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

Friday, January 28, 2011

Gardens for Humanity Sponsors Spring Planting Festival Keynote Speeches

Don't miss the opportunity to hear two great speakers!
Register Now for the 2011 Spring Planting Festival Keynote Speech:

What: FROM LAND TO MOUTH - Connecting People to Place, Taste and Story
Gary Nabhan and Toby Hemenway

When: March 13, 2011
7:00 to 9:30 PM
Meet and Greet 5:30 PM

Where: St. John Vianney Church
180 Soldiers Pass Road
Sedona, AZ 86336

Tickets:
$20 advance sales general
$15 advance sales students/seniors
$25 at the door
$50 meet and greet + speech
$100 meet and greet + 2 books + speech

Gardens for Humanity proudly presents two of the world's leading visionaries of the slow-food and agricultural renaissance movements, Gary Paul Nabhan, PhD and Toby Hemenway, as keynote speakers launching the 2011 Spring Planting Festival.

This unique and exciting evening brings Mr. Nabhan and Mr. Hemenway together for the very first time. Local seedsman and educator Bill McDorman from Seeds Trust will host the evening and moderate a panel with Mr. Nabhan and Mr. Hemenway after both presentations. Attendees should come prepared to be surprised and inspired.

Gary Paul Nabhan, PhD, is an internationally celebrated nature writer and educator, seed saver, conservation biologist and sustainable agriculture activist who has been called, "the father of the local food movement" by Mother Earth News.

Toby Hemenway is the author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, which for the last seven years has been the best-selling permaculture book in the world.
For more information:

Register Now!
We are very excited about offering this incredible event, and sincerely hope you can attend, enjoy, and meet these inspiring leaders of the sustainability and local agriculture movement.

In the coming weeks our complete calendar of events, workshops, and celebrations for the 2011 Spring Planting Festival will be available with registration information.

If you have any further questions about the keynote speech, about the 2011 Spring Planting Festival in general, or how to register, please use my contact information below. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Richard Sidy
Gardens for Humanity
president@gardensforhumanity.org
928.284.9055

Master Watershed Steward Class

The Oak Creek Watershed Council (OCWC) and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension are seeking motivated applicants for the Oak Creek Master Watershed Steward Program to become highly valued volunteers interested in knowledge about watershed issues and sharing their experience with others. Get involved with local water resources while learning how to make more informed decisions related to your own land, community and watershed. Learn about forest health and the geology of the Sedona area. Gain hands-on experience in water quality monitoring and water conservation. Discover how GPS and GIS technology are used for watershed management. Make new friends and teach others the value of good stewardship.

This intensive 16 week, adult-oriented course will educate and train participants in all aspects of Oak Creek watershed issues. Participants will learn the basics of hydrology, climate, geology, ecology, water quality, and water management among other topics. No previous experience is required. Classes will be taught by University of Arizona faculty as well as other professionals from our area and around the state. Those who complete the course will be offered unique volunteer opportunities with the Oak Creek Watershed Council to monitor and protect the health of Oak Creek.

Classes begin Thursday, March 3, 2011, and will be held every Thursday afternoon from 1 PM to 5 PM through June 16th at the KSB Pushmataha Center, 360 Brewer Road in Sedona. Four classes will be Saturday field trips. The cost is $95.00, which includes the Master Watershed Steward guide and all handouts, as well as field trip transportation/expenses. A maximum of 24 people will be accepted for this class. Applications are due by February 18th, 2011.

For more information or to request an application, please contact:

Barry Allan
Executive Director
Oak Creek Watershed Council
P.O. Box 732, Sedona, AZ 86339
(928) 554-5460
Email: barry@oakcreekwatershed.org
Web: http://www.oakcreekwatershed.org/MWS-Course-Outline.pdf

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Winter Cooking Seminars at Warner's Nursery

Come and support your local nursery during the winter and enjoy some fun while learning what to do with those herbs your growing. The following are seminars scheduled for spring at Warner's. They happen on Wednesdays between 5:30 - 6:30pm.

January 26 - Infused Oil & Vinegars
February 9 - Veggie Soups
February 23 - Drinks & Desserts
March 9 - Getting Ready for Spring Gardening: Eat What We Can Grow

Warner's is located at 1101 E. Butler in Flagstaff. You can contact them by phone at 774-1983.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Master Gardener Association Meeting Minutes 1/13/11

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 1/13/11
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Attending: Freddie Steele, Faith Britain, Jim Mast, Sheryl Houston, Harvey Cantrell, Sherry Lewis, Linda Guarino, Cindy Murray, Julie Holmes, Ed Skiba, Carolyn Larsen, Debra Crisp, Crys Wells, Hattie Braun, Gwen & Jim Koreltz, Ann Eagan, Jan Busco, Kerry Rank, Laura Parker, Jeanne Steele, Beth Dyskstra, Linda Moriarty, Danna Hendrix, Irene Matthews, Leslie Pennick, Galen & Andrea Guerrette, Bea Cooley, Loni Shapiro

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Hattie Braun presented two new master gardeners – Cindy Murray/Linda Moriarty. Spring class starts 2/8. It will be in the Daily Sun Saturday.
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Bird Loving Plants
Bea Cooley, Master Gardener and member of the Audubon Society
Bea talked about how to accomplish bringing birds to your yard by using natives, working less, using less water, and enjoying more. She began by describing how to garden in Timberline after moving here from California where the water was essentially free. She described the birds typically seen in her yard, which includes everything from hawks to hummingbirds. She has just 3 trees on 2.5 acres. The trees and shrubs she has that lure birds into her yard included: Arizona Cypress, New Mexican Locust, Black Elderberry, Arizona Honeysuckle, Red Twig Dogwood, Fernbush, Barberry, Hops, Skunkbush, Staghorn, Golden & Wax Current. Plants included a variety of penstemons, grasses, salvia, and agastache. Red most attractive to hummingbirds but most tubular flowers work. She emphasized the need for shelter, water, and food. Her talk described practical ways to provide that without spending a lot of money, as well as more costly methods. In describing how to attract birds, Bea was also able to provide a great deal of information about to identify birds and their unique characteristics and habits.

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Loni Shapiro
Donation jar will return next month.

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm – 8:00pm Grand Canyon Project (Jan Busco)
Jan is the botanist for the Grand Canyon and will have a project beginning in the spring and continuing through the summer to enhance the beauty of the area around the new Visitor’s Center at Mather Point. She will be looking for one and multiple day volunteers. Watch the blog for information on need for volunteers and or contact Jan at the canyon beginning probably in March.(928-638-7782) As projects become more specific they will be posted on the blog.

Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
Repeat of calendar project for 2011 (May 4 deadline for photos) – see handout
Last year – sold about 150/distributed 50. About 50 remaining will be sold for January at half price ($5)
Membership – Jan/Dec
We begin collecting memberships for 2011. The cost is $10 and you will receive discounts at Viola’s and Native Plant & Seed (details on back of card). Warner’s will be included – details later.
The cards are being done by Crys and will be available next month. There will be 3 levels of membership
- Member /certified MG up to date on volunteers & education hours
- Associate member / MG but not up to date on volunteer & education hours
- Trainee / master gardener in training, not yet certified
All eligible for discounts if purchasing membership

New venue – this is it! We will be paying the church $200 a year to cover utilities.
By-laws to be updated next month.

Finance Update – Ed Skiba Membership/Calendar sales
Currently in savings 226.98 checking 813.51
Income specific categories not accounted for last year (donations for food, memberships, and calendars), but with new receipt book will be for 2011. All monies may move to savings to save the checking fee, and money orders used to write a few checks as they are few. Ed will also check on obtaining tax free status this year.

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule below)
Dana is always looking for writers for the column. Articles now appear the Saturday before the meeting with the speaker topic.
Community Programs
Community Markets- to continue in 2011
Speakers Bureau-need more to sign up
Hattie had a request for a xeriscape talk, anyone interested should contact her. Jim mention he will be doing a talk on April 22, for New Frontiers – details later.
Home Show – Hattie Braun/Faith Brittain
Home show March 25-27th at the old K-mart store on 4th St. Meeting on Thursday 1/20 at 130pm at the Extension Office to do planning – all welcome. Will need speakers – probably looking for a short show and tell talk but will advise later. Hours to be advised later.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Volunteer sites for 2011 are done and up on the blog. Hattie has 2 to add Coconino County Parks & Rec and Riordan Mansion. Jan Busco’s Grand Canyon project will also be added.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells
Crys has sent e-mails to all who have reported hours with totals. If you have any suggestions about changes in the system contact her. This year she will be e-mailing reported hours monthly to help people keep up with hours. Totals for 2010 are as follows, 3322.75 hours for all reported for volunteering, 536 continuing education hours. Spring and fall classes were great about reporting hours. Spring 842 and Fall 77 volunteer hours.
Jim emphasized the importance of reporting to justify the master gardener program with the county supervisors and the U. of A.

8:20pm – 8:30pm How to – touring the blog!
Loni did a tour of the blog live on screen to show people what it contains, how to access documents and other sites, and to encourage people to send her information to add on the blog. Many people beside MGs contribute – Native Plant Society, AERA, Arboretum, Warner’s, etc. If you have any questions feel free to contact her.

Next meeting: February 10, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church
1601 N. San Francisco
Spiders of the Winter
Freddie Steele, writer and former naturalist with the park service

Schedule for future meetings:
March 10 Chaa Organic Farm in Belize – Linda Neff, anthropologist
April 14 Therapeutic Horticulture vs. horticultural Therapy – Loni Shapiro
May 10 Flagstaff Community Market – Art Babbott
June 9 Foxglove Gardening – Joanie Abbott
July 14 Sustainability – William Auberle

Other Educational and Volunteer Opportunities
February 8 – May 17, 2011 Master Gardener Training
October 22 – 2011 Highlands Garden Conference/Yavapai County
For details on above opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

Monday, January 10, 2011

Catalog Resources for 2012

It is that time of the year when we all begin to look at plant and seed catalogs for the 2012 season. A link is included for you to print up a list of all the resources I know. It is five pages, but I may have missed some important resources. If you have anything you would like to add let me know before February 1. I will post any revisions on that date.

LINK

Loni Shapiro
Secretary
Coconino Master Gardener Association

Seed, Plant, and Tool Catalog Resources


In January all gardeners begin to peruse the seed/plant catalogs. My Seed Plant and Tool reference has been revised for 2011. It has not changed much except for a few new phone numbers. Rocky Mountain Rare Plants is no longer in business. If you click on the underlined word file you can download a PDF file with the list. It is lengthy - 5 pages - but very thorough. Feel free to send me anything I may have missed (cnslds@q.com).

Loni Shapiro
Secretary
Coconino Master Gardener Association

Thursday, January 6, 2011

MG Association January Meeting 1/13/11

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 1/13/11
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco
6:30pm – 8:30pm



6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Introduction of Speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Bird Loving Plants
Bea Cooley, Master Gardener and member of the Audubon Society

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Hosted by Loni Shapiro

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm – 8:00pm Grand Canyon Project(Jan Busco) & Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
Repeat of calendar project (May 5 deadline for photos) – see handout
Last year – sold about 150/distributed 50
Membership – Jan/Dec
Cards next month
Will include discounts
Categories – Member, Trainee, Associate
By-laws to be updated next month

Finance Update – Ed Skiba
Membership/Calendar sales

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule below)
Community Programs
Community Markets
Speakers Bureau
Home Show – Hattie Braun/Faith Brittain
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells

8:20pm – 8:30pm How to – touring the blog!

Next meeting: February 10, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church
1601 N. San Francisco
Spiders of the Winter
Freddie Steele, writer and former naturalist with the park service

Schedule for future meetings:
March 10 Chaa Organic Farm in Belize – Linda Neff, anthropologist
April 14 Therapeutic Horticulture vs. horticultural Therapy – Loni Shapiro
May 10 Flagstaff Community Market – Art Babbott
June 9 Foxglove Gardening – Joanie Abbott
July 14 Sustainability – William Auberle

Other Educational and Volunteer Opportunities
February 8 – May 17, 2011 Master Gardener Training
October – 2011 Highlands Garden Conference/Yavapai County
For details on above opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

City of Flagstaff Beautification Grants

The city of Flagstaff is offering 5 beautification grants that are open to groups of individuals, community groups, and not-for-profit organizations. These grants are $2500 each and are to enhance community aesthetics and build neighborhood relationships, instill community pride, boost self-esteem, and "green" our environment. This is a great opportunity for master gardeners to do their community service while enhancing the beauty of their community.

Linda Gieseke, a long time master gardener, is on the city commission that meets to decide on projects. You can download a decription of the grant from the "Documents/Forms" section of this blog.

If you have any questions contact Linda at:
lgiesecke@aol.com or 779,541