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 28, 2015

Coconino County Parks & Recreation Volunteering

VOLUNTEER
Make A Difference

Volunteers make a difference at Coconino County Parks & Recreation! Whether helping build trails or collect data on environmental resources, volunteers help us provide the best possible service to the public.
We have different ways for you to volunteer your time and talents. Let us know your talents and how you want to help. Check out our website for upcoming volunteer opportunities and to fill out an online application. Sign up today.

BIOBLITZ AT PUMPHOUSE WASH
Citizen Scientists Help Parks


Coconino County Parks & Recreation is hosting its first BioBlitz, a coordinated community effort to gather environmental data in one location, on
Saturday, May 30. This year's BioBlitz is at Pumphouse County Natural Area near Kachina Village, south of Flagstaff. 

We're looking for Citizen Scientists of all ages to help gather information on bird diversity, wetland wildlife, and wetland plants. Learn more and sign up for the event

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

Native Seeds/SEARCH – Conserving Arid-Adapted Crops to Nourish a Changing World







If you are interested in supporting local seeds check out this web site:
http://www.nativeseedsearch.org
It is the site  for Native Seed Search in Tucson. The site includes recent and upcoming events at their store and classrooms.  You can purchase seeds from their site. Yesterday was the celebration of the 45th Earthday. What better time to begin saving the seeds of the future.  In addition to the Seed Saving class being offered online from the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance on May 12,  the next Native Seed Search class will be offered in September 12-13 in Tucson. Watch for information on this site for local (Flagstaff) development of a Seed Library.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Keep Sedona Beautiful Sustainability Series

Putting Together the 
Pieces of Community Sustainably
 
A five Week Course 
April 9 thru May 7.  3:00 - 5:00 PM 
at Keep Sedona Beautiful
360 Brewer Rd., Sedona 
 
with Debra Emmanuelle
 

Sustainability has become a new buzz word that is getting more attention than ever before.  
 
Debra Emmanuelle Course Instructor
Debra Emmanuelle, 
Course Intsructor
Unfortunately, there are as many definitions as there are people using the term, resulting in a "green-washing" effect that is actually detracting from the deeper relevance of the meaning. 
 
If true sustainability is to become a reality, there must be a synthesis of agreement and a common plan at the community level that is based on a shared vision and shared values. 
 
In this course, we will dialogue about current challenges whose solutions lie in the implementation of foundational Sustainability Principles and Practices as well as number of tools that support effective implementation and follow through.  
 
This class is a group exploration of shared vision and value-sets that, when acted upon, turn the possibility of local sustainability into a local reality - starting with you! 
 
Pre-register online at www.greenpapillonalliance.com or call Debra at (928) 282-8738 - $15.00 - $20 at the door.
 
Watch for further programs throughout the summer and fall - here is the link Upcoming series:

Future Classes in this Sustainability Series:
 Choosing and Eating Food With Sustainability In Mind - May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18
 Food Security: How Can We Ensure Local Food Sustainability? - August 13, 20, 27,
September 3, 10
 A New Perspective for Raising Our Children - September 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15
Cost: $15.00 per individual class with pre-registration ($20.00 at the door)
 $60.00 - with pre-registration for full 5-week course
*Special discounts for members of Keep Sedona Beautiful, Gardens for Humanity
For more information and to pre-register contact Debra Emmanuelle at Green Papillon Alliance:
debra@greenpapillonalliance.com or 928- 282-8738
 


12th Annual AZ Botany Meeting

Attached you will find the list of speakers and a registration form for the Native Plant Society's 12th Annual AZ Botany Meeting which will be held at MNA on April 25-26. The talks are the 25th, the field trips are the 26th. Contact Susan Holiday (naris123@cs.com), a local member of the AZ Native Plant Society for any questions you might have.

Speakers
Registration

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Article from Terroir Seeds Garden Log

Borage Flowers
I just read another interesting entry in the Terroir Seed's gardening log. http://webmail.q.com/zimbra/mail#1 It is about planting to help control one of our least favorite pests - aphids. Planting flowers that can encourage a beneficial such as borage may bring lacewings and planting sunflowers, dill, anise, and daisies can encourage Lady Bugs. Not to mention that they are all beautiful flowers. Borage flowers also look great in a salad and are eatable.
They also mention another favorite of mine - Maximillian sunflowers -  to use as a boarder to keep out invasive weeds from another property. They bring spectacular fall color long after everything else is gone.
Sign up with Terroir Seed and get these useful monthly updates.

Thanks,
Loni

Friday, April 17, 2015

Flagstaff Home and Garden Show



Volunteer Master Gardeners
Irene Matthews - Amy Caldwell
Photo by Tammy Valdovino
Thanks to all the master gardeners who helped with the Home and Garden Show. Many gave their time to set up and take down the beautiful display (see opening photo), others answered questions for visitors (614) to the booth, and we had many lend their garden expertise by providing lectures (15 for 282 people) on a variety of topics. Last of all thanks to Hattie Braun who spent most of her weekend making sure things were running well in addition to giving several lectures.

Great job!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Water Restrictions in Flagstaff

With the spring lawn and garden season coming up just as the weather turns dry, the city of Flagstaff is reminding residents to conserve water.
The city is currently at Stage 1 in its water conservation rules. There are three stages of water conservation rules that the city puts in place to conserve water as the weather gets drier.
The Stage 1 level is the lowest level and the city operates year-round at this level.
At this level, no watering of any kind is allowed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to avoid loss of water through evaporation. City residents and businesses with odd-numbered address can use automatic irrigation before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses are allowed to water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. There is no automatic irrigation allowed on Mondays.
Everyone can water by hand seven days a week before 9 or after 5. The city defines hand-watering as using a bucket or holding a hose to water plants. Hoses attached to sprinklers or running freely on a plant are not considered hand-watering.

For more info read the full article in the AZ Daily Sun by Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/flagstaff-residents-reminded-of-watering-restrictions/article_1277931a-81cb-5ba7-966d-354a3c5481a9.html#utm_source=azdailysun&utm_campaign=/emails/dailyheadlines/&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

Monday, April 6, 2015

CMGA Meeting Agenda 4/9/15


Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 4/9/15
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N San Francisco

6:30pm – 6:35pm   Welcome – Jim Mast, President
Announcements   Meeting Raffle
o   $1 each or 6 for $5
o   Must be present to win
o   Drawing held after refreshments

6:35 – 6:40pm         Introduction of Speaker – Jim Mast

6:40pm – 7:45pm   Continuing Education – Ed Skiba, One Hole at a Time

                                                15 minute break

Upcoming Events for Gardens for Humanity for April

Grow Your Garden in Containers!
   

Sunday, April 5, 2015

New Post from TerraBIRDS

The greenhouse is getting full, and the starts are looking so healthy and amazing! We are going to start moving them outside so they will be ready for planting when you pick them up. Pictured below is red cabbage on the left and collards on the right.

   
    
There are still some shares left. Please get in touch with me if you want to register for this year.
Open House and Optional Seed Pick-up
For the second year, we're going to have an open house for 2015 Garden Starts CSA members only. It will be from 9am-12pm on Saturday, April 11 at the NAU greenhouse complex. Come and see where we grow your starts, talk to the folks who grow them, and meet the hard-working volunteers that make it all possible. John Taylor, the director of Terra Birds will be there too. This is your chance to get a behind the scenes tour of this operation and pick up your seeds! If you can not make it, you can pick up your seeds during the first pick up (information on pick-ups coming soon). Directions to greenhouse: We are #79 on the NAU map. Coming from the southwest on Pine Knoll, you will pass a bus stop on your left and then take a right onto a road marked by a blue sign that says greenhouse (among many other things). Once on this street, you'll climb a short hill before coming to the greenhouses and a little parking lot. You can see the greenhouse from Pine Knoll, if you come to a 4 way stop, you went too far. On Saturdays, you can park by the greenhouse, or in the large parking lot in front of the greenhouse without a permit.
Annual Seed Exchange
Also happening next Saturday is the NAU SSLUG and Flagstaff Foodlink are joining up again to host the Annual Seed Exchange from 2-4 pm at Mercado de los Suenos at 2532 E. 7th Ave. (in the Sunnyside neighborhood). This is a free event, and you do not have to have seeds to participate. Please bring envelopes for seeds and a pen/pencil. 
 
Enjoy your weekend,
Regan
Regan Emmons
TerraBIRDS
Director of Grow Program
P.O. Box 605
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
(mobile) 808-344-0904
grow@terrabirds.org
 

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

PAPAZ Deaver Herbarium Volunteering

Greetings, All, 
 
PAPAZ mounting sessions will continue as follows: 
Thursday, April 16
Thursday, April 30 at 1:30pm at the Deaver Herbarium in Room 314.
No additional sessions will be scheduled during the summer 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
for G. Kluwin