CMGA General Info

Roadrunner: Although typically desert dwellers, roadrunners may also thrive in cold climates by fluffing feathers for insulation and by exposing their black back feathers to the sun.
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

Monday, February 28, 2011

American Community Garden Association Conference

Here is a brochure for the American Community Gardens Association Southwest Regional Conference to be held in Phoenix April 1 and April 2. Please spread the word. It looks like a great program. Early bird deadline is March 1.

Link to brochure

Hattie Braun
University Of Arizona
Master Gardener Program Coordinator

Garden Starts CSA

FYI Master Gardeners

Join the 2011 Flagstaff Garden Starts CSA! The CSA’s mission is to provide high-quality, responsibly grown vegetable, herb, and edible flower starts to the Flagstaff community, while educating and bringing together backyard growers. Members of this CSA will be taking local food production into their own hands, while procuring part of their food security.

Shares include 25 six-packs of seasonally appropriate vegetables, herbs, and edible flower seedlings. In the beginning of the season, participants will receive cold-tolerant plants, such as cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.), lettuce, and onions. As the season progresses and the weather warms, the share will shift to crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, etc. Shares will also include seed for beans, peas, carrots, marigolds, nasturtiums, and a winter rye cover crop that are best sown directly in your garden. Pick-ups occur at the Flagstaff Native Plant & Seed Nursery on Wednesdays (3-6pm) from May through June. Click here to see the tentative pick-up schedule.

Learn the joy and satisfaction of growing your own food! For more information here is a link to the registration form If you have any questions you can e-mail Jen at flaggardenstarts@gmail.com.

Shares are limited, so be sure to sign up before they are all gone!

Hattie Braun
University of Arizona
Master Gardener Program Coordinator

Flagstaff Foodlink Garden Coordinator


Flagstaff Foodlink Seeks a Community Garden Coordinator

Flagstaff Foodlink (FFL) is seeking a coordinator to work collaboratively with Flagstaff Foodlink's Community Agriculture Program, the City of Flagstaff, and over 100 community gardeners, at both the Bonito and Izabel Street Community Gardens. This Garden Coordinator (GC) will be hired on a contract basis and is expected to start April 1st working approximately 12 hours per week. FFL, with the GC’s support, anticipates securing additional funding to increase the GC’s position to approximately twenty hours per week by mid-May.
Flagstaff Foodlink, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, has been working to connect the Flagstaff community to healthy regional and local foods since 2004. We offer strong programs and educational, organizational and fundraising tools to the exciting and emerging local food movement in the greater Flagstaff area.
FFL runs four programs, one of which is the Community Agriculture Program. We partner with the City of Flagstaff to create community agriculture sites on public land. The program began in 2009, and since its inception we now have two, quarter-acre community gardens in Flagstaff. The gardens are designed for inexperienced gardeners of all ages and backgrounds who do not have gardening space/resources/support at their own residences, to have a place to grow fresh produce, herbs, and flowers. Both gardens are designed using permaculture principles. All gardeners have access to educational workshops on-site, one-on-one time with the GC for support or guidance, sheds full of shared tools and gardening literature, and community potluck dinners.


Coordinator Responsibilities

Outreach and Organizing:
Recruiting new gardeners, as well as cultivating community support,
Working closely with City of Flagstaff employees and Flagstaff Foodlink Board members,
Maintaining and strengthening relationships with other community organizations,
Developing relationships and maintaining good connections with local and regional media,
Speaking publicly about the program,
Volunteer coordination,
Fundraising, donation seeking, and grant writing, and
Planning garden potlucks and celebrations for gardeners and the community.

Education:
Mentoring new gardeners,
Designing and conducting educational workshops on gardening and related topics, and
Facilitating workshops led by local and regional gardeners.

Gardening Maintenance:
Maintaining the perennials, shrubs, and trees at both gardens, as well as planting annuals each spring,
Maintaining the structures at each garden (sheds, fences, art installations, and signs), and
Overseeing the development and implementation of large projects.

Qualifications
Garden/farm experience, and a basic knowledge of horticulture,
The ability to be self motivated, to create and maintain your own schedule, as well as the ability to work with a wide variety of individuals and groups,
The ability to perform strenuous physical labor,
The ability to multi-task and handle several projects at one time,
A genuine interest and commitment to the local foods movement, and
Bilingual Spanish/English a plus.

Compensation
Flagstaff Foodlink will initially offer $12.50/hr for twelve hours per week from April 1st to October 1st, as well support for grant writing and fund seeking to increase your hours per week.

To apply
Please send a resume, two references, and a cover letter including pertinent experience, and why you are interested in this position to flagstafffoodlink@gmail.com.

This position will remain open until it is filled.

Start Date
The coordinator position will begin on April 1, 2011. Hands-on training and materials will be provided.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Lyndsey Langsdale at 775-815-1113 or Jo Hale at 928-814-5559/joannahale@gmail.com

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 2/10/11

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Attending: Freddi Steele, Loni Shapiro, Hattie Braun, Faith Brittain, Jim Mast, Jeff Best, Lee Lansing, Ann Eagan, Tess Wymore, Beth Dykstra, Linda Moriarty, Kerry Ronk, Ed Skiba, Debi Stalvey, Debra Crisp, Galen & Andre Guerrette, Linda Guarino, Dana Prom Smith

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

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Spiders of the Winter
Freddi Steele, former naturalist for the National Park Service and master gardener.
Freddi talked about the differences between insects and spiders. Spiders have jaws or fangs, no wings or antennae , young are similar in shape but not necessarily color. Other members of the family include ticks, mites, and scorpions. She also talked about some basics about their bodies and legs.
They have 2 main parts to their body and they have a hard shell, generally start with 8 legs but can have 2-8 later in life. Some have legs that can re-grow and some can drop off legs. Legs have tongues on their feet for sensing, and breathing organs with slits on the underside of their body. They have an extra set of hands near their mouth. They often have hair and are fuzzy and this is used for hearing and feeling. Their webs are spun of silk (liquid protein) and they create webs, egg sacs, draglines and snares. While spinning they can actually appear to fly (ballooning). The remainder of the program was about specific winter spiders. They are actually around all year but we generally only see them in the winter. Freddi provided details and photos on wolf spiders, daddy long-legs, cob web spiders, black or brown widows, jumping spiders, grass spiders, and the brown recluse. Black widows and brown recluse can be dangerous and most bites likely will require a visit to the Dr. Widows can cause tissue to die (necrotic) leaving a hole or indentation in the skin when healed. For more specifics about each spider checkout references on the web or at the library.

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Ann Eagan and those who donated to the refreshment donation
jar.

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting – Jim Mast
7:45pm – 8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
-Work on bi-laws changes with new membership. Revised bi-laws will be available for all to vote on next month. Major changes are in categories for membership. There will be 3 levels of membership:
- Member /certified MG up to date on volunteer & education hours
- Associate member / MG but not up to date on volunteer & ed. Hours for 2010
- Trainee / master gardener in training, not yet certified
All eligible for discounts if purchasing membership
Hattie working on revising Program Rules for initial MG certification and maintaining MG certification.
-Membership cards to be available beginning next month and Ed made collections the past two weeks. The cost is $10 and you will receive 10% discounts at Viola’s, Native Plant & Seed, and Warner’s. The discount will not apply for sales and they each have some restrictions which will be printed on the back of your cards. Jim suggested wearing your card or your MG badge to meetings so we can get to know each other.
-The committee also worked on a document to outline the differences between
volunteer and education hours. Jim reviewed a few of these such as adding travel time to volunteer
hours. The details will be provided at the next meeting.
-Repeat of calendar project for 2011 (May 4 deadline for photos) – see handout. Flyers are available that outline the requirements for entering. Calendars are still available for purchase for $5. Remaining will be given to the new MG class.
-Any ideas for other fundraising projects for 2011? Some ideas included a plant and garden sale, AV materials for the association, funds for MG projects for non-profits, speakers, and conferences. Hattie stated that her budget, because of state issues, is smaller and she cannot provide many of the things she used to, so we need to use this money to meet some of those needs. We also will be paying a $200 fee to the church for the use of their facility (utilities). The Executive committee needs to put spending on the agenda for the next meeting of the Executive Committee.

Finance Update – Ed Skiba
The checking account has been closed to avoid monthly fees. All monies are now in savings. Last month 16 signed up to be members ($160) and we sold 7 calendars ($35), $3 was given to the food donation fund. Current total in the bank is $1229.42. An issue to be addressed at next Ex. Mtg. – procedure for obtaining money for purchases, food donation jar (should we keep it aside to purchase needed food item to avoid withdrawls), ideas for funds for the year, pursuit of non-profit status.

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule) Dana has about 6 weeks of articles but is always looking for people. Loni reminded people that there are many opportunities for the next couple of month to find CE. She circulated 2 - Gardens for Humanity’s week of lectures and a school garden conference in Tempe. Follow the blog for more details.
Community Programs
Community Markets- to continue in 2011. Schedules and sign up will not happen until the market is close to opening.
Speakers Bureau-need more to sign up as regulars for this program so Hattie has a pool to choose from when requests come in.
Home Show – Hattie Braun/Faith Brittain Faith & Hattie have a tentative schedule with people to set-up/take-down, man the booth, and speak. They are still looking for more speakers and people to man the booth. Hattie will send out a current list of sign ups. The Home Show is from 3/25-27. Call or email them if you are interested in helping. You will get free entry to the Home Show.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino This is currently on the blog but will soon be revised with Riordan Mansion, Grand Canyon Project with Jan, Coconino Center for the Arts? Hattie stated there is a need for two types of projects (Non-profit initiated and master gardener initiated). Executive Committee and Project committee will look at this.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells
Crys reports that tallies for 2010 of hours reported include:
Volunteer – 3525.25 Continuing Ed – 539
For 2011 January thus far:
Vol. 70.75 CE 10
Reporting of hours is necessary to justify the master gardener program with those that care.
Board of Supervisors
U. of A
Reporting on the computer is recommended, but if you are unable to do this you can report on paper. A form is available. This should be done monthly so those that keep tally, don’t have to do it all in December. Those that are interested in the numbers don’t always work on a Jan-Dec budget, some are July to June, so numbers need to be up to date.

8:20pm – 8:30pm Garden questions?
Galen G – question on appropriate lights for use in indoor growing. Least expensive florescent lights are the best (Hattie & Ed).
Questions on watering due to dry winter. Hattie may reprint watering article in newspaper.

Next meeting: March 10, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church Chaa Organic Farm in Belize
1601 N. San Francisco Linda Neff, anthropologist

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Coconino Master Gardener Assoc. Meeting Agenda 2/10/11

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
Spiders of the Winter
Freddi Steele, former naturalist for the National Park Service

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Hosted by Ann Eagan
Donation jar available on the food table

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm – 8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Jim Mast
-Work on bi-laws changes with new membership. Revised bi-laws will be available for all to vote on next month. Major change in categories for membership. There will be 3 levels of membership:
- Member /certified MG up to date on volunteer & education hours
- Associate member / MG but not up to date on volunteer & ed. hours for 2010
- Trainee / master gardener in training, not yet certified
All eligible for discounts if purchasing membership
Hattie working on revising Program Rules for initial MG certification and maintaining MG certification.
-Membership cards to be available beginning next month but you can pay Ed this evening. 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 from Hattie.
Wear card or your MG badge to meetings so we can get to know each other.
-Also worked on was a document to explain recording master gardener volunteer and education hours.
-Repeat of calendar project for 2011 (May 4 deadline for photos) – see handout
Calendars still available for purchase for $5. Remainder will be given to the new MG class.
-Any ideas for other fundraising projects for 2011?

Finance Update – Ed Skiba

8:00pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education – Dana Prom Smith (see schedule)
Community Programs
Community Markets- to continue in 2011
Speakers Bureau-need more to sign up
Home Show – Hattie Braun/Faith Brittain
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells

8:20pm - 8:30pm Garden questions (time permitting)

Next meeting: March 10, 2011
Shepherd of the Hills Church
1601 N. San Francisco
Chaa Organic Farm in Belize
Linda Neff, anthropologist

Schedule for future meetings:
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
Warner's Winter Cooking Seminars
Drinks & Desserts
Wed., Feb. 23, 2011
5:30pm-6:30pm

16th Water Conservation & Xeriscape Conference & Expo
Albuquerque, NM
Conference 2/24-25/2011
Expo 2/26-27/2011

Master Watershed Steward Classes & Training
Yavapai County Extension
Classes begin March 3, 2011
(see blog post for info)

Warner's Winter Cooking Seminars
Getting Ready for Spring:
Eat What we Grow
Wed., March 9, 2011
5:30pm-6:30pm

Gardens for Humanity
Spring Planting Festival
March 12-20,2011
Keynote Speakers - Gary Nabhan & Toby Hemenway
St. Johns Vianney Church
Sedona, Az
Sun., March 13, 2011
7:00pm-9:00pm
Preregistration required.

Sonoran Desert Herbal Retreat
Aravaipa Canyon Ranch
March 16-20, 2011

Flagstaff Home & Garden Show
March 25-27, 2011
Watch for talks by local master gardeners

The American Community Garden Southwest Regional Conference
Rio Salado Community College Conference Center
Tempe, AZ
April 1-2, 2011

Vegetable Gardening
Jim Mast
April 22, 2011 7pm
Theatricos

Container Gardening for Veggies, Flowers & Herbs
Loni Shapiro
Arboretum at Flagstaff
May 21, 2011

Highlands Garden Conference
Sponsored by Yavapai County
October 22, 2011

For details on above opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

Friday, February 4, 2011

Sonoran Desert Herbal Retreat

Class and retreat for those interested in herbal medicine.
The Sonoran Desert Herbal Retreat will be held at Aravaipa Canyon Ranch, (to see the ranch go to www.aravaiparanch.com).

March 16-20, 2011.

Join Martha Ames Burgess, Ethnobotanist and Pam Hyde-Nakai, Clinical Herbalist, for 4 days and nights of learning, relaxation, quiet and renewal in Nature. Learn about local medicine plants, medicine making, native foods, and plant spirits. Gain a deeper sense of place in the Sonoran Desert.

Fee: $550.00 (includes lodging and food as well as retreat.)
(deposit $150.00 by Feb. 22, 2011)

Contact: Martha -520-907-9471
or Pam at 520-743-3980

The Aravaipa Ranch website will give people directions to the ranch and an idea of how long it takes to get there.