funded positions to coordinate this effort and developed curriculum for the schools. Funds are limited for 2010 but they hope to get more grant money next year. Sue or someone from the program will update us on progress in November of 2010.
School Gardens Workdays scheduled:
April 23 - Marshall
April 30 - Kinsey

7:40pm – 7:55pm Refreshments
Loni Shapiro

7:55pm -8:30pm Business Meeting
7:55pm-8:10pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Mission statement reviewed
Adding Standing Committees to Bi-laws at a future date
Maintaining certification
Inactive, initial certification
Master gardeners can be trainees (working on their initial 50 hours – 18 months or special approval from Hattie Braun), certified, inactive (certified initially but not currently doing volunteer/education hours). Hours need to be turned in from Coconino County. To move from inactive to certified the current requirements need to be met. 2010 – 12 hours volunteered, 6 hours of continuing education and must be in Coconino County.
Finance
Bank account, dues collection, donations jar, calendar
A bank account will be opened as soon as we have sufficient funds, dues for 2010 will be voluntary ($10). At the end of the year the Extension will send out a notice for dues. A donation jar will be placed on the refreshment table at each meeting for people to contribute to the food. Whoever is bringing the food can take $5 (optional). The remainder will go into the general fund. Our 1st fundraiser will be a master gardener calendar for 2011. Information about contributing photos is on the blog (coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com). The deadline is May 3rd. Plans are to have the calendars ready for the August MG Conference in Payson.

8:10pm-8:15pm May 15 in New Mexico – Ed Skiba
Ed is looking for some people to participate in a field trip to the Arboretum Tome (Michael Melendrez) in New Mexico. They are offering tours, music food, and lectures at the Arboretum. It would be an all day trip leaving early in the morning. Contact Ed Skiba if you are interested in participating (trustacctservices@npgcable.com).

8:15pm-8:30pm 5 minutes for each committee chair
CE & Social Support
Speakers scheduled through Januaryr 2011. Check blog for updates.
Community Programs-Steve Shields
Flagstaff’s Community Market, Speakers Bureau, Home Show
Steve reported that we still need to contact the community market, we have 2 speakers for the Speakers Bureau and need more, and we are working on a long term commitment with the Home Show. Julie reported that volunteers are helping with and extension booth at the Arboretum for Arbor Day (Tom DeGomez)
Coordination MG Projects/ Loni Shapiro
Loni reported that the committee will meet to review and update the list of already approved projects. The school projects will submit individual applications to the Projects Committee.
Volunteers /Crys Wells
Crys reports that the on-line system of recording is working well, with more participating each week. The Executive Committee discussed ways to count community contacts and will seek Crys’s help.

Next meeting: May 20, 2010
Speaker: Herbs
Sue Collins

Speakers for future meetings:
June 17 Topic TBA Julie Lancaster
July 15 Microclimates & Gardening Lee Born
August 19 Bugs Freddie Steele
September Recognition Picnic
October 21 Hopi Agriculture Susan Lamb Bean
December Holiday Party

Container Gardening Class CCC



CCC Class at Willow Bend 2008 - Stacking Herb Pots

On May 8th, 2010, my annual spring Container Gardening Class for CCC will be held. This year the classroom will be at Northland Hospice offices (452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive) and for the last part of the class we will be planting containers at the Olivia White Hospice Home (752 N. Switzer Canyon Drive). The pots and baskets will grace the gardens that all residents, families, and staff enjoy throughout the summer. The class is from 9am-12pm, and will include a variety of ideas for successful container gardening in Flagstaff:

Why container garden in Flagstaff
Varieties suitable for containers (flowers, herbs, and vegetables)
Matching the right crop/flowers for containers
Appropriate soil mixtures
Ideas for watering
Nutrients
Location
Design ideas
Planting

Wear a hat and sun screen, and bring some gloves and a trowel to work. The last hour will be spent planting a variety of containers:

Self-watering container - tomatoes
Stacking herb pot - 9 herbs
Natives in a wine barrel
Wire basket lined with spaghnum moss - shade garden
Large hanging plastic pot for color



CCC class on west campus 2006 - Shade Basket

Bring a small pot (8 inch or less) to create a small color pot of your own to take home.

To register phone CCC at 800-350-7122 or on-line at www.coconino.edu. The non-credit class number is 13539. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Loni Shapiro
maxmaddy@infomagic.net

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Coconino MG Association Meeting

On Thursday, April 15th the Coconino Master Gardener Association monthly meeting will be held. The meeting will be at Northland Hospice offices at 452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Parking is available in front of the office or just north of the building.

Our speaker this month is Sheila Murray from the Arboretum at Flagstaff.
You may have seen her in the Daily Sun recently talking about the Grand Canyon project to save the endangered Sentry Milk-Vetch. Her talk will be about research at the Arboretum (projects and procedures for collection) and will include some botany/plant ID tips.
Photo from the Grand Canyon greenhouse.
The associations business meeting follows the lecture.
Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 4/15/10
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Northland Hospice 452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive
(Parking in front of building or just north of building)

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda. Introduction of speakers

6:40pm-7:25pm Continuing Education
Research at the Arboretum, Rules for Collecting and Some Basic Plant ID
Sheila Murray
Research Botanist – The Arboretum at Flagstaff

7:25pm-7:40pm Foodlink – FUSD School Gardens
Sue Norris

7:40pm – 7:55pm Refreshments
Loni Shapiro

7:55pm -8:30pm Business Meeting
7:55pm-8:10pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Mission statement
Adding Standing Committees to Bi-laws
Maintaining certification
Inactive, initial certification
Finance
Bank account, dues collection, donations jar, calendar

8:10pm-8:15pm May 15 in New Mexico – Ed Skiba

8:15pm-8:30pm 5 minutes for each committee chair
CE & Social Support
Speakers scheduled for 2011. Check blog for updates.
Community Programs-Steve Shields
Flagstaff’s Community Market, Speakers Bureau, Home Show
Coordination MG Projects/ Loni Shapiro
Meeting scheduled to review current list – up date as needed. School gardens
to send in applications individually.
Volunteers /Crys Wells
On line reporting of hours. Do not call Hattie with hours unless you don’t have
access to a computer.

Next meeting: May 20, 2010
Speaker: Herbs
Sue Collins

Speakers for future meetings:
June 17 Topic TBA Julie Lancaster
July 15 Microclimates & Gardening Lee Born
August 19 Bugs Freddie Steele
September Recognition Picnic
October 21 Hopi Agriculture Susan Lamb Bean
December Holiday Party
Loni Shapiro
Secretary
Coconino County Master Gardener Association

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Arizona Highlands Master Gardener Conference 2010

Registration is now open for the 2010 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference!

The conference which will be held in Payson on Saturday, August 28 at the Mazatzal Casino. Special garden demonstration tours will be held on Friday, August 27. Gila County Master Gardeners are the conference hosts this year.

The theme of the conference is ‘Sustainable Gardening for Homes and Communities’. Keynote speakers include author and desert permaculture innovator Greg Peterson of the Urban Farm in Phoenix and author David Wann of the PBS series Affluenza, and author of the Zen of Gardening, Simple Prosperity and other books addressing sustainability.

For more information on the conference, go to: http://extension.arizona.edu/gila/horticulture

You can print the brochure and use it to register or, go to the web site and register online. Gila Co. has asks that if you can, please mail in a check for your registration as this will help the conference budget. (The University of Arizona has set up the credit card payment option but will deduct 4.5% from each payment.) Gila Co. have started the advertising campaign and will have to cut off registration at 235, so please register early!

Please share this message with your gardening friends!

Hattie Braun