Firewise Landscaping Contest

Once again, there will be a FIREWISE LANDSCAPING CONTEST

The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership and the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network

are hosting a FireWise Landscaping Contest. Join us and prepare your home for wildfire season while creating a beautiful FireWise landscape.

A TOTAL OF $1000 IN PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE TOP CONTESTANTS

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS MAY 12, 2017JUDGING BEGINS MAY 15, 2017

The reception will be May23.

For more information and ideas on how to make your property FireWise,

visit:  www.Firewise.org

Hattie Braun

County Director/Horticulture, Coconino County

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

2304 N. 3rd St.

Flagstaff, AZ  86004

Phone: 928-774-1868 x 170

FAX: 928-774-1860

Fruit Trees for Flagstaff/Apple Grafting

Happy Spring!

In the spirit of Johnny Appleseed, I am on a mission create more tiny orchards in Flagstaff backyards, community gardens and schoolyards. I have been frustrated over the years trying to find locally adapted apple varieties that are known to thrive in our high desert climate. I am teamed up with TerraBIRDS and collected scion apple wood from established Flagstaff “rock star” trees this winter. Now we will be hosting a hands on workshop for Master Gardeners and others to graft them onto semi dwarfing rootstock. The project is a partnership between TerraBIRDS and A Wild Farmer Consulting. The goal is to graft apple 150 trees, so we have work to do! The Ponderosa High Greenhouse and Environmental science class will care for the trees at the school nursery. In spring 2018, we will plant grafted trees in Flagstaff community and school gardens with TerraBirds. We will sell the remaining trees to the public at the Flagstaff Farmer’s Market to benefit the Ponderosa High school gardening program and help cover the cost of materials and care. By participating in this workshop you will learn all about apple trees and help us make more trees available to our community.

Apple grafting workshop details:

When: Saturday, April 1
Where: Ponderosa High School 2384 N Steves Blvd, #B

Time: 9am-12pm

Cost: Free

Bring: Grafting knife if you have one or a very sharp knife.

Please email Kate Watters @ agavemariadesign@gmail.com if you would like to participate or have any questions.

Kate Watters

​​

A Wild Farmer

Planting words, like seeds, under rock and fallen logs--letting language take root, once again, in the earthen silence of shadow and bone and leaf. 

~ David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous

Spring Into Seed Starting

Tuesday, April 11 at 6 PM - 8 PM

Coconino County Extension

2304 N. 3rd St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004

 

Come for a free talk on seed starting. There will be hands-on learning opportunities plus an introduction to the seed library and how to use it. Bring your questions and enthusiasm for gardening!

Seed - the film

Flagstaff Community Film Night featuring: Seed

 Monday, April 10, 630pm-930-pm

Orpheum Theater 

 

Don’t miss the award-winning SEED: The Untold Story in
Flagstaff on Monday, April 10th at the Orpheum Theatre!

In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds,
farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a
culture connected to seeds.

This exciting evening will also include a feature short film produced by STAR School elementary students, tabling by local food organizations and student groups, and an amazing group of panelists. Panelists will discuss how seed saving, biopiracy, and GMOs affect our local community. Doors open at 5:30 with programming beginning at 6:15.

$1 for each ticket will be donated to the local non-profit organization Flagstaff Foodlink:

www.flagstafffoodlink.com

SEED comes from the filmmakers behind Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? and the Real Dirt on Farmer John. The film features Dr. Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Winona LaDuke, and Andrew Kimbrell.

Sponsors of the event include:
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff Foodlink
Grand Canyon Trust
Museum of Northern Arizona

Flagstaff community Seed Swap

MARCH 24 -4-7pm

Flagstaff Community Seed Swap

Join Flagstaff Foodlink, Coconino County Cooperative Extension, Northern Arizona University SSLUG Garden, Flagstaff Sustainability Program, and the Grow Flagstaff Seed Library at the Coconino County Cooperative Extension office for a community seed swap.

Seeds are a great way to share our local food heritage.

How to participate:
- Bring seeds if you have them (veggies, herbs, flowers, Arizona natives)
- Provide information on seed variety, year collected, location grown, tips from your personal experience.
- Bring envelopes in which to package seeds to take home and a pen to label your seeds.

New to gardening? No seeds to exchange? No problem. Everyone will leave with new seeds in their pocket.

After swapping seeds at the seed exchange, you can visit and signup for the Grow Flagstaff Seed Library located at the extension office.

Coconino County Cooperateve Extension

2304 N. 3rd St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Arizona Milkweeds for Monarchs project

This just came in for the Arizona Milkweeds for Monarchs project. They are looking for volunteers again this year. Hattie

Dear Coconino Master Gardeners:

Hello fellow gardeners! Spring is here and our greenhouse is overflowing with milkweeds. As many of you know, a small all-volunteer group formed the AZ Milkweeds for Monarchs project. Please check out our web site: www.azmilkweedsformonarchs.org.

For the second year, we are looking for some volunteers to test the suitability of growing 6-10 species of milkweeds at various locations in central and northern Arizona. We provide milkweed plants free of charge for gardeners willing to grow milkweeds and collect data on their performance twice during the 2017 growing season. Go to our website for details and complete the application process. We expect to have plants at the appropriate planting time depending on your location.

Cheers! Emelia, Emily, Rich and Mike

AZ Milkweeds for Monarchs

Hattie Braun

County Director/Horticulture, Coconino County

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

2304 N. 3rd St.

Flagstaff, AZ  86004

Phone: 928-774-1868 x 170

FAX: 928-774-1860

Plant Conservation Alliance

From the local chapter of the Native Plant Society:

Hello PCA Cooperators,

  
We are trying something new - a monthly newsletter to keep you informed about what's going on at the PCA. Let us know what you think!

 The National Native Seed Conference was a great success! It was held in Washington DC from February 13-16th, and had nearly 350 participants from 41 states and 11 countries. Attendees included seed producers, land managers,researchers, and agency employees. Highlights included the introduction of the "Botany Bill" (see more below) on Valentine's Day, excellent presentations (including on plant blindness – now posted on our website), formation of tasks forces to implement the Native Seed Strategy, and an evening reception at the US Botanic Garden. We look forward to future conferences!
   
On March 8th we heard an excellent presentation from Dr. Jennifer M. Cruse-Sanders, Director of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia as part of the bi-monthly PCA meeting. She included success stories of collaborations to conserve plants, including reintroducing Rhus michauxii in Virginia. The next meeting will be May 10, 2017 from 2-4pm EST.

  
 Support for the "Botany Bill" (H.R. 1054) is building! We are looking for co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. You can now use at the AIBS Legislative Action Center to contact your representative about the billhere. We are also gathering endorsers! The over 60 endorsing organizations currently include Georgia Native Plant Society, the New England Wild Flower Society, and BFI Native Seeds. If your organization would like to endorse the bill, please email us. And thanks to the many of you who have already endorsed the bill! Get more information on the bill, and regular updates, on the NFCC website.

  Finally, we are making a list of conferences and local events where the PCA could increase the visibility of the National Seed Strategy. If your organization sponsors conferences, or usually attends local conferences, please email us to let us know what they are!

 Thanks for all the work you do for native plant conservation,

   - Evelyn Williams, Andrea Kramer, and Kay Havens at the Chicago Botanic Garden, which chairs the PCA Non-Federal Cooperators Committee

Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda

Thursday, March 09, 2017 – 6:30pm

Viola’s Flower Garden

7085 S. State Route 89A

6:30pm – 6:40pm     Welcome – Sherline Alexander

6:40pm – 6:45pm     Introduction of Speaker – Sherline Alexander
6:45pm – 7:35pm     Education: Tom Weinert:  Soil Texture and the Winter Greenhouse
15 minute break (refreshments)
7:45pm – 8:00pm     Raffle Prize Drawing – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win
8:00pm – 8:25pm     Business Meeting – Sherline Alexander
     Financial report – Molly Larsen
     Committee Reports:
     Volunteer Support – Crys Wells
     Fundraising – Cindy Krznarich or Sherline Alexander
     Continuing Education – Gilli Thomas
          May – Richard Hofstetter – Insects in Your Garden
          June – Judy Springer – Unique and Unusual Herbs to Grow at High Elevation
          July – Stephen Scott, Terroir Seeds – Using Cover Crops Including Raised Beds    
          August – Cindy Krznarich – Preserving Your Harvest
     MG Projects – Jackee Alston
     Historian – Tammy Valdovino
     Community Markets – Andrea Guerrette
8:25pm – 8:30pm     Gardening Questions?      
Next meeting:           April 13:  Ward Davis on ‘Water and Your Vegetable Garden’
Educational and Volunteer Opportunities from the blog (coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com)

Picture Canyon Work Days

Arboretum at Flagstaff Happenings!

Winter Workshops! 

Willow Bend and the Arboretum have partnered for a 3-part Winter Workshop series to keep you learning and growing through the winter season! Join us at the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center for interactive, educational workshops with the staff from the Arboretum. Save the dates and sign up on the Willow Bend website. Free for Arboretum Members!

Saturday, March 25th 10am-12pm  Pruning with Christi Sorrell 

 

Group Garden Days!

Help staff prepare gardens & plants for spring. Join us starting in March in the greenhouse and gardens from 10am-2pm each of the following days: 3/10, 3/14,
3/15,3/16 and 3/31. We'll supply tools and direction, please bring layers, a hat, water bottle and lunch. Meet at the blue-roofed
Hort Greenhouse. Join us Saturdays in 

April on 4/8 and 4/22 from 10-2.

Contact Shannon for more info or to rsvp.shannon.benjamin@thearb.org