CMGA General Info

Fall painted lady butterfly 2024.
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

Monday, February 1, 2021

Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance Newsletter

 

 
Seedy News Rooted in the Rocky Mountains 
 Seed stories up, down, and around the Rocky Mountains

eNewsletter for February 1, 2020

 
scarlet_runner
 
Inspiring farmers and gardeners to become seed savers
 
 

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY! 

Learn more about RMSA and seeds by watching some of our videos! 
 

We are incredibly thankful to this community of seed savers who understand the importance and magnitude of saving--and gifting--seeds. We do this work because of your generosity and support. We are connected by our common belief in the power of seeds.

We invite you to Subscribe to our Youtube channel and watch the videos about what RMSA does and why. While you're there, you can also view our recordings of past Seed Socials and some of our educational pieces. Below are a few of our videos showing the impact seed saving has on people, the environment, and communities throughout the Western US.

Heritage Grains Trials
Why save seeds?
 
Seed School
Grain School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Seed School Graduates
The Story of Glass Gem Corn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEED SCHOOL TEACHER TRAINING: MARCH 3-MAY 5

RockyMountainSeeds.org - Read

Want to help inspire your community to build a stronger, regional food network? Spread your knowledge of seed saving! Our Seed School Teacher Training is a 10-week program held on Wednesdays from 12pm-2pm MST. All classes will be via Zoom and recorded for later observation. Classes begin March 3rd and conclude May 5th. This is a dynamic, online adventure including hands-on activities, plenty of interactive discussions, and seedy teachings from instructors active in the field of seeds. Register here.

 

SLOW FOOD SEED SUMMIT FEBRUARY 18-28

SlowFoodUSA.org - Read

Join the first-ever, virtual Slow Seed Summit on February 18-28, 2021! Join the event as Slow Foods will be welcoming growers, experts, and activists to discuss seed sovereignty, seed saving, the importance of soil, GMOs, how to start a seed library, and so much more.

The Slow Seed Summit is an opportunity to learn, network and confront important contemporary issues around seeds with forward-thinking individuals and diverse voices from the US and around the world. Iconic seeds-person Rowan White will be keynoting this event, joined by our very own Bill McDorman, and many more seed visionaries.

Register for the first-ever, virtual Slow Seed Summit here.

 

"IF YOU OWN THE SEEDS, YOU OWN THE FOOD SYSTEM"

CommonDreams.org - Read

Across the planet, people are waking up and bringing attention to seeds, particularly calling into question who should own them. The response? The public.

The reliance on a commercialized food system has effectuated a major disconnect between consumers and their food source. Seed saving allows people to reconnect with the food system...which has been a part of the human lifestyle for over 10,000 years.  

So why is it that the majority of seeds available in the market are owned by Big Ag? This article captures the dangers of big agriculture privatization and why public ownership of seeds must be remembered. Read the full article here.

 

POTENTIAL SEED SHORTAGES ON THE HORIZON

ModernFarmer.com - Read

Flordemayo_series

Seed companies are already anticipating a major shortage in seeds due to massive demands. While gardeners and farmers are racing to submit their seed orders, why not start planning your garden now for seed growing to support next year’s endeavors? After checking out this article, you will want to 'Plan Now, Plant Later'.

The risk of seed shortages justifies our work and validates our mission to inspire gardeners to go deeper and become seed savers. As an alternative option to seed companies, check out our Seed Stewards Directory and see if there is someone who has the seeds you need which have been adapted to your particular bioregion. And why not dive even deeper and register for Seed School Teacher Training? Share your knowledge and help your community become seed resilient. 

 

DOES TECHNOLOGY HELP THE SMALL SCALE FARMER?

EqualTimes.org - Read

GSS

A valid question when considering the rapid expansion of technology into the agricultural field in recent years. However, there are shortfalls to consider specifically for the small-scale farmer. In the full article here, access to technology, risking monoculture prioritization, the potential for power to be held in the hands of a few, and Big Data becoming a key asset are all under consideration.

 

THE SUSTAINABLE WAFFLE GARDEN OF THE SOUTHWEST

ABQStew.com - Read

        Photo Credit: A:shiwi A:wan Museum

Up until the middle of the 20th century, waffle gardening had been a farming practice used by the A:shiwi people (also known as Zuni). This method was an exceptional farming practice in the arid region where water was scarce and soil quality lacking. One of our former speakers at the Mountain West Seed Summit, Reyna Banteah, shares her understanding of this farming technique as well as her own waffle garden journey.

Read the article here.

"Learning of the ingenuity it took my ancestors to perfect this type of gardening and by making my own garden, I am completely grateful for this tradition to be passed on to future generations." - Reyna Banteah

 

EXCITING CHANGES WITHIN RMSA

RockyMountainSeeds.org - Read

This 2021 for RMSA is beginning with quite a few changes. Renée Fourie is now our Engagement Coordinator while also beginning to manage the Seed Stewards program. We welcome Joseluis Ortiz on board as our Organizational Health and Justice Coordinator to guide us into 2021. And Frances Craik is our new VISTA Member who will be helping to enhance the Legacy Seeds Collection and the Heritage Grains Handbook. Between Frances and Renee, they will be gathering seed and grain stories in RMSA's new Seed Journeys Project. Exciting times!

You will be seeing a lot more from these three into 2021.

 

The Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance helps folks find their role in the seed world. Please support our work by becoming a seed steward, heritage grain trialist, bringing awareness to the Patent Free Seed Campaign, or by donating below.

Thank you for your support! 
 

Stay Connected with RMSAheart_of_idaho

For questions regarding seed saving and current seed news, contact Bill McDorman: bill@rockymountainseeds.org

For questions about seed vaulting or seed libraries, contact John Caccia:
jc@mountainangels.com

For general inquiries, contact Jackee Alston: jackee@rockymountainseeds.org

For questions about the Seed Stewards or Grain Trials programs, contact Lee-Ann Hill:
lee-ann@rockymountainseeds.org

928-255-1125 | www.rockymountainseeds.org

Stay up to date with current seed news by checking in regularly with the RMSA Facebook page and other social media platforms.
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