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

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Native Plant Society - Plant Press

Winter 2014 Plant Press available online!


Mexican Tansyaster Psilactis gentryi  Photo by: Bob Herrmann

Winter 2014 Plant Press

The latest beautiful edition of Plant Press is now available online!

Settle in for a good Winter read and learn about native Arizona food plants, soils and their role in plant evolution, and so much more!

Please find Plant Press online by following this link: http://www.aznps.com/documents/2014.12.PP.pdf

Also, take the time to check out the Plant Press archives on our website. http://www.aznps.com  There are so many past issues to be discovered for the first time, or read all over again - enjoy!

Happy Holidays!
Copyright © 2014 Arizona Native Plant Society, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a member of Arizona Native Plant Society

Our mailing address is:
Arizona Native Plant Society
PO Box 41206
Tucson, AZ 85717


Post by Dorothy Lamb

Friday, December 12, 2014

Spring Master Gardener Class

Become a Master  Gardener!
 
Dates & Time:  Thursdays from 1:00– 4:30 p.m. February 5 — May 14, 2014 There will be no class on March 19 

Location: Northern Arizona Health Care 1000 N Humphreys (Left of Bashes) Cost: $250, limited scholarships available

Don’t Miss Your Chance, Register Early!      Class is limited in size.  Registration is on a first-come, first-serve  basis


The Master Gardener Program is a nation-wide program offered  through the Cooperative Extension network for those interested in learning more about the specific gardening and horticulture needs in their geographic areas.  The Coconino County Master Gardener Program emphasizes the needs and challenges of high elevation gardening.   The program involves both classroom learning and a hands-on volunteer  commitment to share gardening skills with the community.

For an application, call 928-774-1868 ext. 170 or  e-mail
hbraun@cals.arizona.edu

Monday, December 1, 2014

CMGA Annual Christmas Party



Come join us for the annual CMGA Christmas Party on Dec. 11, at 630pm, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Check out this link for details:   link

Friday, November 21, 2014

AZ Highlands Garden Conference Mtg.

The first brainstorming meeting for the Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will be:
Thursday, Dec. 4,1:00, Coconino Extension Office.

This is the date that most people could join us.  Bring your ideas.  I’ll supply the coffee and tea.

If you can’t attend but want to get involved,  let Hattie hbraun@cals.arizona.edu or Jackie macandjac@aspect1.net know.

Thanks – Hattie and Jackie

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Weed at Picture Canyon

Picture Canyon weeding daySunday 11/30/14, 9:30am-1pm
Hello! On Sunday, Nov. 30th there will be a volunteer day at Picture Canyon to remove mullein, thistle and knapweed. We will remove weeds from 9:30a to 1pm.
 
We'll meet in the parking lot off of El Paso Flagstaff Rd.

After the very rainy monsoon season this summer the mullein population exploded, and we need to remove the seed heads to control its reproduction. It is also important that we dig up Scotch and star thistle and knapweed.
Bags and tools will be available, but if you have garden loppers/clippers, please bring them. Also, bring a lunch and water.

Please come join us to remove these invasive species!
 

Killip School

Hi Friends of Killip School Garden -
 
This Monday, November 24th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm we are holding an End of Season Work Party.
If you feel like getting some fresh air, come on down to the Killip Garden.  Here are some things that we are working on:
  • Move barrels out of greenhouse 
  • Clean/replace floor of greenhouse to get toxic smell out
  • Organize tools/supplies 
  • Make an inventory of supplies
  • Put supplies away
  • Pull up irrigation system and put away
  • Cover garden with mulch/leaves/manure (if we could organize a run out to the llama farm for Monday morning, we could spread that on beds...)
  • Plant cover crop
  • Work on Cold Frames
Let me know if you can come and help out.  
Thanks!
Elizabeth

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

AZNPS Winter Happenings

AZNPS Winter Happenings now available online!
View this email in your browser

Winter Happenings now online!

Please find the beautiful Winter 2014-15 edition of the AZNPS newsletter online: http://www.aznps.com/Happenings/Dec14Hap.pdf
 
AZNPS Winter Happenings now available online!
View this email in your browser

Winter Happenings now online!

Please find the beautiful Winter 2014-15 edition of the AZNPS newsletter online: http://www.aznps.com/Happenings/Dec14Hap.pdf
 
Copyright © 2014 Arizona Native Plant Society, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a member of Arizona Native Plant Society

Our mailing address is:
Arizona Native Plant Society
PO Box 41206
Tucson, AZ 85717

November 2014 Meeting Minutes


Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 11/13/14, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 1601 N. San Francisco
Introduction of speaker Ed Skiba
Continuing Education Joe Costion presenting “Greenhouse Design and Construction”.  Joe Costion has been the Construction Technology Department Chair at Coconino Community College for 10 years. In 2000 he developed the Alternative Energy Associates Degree program, and in 2004 he initiated the Sustainable / Green Building Associates Degree Program at the college. Joe teaches courses in Solar Home Design, Rainwater Harvesting, Green Building, Solar Applications, and Solar Greenhouse Design. He is currently designing an Organic Gardening Certificate Program for local foods initiatives.  Joe is a Founding Board Member of the USGBC Northern Arizona Chapter; a Board Member and Northern Arizona Director of the Arizona Solar Energy Association; and a Founding Member of the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program. He has a Master of Arts in Vocational Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Supervision. He is the Founder & President of the Board of Vocational Building Skills on the Navajo Nation and is on the Construction Trades Faculty for Northland Pioneer College. Joe is a 2003 graduate of the Flagstaff Leadership Program. He lives outside Snowflake, Arizona, and is actively gardening and developing a sustainable lifestyle. He is also the owner of Ashokala Gardens, a distributor of Soil Secrets Products.
A hat was passed to collect funds for the Highland Support Project fund for Teaching Sustainable Agriculture School in Western Guatamala. Joe and Kim have been teaching for this project. See First Giving for the details or if you want to contribute more:   http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/natalieprunty/sustainableagricultureschoolfundraisingpage
Refreshments provided by Kathy Hilton, Melissa Amberson and Barbara Johnson
Business Meeting – Hunter Kemmet
Are there any other officer nominations from the floor? No
Vote on officers; President - Jim Mast,    VP – Ed Skiba,   Treasurer - Sue Madden, Secretary – Sherline Alexander; New Officers elected for 2015 one year term.
Standing Committees There is a sign-up sheet on the table to show your interest for any of the following committees next year.  Continuing education, Volunteer Support, Community Support, Master Gardener Projects, Special Projects
We need volunteers to organize this year’s Christmas Party on Dec. 11 Church is reserved – regular meeting day.  $50 budget, but there are supplies available.  If you’re interested, there’s a sign-up sheet on the table.  Martha Davis and Patti Van Tuyl volunteered.
MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun.  Conference: Jackie Clark and Hattie Braun attended the conference meeting in Prescott.  Jackie has agreed to chair the planning committee for the next conference.  There will be a brainstorming meeting the first week in December.  There is a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in volunteering to serve on this committee.  Discussion will be about when to hold the conference, speakers, budget, ideas and forming the committees. Spring Class: Spring class starts 2-5-15. 1-4:30pm. Education rooms next to Basha’s, price the same.
MG badges and certificates: new master gardeners Emily Ross, Patti Van Tuyl, Marilyn Schwind, Martha Davis.
Financial report – Linda Guarino/Crys Wells Income $115.11 = 105 for aprons, 10 for membership, 0.11 for interest, expenses $598.36 = 500 for calendars, 98.36 for lunch for garden raffle volunteers, current balance = 3875.09 in checking, 141.35 in PayPal, total $4016.44.
Committee Reports:
Fund Raising
Aprons – Loni Shapiro – no aprons tonight, but will be available at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.
Calendars – Debi Stalvey - Calendars available for sale at Warner’s and Native Plant and Seed and tonight’s meeting $12 or 3 for $30. We will also sell them at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.  I need volunteers to help sit the table.  I am thinking two hour shifts.  Need 2-3 more volunteers. NAU requires a liability release will have to be signed by each volunteer. 
Sold 31 at the conference, sold 6 to others, have not checked with nurseries. Need 3 thank you cards for nurseries.
Give calendars to individuals who had a picture in the calendar.  
Hattie always takes (5) to the County Supervisors and (6) to the city council with a letter. 
One 2015 calendar to each speaker.  2015 speakers through May and 2014 speakers June to present.  Total of 10 calendars.
Continuing Education – Ed Skiba JanuaryGrant Recipients reviews (not confirmed) will be contacting grant recipients 2014, then go back to prior years to fill the hour. FebruaryKim Howell-Costion Greenhouse soils and Soil Secrets (not confirmed) March – Ed; one hole at a time. AprilHattie on flowers.  We will be needing a volunteer to take over continuing education because Ed is now the clubs vice president.
MG Projects/Blog - Loni Shapiro – currently collecting receipts
Volunteer Support – Crys Wells 264.25 volunteer hours and 54 education hours. YTD totals are 3208.25 volunteer hours and 518.5 education hours
Gardening Questions? What do you do with raspberry after they have produced berries?  Cut growth after 2nd year.  What can you do with sunflower carcass?  Shred them and use in compost or let them dry and use them as stakes.
Next meeting: Christmas Party, December 11, 2014

Volunter Opportunity

Greetings, All,
There will be a Plant Atlas Project of Arizona (PAPAZ) specimen mounting session on Thursday, November 20 from 1-3pm, at the Deaver Herbarium, Room 314.  Sessions will be ongoing through the winter months.
Experienced and new helpers are all welcome.   Training will be provided.

Deaver Herbarium is located in the Biological Sciences Building at 617 S Beaver Street.  Parking is difficult on or off campus, so consider taking public transportation. The number 10 bus stop is right in front of the building.

For more information and to sign up, please contact Gisela Kluwin at gkluwin2@gmail.com (preferred) or phone 853-9462

 
Posted by
D. Lamm 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Update from Jeff Best/Sunshine Rescue Mission


The garden at Dorsey Manor was very productive this past year.  We harvested 109 pounds of vegetables.  The harvest went to the S.R.M. kitchen for meals served from there.  I am planning on facilitating the garden next year.  Thanks to all who helped this year; Morrinda, Dawa, Tim, Mike, Alan, Ernie, Cameron and others.  We received funding this year from Warner's Nursery and Loni Shapiro.

Here is the break down:
Beans - 22 lbs.
Squash - 20 lbs.
Radish - 2 lbs.
Spinach - 1 lbs.
Onions - 1 lbs.
Lettuce - 10 lbs.
Carrots - 3 lbs.
Collared Greens and Kale - 7 lbs
Tomato - 43 lbs.
Chili pepper

Jeff Best

Coconino Master Gardeners Association

Monday, November 10, 2014

CMGA November 2014 Meeting Agenda


Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 11/13/14
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco

 6:30pm – 6:40pm               Welcome – Agenda – Hunter Kemmet

 Announcements                  Meeting Raffle – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win
·         Drawing will be held after refreshments and before the business meeting                                             

6:40pm – 6:45pm               Introduction of speaker Ed Skiba

 6:45pm-7:45pm                  Continuing Education
Joe Costion presenting Greenhouse Design and Construction

15 minute break
7:45pm-8:00pm                  Refreshments provided by Kathy Hilton, Melissa Amberson and Barbara Johnson
And Raffle Prize Drawing 

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Daily Sun Article from Sunday About Bees

The buzz on native bees


Saturday, November 8, 2014

National Park Update

NPCA

Glacier National Park © Kan1234/Dreamstime
Donate today


In just over a year, the National Park Service’s centennial will shine a spotlight on all of our national parks. And it should be a time for celebrating.
But we all could be in for a shock if we don’t act now.
Because if things don’t change fast, America’s national parks will be in a sorry state—with closed trails and visitor centers, cancelled programs, and Park Service staff unable to properly maintain the parks due to severe budget cuts.
The countdown to the parks’ centennial is on in earnest and NPCA needs your support to press ahead with all of our work.
We know there will be many battles to face ahead as we fight to secure proper funding and protect the parks from a host of outside threats.

Terroir Seeds - Butterfly Milkweed and other info

 
Terroir Seeds | Underwood Gardens
Trouble reading this email? View the online version!

Butterfly Milkweed, Brussels Sprouts & Gardening for Birds


Butterfly Milkweed


Butterfly Milkweed
We have another species of milkweed to help the Monarch butterflies! The Butterfly milkweed is very attractive and a hit in both the garden and as a landscape showcase, where it shows off the vibrant deep yellow to orange flowers dripping with butterflies in the late spring to early summer.
Add this to your pollinator garden to draw in many different butterflies, bees and beneficial insects. It’s best to plant a variety of milkweed and pollinator attracting flowers that provide food for a diverse ecology of pollinators. You will not only be helping them, but they will visit your garden and the key to great production is excellent pollination, thus growing flowers in or around your garden will reap abundant harvests.
Plant now for early spring germination!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Volunteering at the Deaver Herbarium


PAPAZ (Plant Atlas Project of Northern Arizona) mounting sessions will resume on Friday, November 7 and Thursday, November 20 from 1-3pm, at the Deaver Herbarium Room 314. Sessions will be ongoing through the winter months. 
All are welcome, no experience needed, no knowledge of plants required, training will be provided. 

Deaver Herbarium is located in the Biological Sciences Building at 617 S Beaver Street. 
Since parking can be difficult on or off campus, consider taking public transportation. The number 10 bus stop is right in front of the building.

For more information and to sign up please contact Gisela Kluwin at gkluwin2@gmail.com (preferred) or phone/text  853-9462.

Dorothy Lamm



Friday, October 31, 2014

Keep Sedona Beautiful Educational Programs

Building Great Soil

WITH STEPHEN SCOTT from Terroir Seed
Saturday, November 8
10:00 am - 11:30 am
  -
Keep Sedona Beautiful
360 Brewer Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
 
Soil is the foundation of all of our food and health, but we have learned to treat it like dirt over the past 75 years. Healthy, fertile and vibrant soil produces weather tolerant, pest and disease resistant plants that grow incredibly delicious and nutritious food, providing a noticeable improvement to our daily health.
 
Come join Stephen as he explores the different ways you can improve your garden soil, no matter if it is a traditional garden, containers, planters or at the community garden.
Stephen Scott 
Free to anyone in the community, donations are welcome.  

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

From the Daily Sun October 12

Contest winners' yard looks great

To the editor:
We were one of the lucky winners of the Coconino Master Gardener Association's Fall Yard Clean-up Raffle. On Oct. 4, six Master Gardeners descended upon our home and worked for three hours; and they worked hard. Our front and back yards look fantastic. We'd like to thank the Coconino Master Gardener Association for the fantastic drawing and for the fantastic clean-up of our yard. Specific thanks go to Michele Lytle, John Mead, Cheryl Boardman, Ed Skiba, Shirline Alexander, and Sherry Markel.
DANA and CAROLE MANDINO
Flagstaff

Monday, October 27, 2014

Highlands Garden Conference 2014


Highlands Garden Conference
Prescott, AZ
October 24-25, 2014

This past weekend I attended the annual Highlands Garden Conference. It began on Friday with tours of a variety of venues in the area. My tour was of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve which is funded by Prescott Creeks Members.  The 126 acre site has been under restoration for the last 25 years. We toured the site and observed many trees and shrubs, some which will be removed, such as tamarask and an abundance of Siberian elm, and many that others that added to the beauty and preservation of the site (3 species of cottonwood, several willows, AZ walnut, velvet ash, box elder, hackberry, and 3 leaf sumac). With good rain over the last 2 years and work on restoration Granite Creek flows through the property now. Many of the wildlife have returned with restoration. Seen on the tour were hairy woodpeckers and flickers are known to inhabit the area. It was late in the season for vegetation, but several native grasses were observed (deer grass, side oats gramma) and milkweed, yarrow, datura, and some asters. This is a long term project for this non-profit organization and a great place to visit. Admission is free. Check it out on their web site.

The highlight of the conference was the keynote speaker, Jeff Gillman, PhD. He has a masters in entomology, and a PhD in horticulture from the University of Georgia. He is a well known author of 5 books on gardening and the environment, and has been a professional researcher and educator for almost 20 years. His talks were both interesting and filled with new ideas for master gardeners. The first was on "The Truth About Organic Gardening". As it becomes more popular, gardeners need to take a critical look at techniques to determine whether they are as safe and effective as we would like them to be. My take from his talk was that some of the so called natural ingredients are not really safe for us or our pets. If it says organic on the label check out the ingredients, especially if they are listed as inert. He also gave a wonderful history of the development of organics. Check out his books on Amazon.

In the afternoon lecture he spent time talking about "The Truth About Garden Remedies". Some of his research in particular on Jerry Baker's home remedies was particularly useful and humorous.  One piece of advice that wasn't particularly welcome to me, was that the best weed control is doing the work by hand - oh well, it's good exercise. He also had some advise on the current trend in adding mycorrhizas to our soil. He felt that first we need to do a soil test to see what we have, and that one product does not fit the needs of all gardens, each one being unique, so we may be wasting money.

Flagstaff Foodlink - UA Downtown Lecture Series/Live Streamed in Flagstaff

For all those interested in growing and eating local foods for diversity and health.
I'm happy to announce that Rendezvous Coffee House has generously offered to stream the UA's Downtown Lecture Series which is focused on FOOD this year.

LIVE streaming will be taking place every Wednesday starting on October 15 and will go through November 12 at 6:30pm at Rendezvous Coffee House at 100 South San Francisco St. in Downtown Flagstaff.

Here is the schedule of the lectures:

Food for Pleasure, Vitality, and Health
November 12, 2014
Victoria Maizes, Co-Director of the UA’s Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

FOR MORE INFORMATION about viewing in Flagstaff, email flagstafffoodlink@gmail.com   
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LECTURE SERIES, visit http://downtownlectures.arizona.edu/2014-downtown-lecture-series
For questions, please contact
Lydia Breunig, Director of Outreach, UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at 

Please spread widely,
Regan Emmons

Garden Starts CSA (community supported agriculture)

Flagstaff Foodlink (501c3)  Growing food, growing community
flaggardenstarts@gmail.com

 
Flagstaff Foodlink cultivates and celebrates local, healthy, equitable, and resilient food systems in our community.

 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

October 2014 CMGA Meeting Minutes


Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 10/9/14, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 1601 N. San Francisco
Introduction of speaker Ed Skiba
Continuing Education Dr. Kristen Potter Bees and Other Pollinators.  Kristen is an insect physiologist who studies how insects interact with their local environments and how they cope with environmental stress.  She completed a BS in Neurobiology from Cornell University, a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona, and a postdoc at University of Montana.  She arrived in beautiful Flagstaff about 2 years ago and now works at NAU where she splits her time between research and educational activities.
MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun
Highland Conference –the conference is October 25.  Brochures are available at the information table.
Refreshments provided by Laura Parker and Jackee Alston
Business Meeting – Ed Skiba filling in for Hunter Kemmet
 Nominating Committee – Crys Wells
Committee: Hattie Braun, Debi Stalvey, Gillian Thomas, Sue Madden.  Loni wasn't actually on the committee but laid some groundwork for us before we formed the committee; thank you Loni.   Loni had already talked to Jim Mast, he accepted the nomination for president next year.  Ed Skiba accepted nomination for V.P.  Sherline accepted the nomination for secretary. Sue Madden accepted nomination for Treasurer.  Approved by exec committee; Announcement will be made in this month’s business meeting.  Take nominations from the floor in November.  Elections will be held in November.  October nominations should go on the blog after the monthly meeting.
Standing Committees – Ed Skiba
Think about volunteering for one of the committees.  The new CMGA president will appoint the committee chairs.  The sign-up sheet is available at the information table.  It would be nice to have at least two people on each committee.
        Continuing education
Committee shall be responsible for arranging and organizing educational enrichment programs for the CMGA meetings (contacting speakers, advising secretary with presentation title, AV needs, and addresses for thank you contacts).
        Volunteer Support
Committee shall track volunteer hours and update contact information as needed.
The committee shall be in charge of social and recognition events for the association (Annual MG /December Party).
        Community Support
Committee shall be responsible for developing, coordinating and maintaining a list of Master Gardener members who are willing to speak to Community groups, and determine qualifications.
The chair will coordinate support for the Community Markets during the gardening season.
The chair will coordinate an annual representation at the Home & Garden Show.
        Master Gardener Projects
The committee shall provide guidelines (updated yearly) for requesting MG support for community project. These will be posted on the blog for everyone wanting to apply.
The committee will maintain an updated list of community projects suitable for MG trainees and others to complete their volunteer hours.
The committee will review applications and send to the Master Gardener Program Coordinator for final approval.
        Special Projects
Home Show, Highland Conference
Financial report – Linda Guarino/Crys Wells
Current bank account balance $4667.49.  Just reimbursed Debi Stalvey $500 with another nearly $500 due for calendars, new aprons paid for $111.00.
                                                MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun
        Designated Campus Colleague program
        It is a process, but doable.  Driver’s license piece puts your name on the list.
        Fund Raising
        Garden Clean-up raffle final report – Molly Larson
Saturday, October 4, was a perfectly beautiful day for the Master Gardener’s Association’s yard clean-up for the two raffle winners.  The yard of Carole Mandino was serviced by Sherline Alexander, John Mead, Michele Lytle, Cheryl Bridgman, Sherry Markel,  and Ed Skiba.  They removed small trees, trimmed overgrown junipers, rejuvenated the iris bed, and weeded.  Melanie Lembke’s yard had Bea Cooley, Susan Holiday and her son Lyle, Julie Holmes and her husband John, Molly Larsen and Leslie Pennick working hard.  They removed dead vegetables, pruned multiple perennial beds, removed small trees and suckers, and did general clean up.  County agent Hattie Braun spent time at both yards working and giving advice.  Dallas Larsen took photos at each place.  Sue Martin Caskey and Hunter Kemmett provided manure for the two winners.  A pizza and salad lunch was provided for the hungry volunteers after their three hour job.  Many thanks go to the volunteers who worked the yards, all the people who sold tickets for the raffle as well as the community supporting the association with their ticket purchase.  Over $2000 was raised for the 2015 grants. Molly Larson
Aprons – Loni Shapiro
First 25 were sold, purchased the next 25 aprons and Sherry Markel has them for embroidery.
Calendars – Debi Stalvey
Will be available for our next meeting.  All photos will be returned very soon.
Continuing Education – Ed Skiba
Working with Joe Costion for next meeting.  Joe is 90% committed.  He is waiting to find out the date of his trip to Guatemala.
Soil Secrets product feeds microorganisms in the soil making it readily available to the plant.
Any requests for talks?
House Plants, Wild Flowers and Native Plants, Michelle Lydal cooking demo.
Community Markets – Andrea Guerrette
This Sunday need one more volunteer.  Would like to beef-up the information box.
MG Projects/Blog - Loni Shapiro
Not available for report.
Volunteer Support – Crys Wells
41 people reported a total of 603.25 volunteer hours and 47.5 education hours
YTD totals are 2944 volunteer and 464.5 education hours
Gardening Questions?       
Q.  Anyone mulch leaves? 
A.  Dry them out, stomp on them or put them in a barrel and use your weed whacker to break them up.
Next meeting:                     Thursday, November 13, 2014
Joe Costion presenting Economical Greenhouse Construction (not confirmed)