CMGA General Info

Christmas Amaryllis with Orchid to the right. Below Ruth Benson's holiday bears.
Photo by Loni Shapiro.

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

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)

 

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