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

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Looking for a Place to Garden This Year?

 From Natalie Pierson

With spring just around the corner, we are thrilled to announce the opening of community garden plot applications March 1st! Our garden spaces are an excellent way to connect with fellow community members, boost mental and physical health, learn about Flagstaff food systems, and grow delicious, healthy food!  

This season, plots at the Bonito, Historic Southside, and Hal Jensen Community Gardens will be available to rent. Returning gardeners will have priority until April 1st to secure their plots from the previous season. The remaining available plots will be offered to new gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis. New gardeners who do not have access to growing space at home or those who qualify for SNAP benefits will be given priority through the application process.  

Community Garden registration fees are $65 annually per plot to cover water expenses, infrastructure improvements, and provide resources to gardeners throughout the season. Full ($65) or half ($32.50) scholarships are available to those who express need through the online plot application.  

The plot application will be posted on the City of Flagstaff Community Gardens page linked here on March 1, 2024. Email gardens@flagstaffaz.gov if you have any questions! To best reach other community members, we encourage everyone to continue to share this message with your networks. Thank you in advance for helping to share this opportunity with the community

Monday, February 26, 2024

GCGV Grand Canyon Greenhouse Volunteering

 

Grand Canyon Greenhouse Volunteers

My name is Collin Rost, and I am currently an intern at the Grand Canyon Nursery. I’ve recently been given approval to organize volunteer opportunities for the nursery with my remaining time here, and with this approval I am now sharing this letter in hopes of reaching anyone who may be interested in joining me and sharing time here at the nursery! I am only able to offer a brief window of opportunity before my tenure here ends. From now until 3/5/24, I will be able to offer volunteer opportunities for individuals as well as groups.


Please join us for a group volunteer day at the nursery on 3/2/24, 9am-5pm. We are in need of help with some spring cleaning before our next round of seasonal workers arrive. This will be a great opportunity for folks to visit our nursery and learn about the Veg Program for the park. We have space for all willing participants and a variety of tasks that allow for participation of all, no matter how much experience you have. We would love to share our space with you, and learn and grow together!


For anyone who is interested in volunteering with us, but is either not interested or unable to participate in the group volunteer day here on 3/2/24; I am able to schedule both individual and smaller group volunteer visits. In addition to a group volunteer day on 3/2, I’m available to share the nursery with volunteers between the hours of 8am-5pm, dates 2/28, 3/1, 3/4, 3/5. If you would like to schedule time to volunteer with me within this range of availability, please reach out to confirm a time with me, allowing for at least 24, preferably 48 hours notice before you would like to arrive here. This notice will allow me to plan some activities, and ensure a smooth arrival and start to your volunteerism here.


If I still have your attention and interest, I appreciate you! In this letter I have attached a copy of our volunteer service agreement form, as well as a document outlining a bit of general information about our nursery program and what volunteers may expect to participate in during their time here. Volunteers will have to complete a volunteer service agreement form and review this general nursery document before participating in activities with us. This can be done either before arrival, or onsite upon arrival. Completed volunteer service agreement forms can be sent to me at collinrost@gmail.com. After 3/5/24, please send any completed forms or other questions to Nursery Manager Ashton Bedford at ashton_bedford@nps.gov. Any correspondence or forms sent to me after my tenure here ends will be forwarded to Nursery Manager Ashton Bedford. Completed forms sent after 3/5/2024 will be kept on record for potential volunteer opportunities here in the future.

General Nursery link 

Volunteer Form  link 

Garden Starts At Forestdale Farms

 

🌱The snow is melting and Forestdale Farm’s GardenShare Program is back for 2024! 💚



Sign up SOON to SECURE your share of locally grown starts for your gardens this year! 
You can sign up here: https://squareup.com/store/forestdale-farm