Open Community Facebook Page for Flagstaff Gardener

I am a graduate student in the Sustainable Communities program and have recently started an open community Facebook page for Flagstaff gardeners.

The Facebook page operates as a public forum for sharing extra seeds, garden supplies, plants, etc. It doesn't take the place of event-based seed exchanges, like the NAU sponsored one on March 9, but rather functions as an ongoing exchange.

We have almost 90 members, and would be really excited to include Master Gardeners in the group!

You can find the page by searching Facebook for "Flagstaff Plant and Seed Exchange."

Please share with all of your gardening contacts!

Thank you, 

Mary McCarthy

Sustainable Communities Program, NAU

CMGA Meeting Minutes 2/13/14

Coconino Master Gardener Association (CMGA)

Meeting Minutes 2/13/14

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

Charlotte Dodgson on “House Plants”

Charlotte has been a resident of Flagstaff for 9 years.  She is a master gardener, class OF 2010 and is the CMGA VP.   Charlotte works as the volunteer coordinator for the Arizona Historical Society at the Pioneer Museum and Riordan Mansion.  Charlotte and Dave Brimhall are the team leads for restoring the gardens at the Riordan Mansion where they make and sell recycled glass light catchers to sell in the gift shop.  Proceeds from the light catchers are donated to the Riordan garden project and goes towards the garden supplies. Charlotte also volunteers as the Treasurer for National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Flagstaff Chapter 1699; is a Driver Training Instructor for AARP and is a co-chair in Northern Arizona for the Arizona Alzheimer's Association. 

New Master Gardeners!  Hattie Braun presented Angela Fritz, Joan Alcaron and Lori Tamblingson with their master gardener certificate and name badge. Congratulations!

Regan Emmons announce the CSA is ready to take applications for this season’s veggie starts.  She made herself available during the break for anyone interested.  Regan also announce that the Arboretum is looking for volunteers.  Educational training opportunities; Docent training sessions start March 4^th and are held Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 1:30-3:30pm in March and April.  Volunteer Orientation is Thursday April 11^th from 9am-12pm.  Field Trip Leader training sessions are on Friday March 7^th, 14^th, and 28^th from 1:30pm-3:30pm. For information or sign up contact Kim Helfinstine at 928-774-1442 x227 or email Kim.Helfinstine@thearb.org.  There is also Raptor program volunteers needed; contact airborneraptors@yahoo.com for more information on this program.

MG Meeting 2/13/14 Agenda

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 2/13/2014

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

6:30pm-6:35pm           Welcome – Agenda - Hunter Kemmet

                                                Brief review of agenda for the evening

6:35pm-6:40pm           Raffle – $1 each or 6 for $5

                                                Must be present to win

                                                Drawing will be held after refreshments and

before the business meeting

House plant provided by Charlotte Dodgson

               

6:40pm-6:45pm           Introduction of speaker – Ed Skiba

6:45pm-7:45pm           Continuing Education

                                                Charlotte Dodgson

House Plants

               

7:45pm-7:55pm           Refreshments

Ann Eagan and Christine Orr

7:55pm-8:00pm           Raffle Drawing

Garden Start Seedling CSA for 2014

Happy New Year Garden Start members!

Its come upon us fast, but its garden start csa time!!! I am grateful that Helen Sisk will be our grower again. Lissa Busyke will be on board to help Helen this year. I am handing the torch over to Deja Walker, who will be our registration and volunteer coordinator this year. Welcome Deja and Lissa! 

There will be a couple of changes to the program this year:
1) We are going to use 4-packs in stead of 6-packs. This means that you will receive 4 plants of EVERY crop. There will be a total of 30 crops, plus seeds and onion bulbs.
2) We are opening registration up ONLY to 2013 Garden Start members for the first month. Please feel free to register, and we'll put you on the waiting list. After March 1, anyone will be able to register.

3) For the first time, we are offering partial scholarships for those who demonstrate financial need. You will have the opportunity to contribute to this program when you register. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to this program, no amount is too small.

I have attached the registration form, the scholarship form and the 2014 crop list.

We will send out the pick-up schedule in the next couple of weeks!

Also, please let us know if you would like to volunteer in the greenhouse, or during pick-up days this year!

We are looking forward to another great year!

Cheers, 

Regan

Registration Form

Crop List

Scholarship Form

Garden Starts CSA (community supported agriculture)Flagstaff Foodlink (501c3)  Growing food, growing community
flaggardenstarts@gmail.com

Valentines Day Ideas for Gardeners

Looking for some ideas for Valentines Day?
Check out the latest entries on the Gardening Gone Wild blog. The last two entries were both fun. Add this site to your favorites list. They have great stories and wonderful photos.

Gardening Gone Wild
http://www.gardeninggonewild.com

My Spiny Valentine - 2014-02-06 00:54:43-05

It’s funny how prickly pear cactus pads form hearts. I wonder what the plant is trying to tell us: “Be mine but don’t touch me?” This last is a mammillaria. (You can call her Ma’am.) Here’s a  bit of trivia: I used to think that mammillaria got their name because they’re rounded like mammillary glands. […]

The post My Spiny Valentine appeared first on Gardening Gone Wild. Debra Lee Baldwin

Loni Shapiro

Spring Schedule for the the Arboretum

The Arboretum at Flagstaff begins their spring schedule of activities in March.

Docent training will begin at the Arboretum beginning on March 4th through April 30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 130pm-330pm in the Walter Reichardt living room. If you are interested in participating please call Regan Emmons at 928-774-1442x110 or e-mail at regan.emmons@thearb.org.
Attached is the schedule of classes being offered. LINK. The cost is $50. Also attached is a LINK to the Docent Commitment and Benefits Document.

If you find yourself enjoying those tours where there are lots of kids, consider becoming a Field Trip Leader and help with school field trips. Leading children around the arboretum is a BLAST!!!! Those training days will be on March 7, March 14, and March 28 from 130pm to 4pm at the Arboretum (more details on this training to come).

Current volunteers and docents will again be offered monthly Brown Bag Lectures beginning on April 1. Deb Noel will be talking about "Historical Gardens and Botanists". These lectures are from 12pm-1pm and you are encouraged to bring your lunch. A schedule for the season will be available at a later date. Some of these events are field trips and directions will be included.

For those who are already docents a refresher will be offered on April 11, from 130pm to 330pm in The Walter Reichart living room. RSVP to regan.emmons@thearb.org.  You are also welcome to attend any of the new docent lectures.

If you are interested in becoming an Arboretum volunteer spring orientation will be from 930am-1130am on April 11 in the Walter Reichart living room.

The Arboretum opens on May 1 and will be open this year 6 days a week. Closed on Tuesdays. Tell your friends, neighbors, and those you garden with. Spread the word!

Loni Shapiro
Docent & Volunteer
Arboretum at Flagstaff

Summer Plant Hikes

The Museum of Northern Arizona is sponsoring three Plant Hikes this summer as part of its wonderful Ventures Program:

Inner Basin Plant Hike on Sunday, June 22

Kendrick Peak Plant Hike on Sunday, July 20

Wupatki/Sunset Crater Plant Hike on Sunday, August 24

Each hike will be led by Flagstaff Ecologist Gwen Waring, and each will cost $60. 

Go to http://www.mnaventures.org/ for more information.  You will also find out about other 2014 MNA Ventures are planned, including day trips, hotel-based trips, camping and hiking trips, and wilderness trips. 

To register contact ventures@mna.mus.az.us 

"The mission of the Museum of Northern Arizona is to inspire a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the Colorado Plateau".   (Including all the native plants.) 

Posted by

Dorothy Lamm

Donating & Volunteering at the Grand Canyon

Here are some interesting facts about the Grand Canyon National Park:

• It has more plant species than any other park!
• It has undertaken many successful native plant restoration projects on the North Rim, along the Colorado River Corridor, and on the South Rim, and more and more restoration projects are being identified all the time. 
• It is collaborating with The Arboretum at Flagstaff to protect the rare and endangered Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax (Sentry milkvetch) by propagating and growing new plants in its greenhouse, and is undertaking a genetic study to determine how the distant populations in the park are related. 
• Thousands and thousands and thousands of native plants are grown for restoration projects at a plant nursery and in an out-dated, inadequate greenhouse on the South Rim. 
• The increasing needs for plant restoration projects make it imperative to expand the park’s plant nursery, establish a seed bank, and build a passive solar greenhouse
• Grand Canyon Association (GCA), the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, needs to raise an additional $50,000 (Yikes!) to make the new passive solar greenhouse a reality.
  

Spring Master Gardener Class

Subject: [mastergardeners] spring Master Gardener class

We are taking registration for the spring Master Gardener class.  The class will start Feb. 4 and run thru May 13, 2014.  Class meets Tuesday afternoons, 1-4:30pm at our extension office.  If you know anyone that is interested, please pass this information on.  Class is limited to 20 due to the size of our classroom.  I’ve attached the brochure.

Thanks - Hattie

Hattie Braun

University of Arizona

Master Gardener Program Coordinator

Coconino County Cooperative Extension

2304 N. 3rd St.

Flagstaff, AZ  86004

Phone:  928-774-1868  x 170

FAX:  928-774-1860

Attachment(s) from Dorothy Lamm

1 of 1 File(s)

 MGbrochure14.pdf

2013 Year End Report from President of the CMGA

Debi Stalvey

December 2013

January:  The year started with brainstorming for the organization.  We needed to recruit committee chairpersons and discuss fundraising ideas, as well as lay out our goals for the New Year.  We wanted to focus on raising money to support our Master Gardener Projects.  We also wanted to make our organization more visible to the community through continued calendar sales and participation in Earth Day, the Home Show, Community Market, County Fair, etc. 

February: Tammy Valdovino agreed to be the organization historian and Sherline Alexander became the chair of Community Markets. 

March:  We participated in the Home Show with a beautiful booth organized by Chairperson Kathy Singh.  We had several speakers and a great response by attendees.  At the executive meeting we picked our new logo and agreed to participate in the Arboretum’s plant sale in July.  In addition we decided to go forth with the “Regarden” fundraiser to be held in June and approved Sherry Markel’s T-shirt fundraiser.  At our general meeting we announced that we would award $1250 in grants for Master Gardener Projects.