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, August 30, 2014

Grand Canyon Trust Workshop

Hi friends,

The monsoon season has been satisfying and as fall begins to show its face, we here at the Grand Canyon Trust are gearing up for a final workshop at our historic homestead. Please share with your networks.

Urban Land Stewardship Workshop

Last month many of you came out to help with and learn about composting science, weed management, and urban landscaping principles. Thank you! The native plants we planted are doing great, the paths are inviting, and the sunflowers keep on thriving! Our upcoming workshop will be Friday, September 5th, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, September 6th, 9 p.m. - 3 p.m.  We will be partnering with our friends at TerraBIRDS for another round of learning, planting, and landscaping! Click here to register for the workshop. Click here for a link to our location. If you are planning to come to both days, please register for both. 

Following our workshop, we will gather for a community BBQ potluck at the Homestead on Saturday, September 6th at 6 p.m. to celebrate our work and the mighty Colorado River during the week-long Colorado River Days event. Bring a dish and a story to share. Please RSVP if you will be attending this evening event.

Hope to see you - enjoy the rain!

Your friends at Grand Canyon Trust

Friday, August 29, 2014

Native Plant Walk at Willow Bend

MEDICINAL PLANTS WALK

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3, 5-6 PM

Learn about the traditional uses of plants in the native gardens that surround Willow Bend in the County's Sawmill Park. All experience levels are welcome. Ethnobotanist Mike Masek is offering this guided walk as a fundraiser for Willow Bend. Your generous donation is much appreciated.  Drop in at 5 pm when the walk begins.

Riordan Mansion Workdays


Forward from Dave Brimhall (brimhall.dave@gmail.com)
Good morning everyone!
 
Just wanted to Thank Charlotte one more time for her amazing leadership and vision on the Riordan Project.  Charlotte, you have become such a good friend and part of our community.
We will truly miss you.  Good luck in Sacramento and come back to visit us often!
I will be out of town the first two weeks of August so let me put out the schedule for the rest of the 2014 season.
 
Friday Aug 29th
Friday Sept 12th
Friday Sept 26th
Friday Oct 10th
Friday Oct 24th
We will meet at 9:30 and generally work until 1:30.  You are welcome to come for all or some of the time.  Any time you can give really helps.
I am unable to work at Riordan on Saturdays but anyone can go and help out at any time.  Just call me and I'll give you some ideas of things that need to be done.  699-3331
 
Thanks for all you do!
Dave
 Update from Dave 8/27

Friday, August 22, 2014

NPS/USFS Ranger Walks and Talks

Ranger Walks & Talks Event Calendar

August 27-31, 2015

NPS/USFS Ranger Partnership

Campground Programs

· Bonito Campground, Friday, August 28
7:30-8:15 pm. The Search for Dark Skies. Dark night skies allow us to connect with our universe in an incredible and humbling way, but stars are quickly disappearing from view all over the world! Join Ranger Kyle on a journey across Arizona, the United States, and Earth itself to find out where our starlight is going and how it affects us. Along the way, you'll discover some of the darkest and most beautiful skies our National Parks have to offer. At the campground amphitheater.

· Dairy Springs Campground, Saturday, August 29
3:00-3:45 pm. An Exploratory Nature Walk. A fun 45-minute nature walk with USFS volunteers Nancy and Steve Galas on the Dairy Springs Loop Trail. Discover the beauty of a ponderosa pine forest and a riparian habitat. No dogs please. Meet at the amphitheater.

· Pine Grove Campground, Saturday, August 29
7:30-8:15 pm. Hummingbirds of Arizona. Join NPS volunteer Rick Ruess to learn about the tiniest bird in North America and a  personal encounter in nature with a broad-tailed hummingbird. At the campground amphitheater.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

August 2014 Meeting Minutes


Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 8/14/2014 Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 1601 N. San Francisco
Continuing Education - Rachael Edelstein - Edible and Poisonous Northern Arizona wild mushrooms
Refreshments provided by Cheryl Bridgman and Hunter Kemmet
Raffle prize winner – Sherline Alexander
Business Meeting Hunter Kemmet
Thanks to Charlotte Dodgson for her service as Vice President
Call for nominations - Elect new Vice President
Financial report – Linda Guarino/Crys Wells
In the month of July, there were $91 in income and $188.01 in expenditures.  The bank balance (not including PayPal figures) was $2,357.42 as of 8/14/14.
MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun
Master Gardener Recognition Picnic – need volunteer to organize picnic
Fund Raising
Garden Clean-up raffle – Molly Larson
Aprons and Garden Tours – Loni Shapiro – sold 6 aprons so far.
Calendars – Debi Stalvey – should be available by the October meeting.
Garden Tours – Debi Stalvey – need volunteers to look at your garden.  1st on is this Saturday at 10:00am.  You get 1 education hour for attending this.  Host gets volunteer hours.
Continuing Education – Ed Skiba
October – Probuild/Juli Littou  Building an Inexpensive Greenhouse
November - Bees   Dr. Kristen Porter, NAU
December – Holiday Party
Community Markets – Andrea Guerrette
2 Wednesdays to sign-up.  Loni will send out a reminder.
MG Projects/Blog - Loni Shapiro
Donor tags; these are for gardens that have won grants.
Volunteer Support – Crys Wells
42 people reported hours in July.  495 volunteer and 65.5 education hours.  Year to date is 2009.75 volunteer and 365.5 education hours.  We are behind last year's totals at this point...2803 volunteer and 601 education hours total year to date as of the end of July 2013.  The totals for 2013 were 5063.75 volunteer and 903.25 education hours.
Next meeting: Sunday, September 7, 2014 MG Annual Picnic and Recognition BBQ, 4pm – 6pm at the Navajo Ramada at Fort Tuthill

 

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 8/14/2014


Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 8/14/2014
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco
 
 6:30pm - 6:40pm             Welcome – Agenda – Hunter Kemmet
                                              Brief review of agenda for the evening               
 
 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
                                              Prize:  A book ‘The Complete Book of Herbs’ and a Ginger Mint Plant

                                              Garden Clean-up raffle - Turn in sales during break to Molly Larson
                                              Aprons – See Loni Shapiro during break to purchase MG Apron
 
 6:40pm - 6:45pm             Introduction of speaker Ed Skiba
 
 6:45pm - 7:45pm              Continuing Education
                                              Rachael Edelstein
                                              Edible and Poisonous Northern Arizona wild mushrooms

15 minute break 
 7:45pm - 8:00pm              Refreshments – Cheryl Bridgman and Hunter Kemmet
                                              and Raffle Prize Drawing  

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Greywater Systems for the Homeowner Class

Hello fellow Flagstaff Plant People!
We are hosting another free class and need help spreading the word. Josh Robinson will be coming to town to teach a permaculture class at NAU, and he has also accepted our invitation to teach a class at our nursery while he is here.
Cheers,
Jen

Greywater Systems for the Homeowner
Wednesday, August 6, 5:00pm-6:30pm

Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed Nursery400 E Butler Ave
(928) 773-9406

Josh Robinson will teach us how to lessen our potable water use by harvesting greywater!
Simple, low cost, permit free systems. Demystifying greywater for the home owner.
No reservation required. Limited seating (plenty of standing room), so bring a lawn chair if you have one! Extra parking on Elden side street.

Here is a link to the event on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/286884654817753/