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.   Free to anyone in the community, donations are welcome.   CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS >>

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

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 

(520) 621-1112 or lydiab@email.arizona.edu

Please spread widely,
Regan Emmons

Garden Starts CSA (community supported agriculture)

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

http://flagstafffoodlink.com/

 

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

 

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)

 

Seed Saving - Gardens for Humanity

Saving Seeds – Preserving our Food Heritage

October 18 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Saving Seeds – Preserving the Biodiversity of our Food Heritage

Saving seeds in one’s garden is an inexpensive way to perpetuate beloved vegetables and flowers and adapt them to your particular garden environment. Join us to learn about how to save your favorite seeds and about seeds saved by the Hopi since the time of their ancestors. Native seeds and self-saved seeds are particularly well adapted to the harsh growing conditions of Arizona.

Part I – Seed saving basics – Richard Sidy, Gardens for Humanity

Why save seeds?
What types of seeds can the home gardener save?
How to save seeds — Easiest seeds to hardest;
When plants “naturalize” – the wild garden.

Part II – Preserving Native Seeds – Kayo Parsons-Korn, Friends of the Well

Goals of the traditional use garden at Montezuma Well;
The heritage of indigenous agriculture the Verde Valley;
Saving Native Seeds once grown in the Verde Valley

Free to anyone in the community, donations are welcome.

Sponsor - Gardens for Humanity
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2-4pm
Pro Build, 2385 AZ 89A, Sedona
928-284-9055

Fall Yard Clean-up Raffle Event

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

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 10/9/14

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 10/9/14

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

 

6:30pm – 6:40pm          Welcome – Agenda – Ed Skiba filling in for 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

 

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

 

6:45pm-7:40pm              Continuing Education
                                               Dr. Kristen Potter Bees and Other Pollinators

7:40pm-7:45pm              MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun
                                               - Highland Conference

15 minute break

 

7:45pm-8:00pm               Refreshments provided by Laura Parker and Jackee Alston

                                               and Raffle Prize Drawing  

 

Slug Garden Update/Volunteering

Saturday 10-4-14 tour at 8:30 - 9:15; Garden hours 9:30 -12:30.  Come and join in!  
This Saturday, The Joel Olson Classroom project continues with Sierra West  leading Americorps, ACE and SSLUG Garden volunteers!  Sra. Marina Vasquez, AIS Distinguished Indigenous Elder will also be joining us working in the garden along with students from AIS 470 and the Native American Cultural Center. And, as always, we will be harvesting vegetables from the garden to take to Flagstaff Family Food Center, and for our own nourishment and enjoyment!

Regular SSLUG Garden hours now through November 15th (weather allowing): 
Drop-in any time during garden hours and help harvest, water, weed, plant, make compost, collect seeds, orient others and begin to prepare the garden for winter.

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 1pm -4pm

Fridays  9-12:30Saturdays 9:30 -12:00   (note - 10/4/14 Americorps project will be from 9am - 4pm)Any questions?  You can reach me at 928 864-7037.

Thanks everyone who has come out to help and to harvest!   GROW ON!  AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK....

JAN  BUSCO

Native Plant Society Flagstaff Chapter Monthly Meeting and Walk

Evening Program

Tuesday, October 14*, 7:00 p.m.: Dr. Wendy C. Hodgson, “Pre-Columbian Agaves in

Southwestern United States: A New Way of Looking at Species and Their Cultural Landscapes”

at the Shepherd of the Hills Church, 1601 North San Francisco.  Easy to find! Easy to park! This event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Hodgson is Research Botanist and Herbarium Curator at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix,

Arizona. She is interested in the flora of the Southwest, particularly the Grand Canyon region, rare and endemic plants, and systematics of Agave and Yucca, including pre-Columbian agave cultivars.

 

Wendy coordinated the Cactus family treatment for Intermountain Flora and is head of the Cactaceae of Western U.S.project by Garden research staff and research associates. She is an avid plant collector who strives toward making high quality herbarium specimens.

The talk will focus on how the importance of agaves to Mesoamerica’s cultures has distorted the plants’ role for cultures north of the U.S.–Mexico border. Pre-Columbian farmers cultivated several species of agave in Arizona dating to at least A.D. 600 that have persisted in the landscape to the present. Most probably they  originated in northern Mexico and were traded as far north as the Grand Canyon. Verde Valley is a region of intense agave cultivation, having at least four of the five known domesticates. Landscapes and plants should be viewed from a cultural, rather than “natural” perspective that helps discern cryptic species and requires interdisciplinary collaboration.

*Note:  This is the second Tuesday of the month, not the third, which is our usual meeting date. 

 

Horseshoe Ranch Adaptive Restoration and Stewardship Program

Greetings, All,
This information about the Horseshoe Ranch Adaptive Restoration and Stewardship Program may be of interest to you. 
Project Purpose:  
Northern Arizona University researchers are collaborating with the Department to use the Ranch, as one of three sites for establishing an experimental cottonwood garden, as part of a regional-scale research project to investigate the impacts of climate change and exotic species on riparian ecosystems in the southwest U.S.   The project will also contribute towards a Ranch management goal to enhance and restore native riparian wildlife habitat on the Ranch .
Date: 
October 10th @ 8:30 am – a brief kickoff presentation on the project will be provided by NAU

Posted by

D. Lamm 

See attachment for details on volunteering.

Attachment(s) from Dorothy Lamm | View attachments on the web