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, March 18, 2015

Volunteer Opportunities

I have been a volunteer with RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)for more than 15 years. During that time I have worked for many non-profits and had great fun meeting many other seniors in Flagstaff. My work for them over the years has mostly been with gardening (the Arboretum) and the Senior Companion program. I did a 5 year stint with AARP Driver's Ed for seniors, and  recently with vets. Others work with educational programs for children. In the last couple of years their efforts have become more focused and include more gardening sites. Michele Lytle, who you may remember from the Extension Office is now heading up RSVP. She is a master gardener and has added some more gardening opportunities to their volunteer program.  I have learned that this program is important not only for those who are helped, but especially for those volunteering. Check out this great opportunity to hear more about it.

There is an information event to learn more about RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) a program of Senior Corps hosted by Northern AZ University.  The program is for those 55 and up. There are many focused volunteer opportunities which include Gardening, Education, and Helping Veterans and Military Families.  Join us to learn more about Senior Corps and RSVP!  This is at the U of A Cooperative Extension office on at 2304 N. 3RD St. on March 24th from 1030-1130am. I am attaching the flyer for you to post and share with friends.
Loni Shapiro
CMGA, Education Chair
cnslds@q.com

"Gardening does not allow one to be mentally old, because too many hopes and dreams are yet to be realized." - Allen Armitage


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