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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2009)
OREGON S GAY/LE S BIAN/B l/TRAN S NEWSMAGAZINE NOVEMBER 6 200S 27 Ä i VOICES Get the Real Dirt from a Master Gardener MARILYN KON GSUE W hat do the garden at Portland City Hall, the Oregon Zoo’s Backyard Habitat and the worm bin at Zenger Farms all have in com mon? They have all involved the hard work of M aster Gardeners. This past summer, over 800 OSU Exten sion Master Gardeners in the Portland area (3,500 across the state) volunteered thousands of hours of service to neighborhood and com munity gardens, helping individuals learn and grow their own gardening knowledge. Master Gardeners are experts, trained to find research- based answers to questions and issues. They undergo 66 hours of classroom experience, learning from the most knowledgeable folks in their field. They then fulfill 66 hours of volun teer time in the community. You’ve most likely encountered a Master Gardener conducting clinics at plant sales, home shows, farmers markets and commu nity events. But did you know they’re also the folks who give the tours at the International Rose Test Garden, staff gardening phone ho tlines and provide garden therapy with kids at O H S U ’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital? And that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface. Many new victory gardens and novice gar deners hit the dirt this past season. Weston Miller, Community and Urban H orticultur ist with the M etro Extension Horticulture Faculty of OSU, says the value of the Master Gardener to first-time gardeners is huge: “The Master Gardeners provide proven, research-based solutions to gardening questions and can be found at man/ communit/ events and farmers markets. Can you stump a Master Gardener? \X/e triple dog dare you to tr/. To become a Master Gardener Classes in Beaverton: Tuesda/s. Januar/ 5-March 16. 9 a m.-4 p.m SE Portland: Thursda/s. Januar/ 7- March 18. 9 a m .-4 p.m. Oregon Cit/: Frida/s. Januar/ 8- March 19. 9 a m .-4 p.m. Cost is $345: limited scholarships are available on a first-come, first- served basis. Go to www.extension. oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/training to download the registration form, or contact Jordis Yost at 503-650-3118. Register by November 30. THE SASSY GARDENER bp Le A n n Lo c h e r Master Gardener program provides informa tion based on science and best practices: the info you receive from a Master Gardener is reliable. If people come straight to us, they’ll get the real dirt.” And the real dirt it is. Miller is proud of the amazing work being done in the metro area, including the demonstration garden at the fair complex in Hillsboro, which will soon include an edible landscape and mini orchard component. “I’m blown away by how organized the Multnomah County Master Gardeners are: they just started their dem onstration garden in Southeast Portland this year and have already delivered 1,000 pounds o f produce to the local community,” Miller says. I suppose you could say Master Garden ers give— and get— the real dirt, v l f t LeAnn Locher is a proud graduate o f the OSU Extension Master Gardener program , and blogs at www.lelonopo.com. She’s hibernating fo r a fe w months and her column w ill resume in spring 2010, just in time fo r gardening. WHAT I LEARNED ALONG TH E WAY: People who are Master Gardeners are some of the most giving, kind and funny folks And they love to talk garden geek talk as much as I do. The quality o f instruction is fantastic: the program brings in instructors who are experts in their field. From home orchard growers to pest specialists (fascinating) to soil geeks who know how to get others as excited about their topics as they are. the level of education is stellar. Learning about gardening is like growing one: it's never-ending and there s always something new. I have definitely been stumped, but fortunately, as a newbie. I was always paired with a Master Gardener veteran, and their knowledge blows me away. O pen 7 days/w eek 10 a m - 9 pm 3343 SE H aw thorne Blvd. SH O W YOUR STRENGTH • • • • • • • • Spiritual Reader & Advisor Palm & Tarot Card Reading Tells past, present & future You tell me nothing, but I’ll tell you everything Specializing in reuniting Lovers Over 25 years experience Liscened and Bonded Lesbian Owned 2 g r e a t c lu b s * NATURAL AND HEALTHY PET FOODS AND TREA TS V DOG AND CAT SUPPLIES Now Open - Nature's Pet 503.236.76OO all c la s s e s in c lu d e d WHY I BECAME A MASTER GARDENER: I wanted to be giving good advice. When you love to garden, you're often a magnet for questions, help and tips to other gardeners: I wanted to make sure I was giving accurate information, not just things I thought I had read somewhere or guesses. I love to talk about gardening. Sometimes when you talk plants to friends, their eyes glaze over: other friends also have the gardening bug Solving problems with other Master Gardeners and helping the public with questions is really rewarding. Hawthorne Psychic W ^ e st C o a s t F i t n e s s f r ie n d ly & o p e n I'm o graduate of the Master Gardener program! (503) 360-1244 111 N W 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 W e ’ ve M oved To 2100 SE B elmont ( former smyrc site ) J< Financial M ove E ffective 11/11 (360) 694-7091 601 Main St. Suite 201 Vancouver, WA 98660 www.jkfin.com O ffic e: 2 6 4 0 ne a lb e rta + H om e Loan M odification w w w .p d x g y m .c o m 503 288 4500 7522 11 lo m b a rd 503-283-5404 H elp us move b y taking 50% O ff A ll remaining T r e e s ! 2100 SE B elmont S t . P ortland , OR 97214 (503) 234-7733 W W W .U R B A N F A R M S T O R E .C O M ♦ F in an cial P lanning * Credit Repair In su ran ce 100% M oney Back G u a ra n tee
