Valley Master Gardener Blog

Meeting Dates 2008

2007-11-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

These are our 2008 meeting dates. Go ahead and put them in your 2008 calendars!

January 31- Business Meeting
February 28
March 27
April 24
May 29
June 26
July 31
August 28
September 25
October 30
November ?
December 18-Christmas Party

a few notes

2007-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

A few notes
1. Don't forget to get me your logbooks.
2. Next years meetings will be at the Columbus Botanical Gardens at the regular time (5pm).
3. I will list our meeting dates on our website for you all to note in your calendar asap ( and with the tentative topics)
4. If you have a chance, go by Nathan's Feed and Seed next week to see our WaterSmart exhibit. Let them know you are a Master Gardener.

Have a great weekend!
Jen

2007-11-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys! I have a few notes for you...

Holly Thornton has also posted this month's Plant Pathology Report:http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/October2007.pdfShe has also put together an annual report for 2006 that is great:http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/Summary_2006.pdf

Did you know that there are beautiful mums for sale at the Valley Rescue Mission for $5? I bought two today- they are huge! If you are the market for some fall color, drop by-it is for a good cause.

Don't forget- 2007 volunteer hours will be due very soon. Please let me know if yo have any questions or need help with categorizing your work. I know you all do great work in the community-let's get credit for it.

I hope you all have a good weekend- I will! We are going to an AU footbal game!

Jen

Notes from last nights meeting

2007-09-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

If I can, I will try to publish our meeting notes from last night asap.

Also- did anyone run off with my JMG calendar?

Morris Vineyard Trip- Friday, October 5, 10 am- for those interested, e-mail or call me and we will see how many can go. I must hear from you by Tuesday October 2. I will give you details on location, etc then.

A few other thoughts- In December at our Christmas party, we will vote on changing our meeting time and place- possibly to Columbus Botanical Gardens, maybe change the time to noon? Think about it-comment if you wish. Also- starting next year, I will give certificates at the December Christmas Party for the futureMG classes.

We had a great meeting- thanks to all of yo who brought food/contacted our speaker, etc. This organization wouldn't run without your support.

Thanks to Dan and Caroline- we finished the JMG beds- they are ready for installation- the news should be there on Wednesday- if anyone would like ot come out and support the JMG group.

Blog ya later!
jen

Certifying Master Gardeners!

2007-09-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Currently, I have the logsheets for 4 of ya'll...Mary Elsie, Jesse, Dan and Matha D.
Anyone else who has their 50, send me your logsheets (not book) and We'll have a big certifying ceremony at this months meeting. FYI- Matt WHiddon of Columbus in COlor will be speaking to us about fall and winter gardens-it is his specialty! Don't miss it!
Jen

we had a great field trip

2007-09-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

We had a really enjoyable field trip yesterday-it wasn't toohot and we didn't stay too long. We learned first hand how much input there is into the veggies that we take for granted. Will write more about this in our newsletter-

I forgot to give out materials to sell bulbs as a fundraiser. Anyone interested-please come by and pick up the materials- our order is due middle of next month- so we need to really get on it. We get %50 of the proceeds- there is a variety to choose from-if you just want ot buy let me know asap.

JMG going well- i will put out a shcedule for ya'll to look at and maybe volunteer for.

I NEED HELP! Marketing MG 2008- I am running behind schedule this year and need help gettingthe word out. We don't have nearly enough applicants. ANything you can do will help- drop by and pick up posters or brochures-call newspeople-write in your neighborhood publications-anything!

I hope to hear from ya'll soon.
jen

directions to Southern Roots

2007-09-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

YOu can Mapquest the address: 2710 Hwy 82
Midway, AL
or
From Eufaula Alabama-
go north on Hwy 82 ( that would be a right)
pass Heritage sod farm
pass mile marker 225
pass cell phone tower on R
the first house after tower on L
there is no sign
it is a white house - you can't see the veggie farm

This looks to be a big adventure!

Kyle Dismukes is the managers name- cell 918.728.1118
My cell is 706.757.1540

Bring a sack lunch to enjoy on the grounds. I will bring a cooler with drinks-
I have room for 4 people in my car-it will be tight. ( plus me)
jen

Free Daylilies

2007-09-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Ya'll - I met a wonderful mother/daughter team today who has offered us free daylilies...for your home or to sell at the fall plant sale. Her name is Martha Moore-706.563.1657-4218 Olympic Lane, near Sears Woods.

She also has hardy ferns, etc. You gotta dig for them!

Jen

2007-09-06T12:27:00.001-07:00

A few notes for ya'll-
1. JMG class started well- please let me know if any of you are interested in being involoved.

2. WE only have 4 people signed up for field trip- need 10 - if we don't have 10 by Moanday afternoon- I;ll have to cancel.

3. For those of you who took the rain barrel class- i have aprogram opportunity for you in January- let me know if you are interested.

4. WE NEED HELP getting the word out about MG Class 2008- I have marketing information in the office if you could drop by, pick up and post in your churches, neighborhoods, etc. We have our planning/selection committee already working hard, so let's all help market the class.

5. September 25- 4pm JMG Meeting at Columbus Botasnical Gardens- this will be fun for those of youwho helped this summer- i am getting the gang back together to do some fun work.

I am going to attach the MG Class 2008 Info sheet to your e-mail i always send out.

see ya'll soon.
jen

Sorry I missed the August meeting- I was in Griffin

2007-08-31T13:08:00.001-07:00

OK- So I was so harried this week I left Elaine hanging without all of the info I meant for ya'll to get! A few notes:
1. Trip to Southern Roots Veggie Garden-I cam currently sending out the most labeled postcards you'll ever get to some of you who were not at the meeting or needed more info. The trip of on Wednesday, September 12. We will caravan or meet at the site. I will be leaving the Annex parking lot at 9am- or you can meet at the farm at 10am. The address is 2710 HWy 82 Midway, AL. It should take about an hour to get there. We need 10 to make the trip. Currently, there are3 signed up. We will bring sack lunched- I will provide drinks. The manager of the farm will show us around his 2acre lot and then we will enjoy our picninc lunch. I will try to get the word out to AL MG's- but as with any of our meetings, feel free to bring a friend/spouse/child, etc.

2. A few upcoming dates-

September 5- start JMG at St. Luke
September 29- we are involved with Keep Columbus Beatiful Commission (KCBC) Help-The-Hooch with Your Pooch - we will try to help educate the community on the impact dog poop left at Lakebottom Park has on Weracoba Creek- I am guilty!
October 12-13 Help the Hooch-don't forget to recycle your household stuff (paint/printers etc)
November 1- Westville Trip

Web address for the monthly homeowner disease report -http://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/documents/AUGUST2007.pdf

If that is not right- blame Elaine!

American Camelia Society - this weekend in Fort Valley-ask Tom Tennent.

Football season is upcon us- we got tickets for Kansas State tomorrow. War Eagle!

Jen

Have a Very Nice Weekend

2007-08-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

It's Friday pm and I am getting ready to go home for the weekend. Next week will be jam-packed...a few highlights...

Monday-BIG Conference at Trade Center on Child Abuse

Tuesday-in office, answering calls, etc

Wednesday-ANR Advisory meeting at 4pm

Thursday- ANR Update, Griffin, 5pm MG Meeting

Friday-back in office answering calls and getting ready to beat Kansas State on Saturday -War Eagle

I am having trouble getting Hispanics to sign up for training on the 5th- if anyone has any ideas/incentives, let me know.

That's all for now.

Jen

2007-08-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today we made rain barrels with our VMG group. Who knew that Beverly, Ellen, Martha and Caroline wher so handy with the power tools. Tom and Cathy didn't do so bad either. I am really hopeful that we can go out and with our multiplier effect really reach many households.

We are going to work together with Botanical Gardens and other places to really have some impact. I want to show ya'll all of the facets of the Watersmart program that we will be taking part in.

Also, we are getting ready for 2008 MG class- is there a subject any of you would like to co-teach? We need to really do a media blitz in the month of October to get lots of good applicants- i would like for someone to serve on the selection committee with Dianne O as the chair. ANy takers? Also-start talking it up to your friends if you know anyone interested.

I will try to provide the instructions for the rainbarrels maybe we could do another "class" later this fall- just to poll, how many are interested?

Anyone interested in helping with hispanic safety training- just helping me market it?

Thank yall so much for all you do. Yall really make Columbus a better place to live.

Jen

2007-08-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have been unable to blog lately -been very busy! Currently we are getting ready for our rain barrel project and marketing for the Hispanic Safety Training. I will include some info about that later in the post. I had an interesting site visit for the city the other day- Green June Beetles feeding on the sap of an oak tree that had several cankers on it. I just got news that we will become a pilot county for the water wise program- that will be starting asap- i am excited.

On a personal note, this week I put Ash in day care and am having a hard time-does anyone know of anyone who might want to keep him at home?

Hope to see ya'll at the monthly meeting- I will let ya'll know asap who the speaker is this month. I do have office work so if anyone is interested, let me know.

Jen

I have been in the loveliest village on the plains!

2007-08-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

So I have been in AU for 3 days. I miss it when I go visit. Oh, to be a student again.....sorry, back to business. I was at a 3 day workshop on what it means to be USDA certified Organic. It was a very interesting training, though i am not sure many farmers will b e knocking on my door to become certified. We went through all of the ins and outs to become organic. It is NOT just replacing synthetic chemicals for naturals or nothing at all. It is much more involoved than that. I found it interesting on a personal sense - seeing that I am the consumer paying higher prices- I need to know what I am getting. If anyone is interested in having me do a talk for ya'll just ask. I can pass on what I learned. I am not interested in arguing the good, the bad, or the ugly about organic versus traditional farming methods-there is not enough science nor am I knowledgeable about everything you must know to make a great arguement either way. I am now, however pretty educated on what USDA ORganic means.

On other subjects- I will be working from home next week- I will be calling in a couple of times per day, checking messages and checking email. I am looking forward to tour rain barrel demo- hope we can help save some water and$ during this drought. I really think with the multiplier effect we can do some good.

I will be having a Hispanic Training in September so if any of you know any landscape company owners- please help me market to them.

I chatted with the Russell COunty agent about doing some cross programming-hopefully we can coordintate somthing this coming year-we want to re-do teh trip to Massee Lanes. Until Later!

Last night ...

2007-07-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

I am attaching an up to date clendar of events...

August 2 Cusseta Garden Club program
August 12 International Festival
August 16 Rain Barrel Demo
August 18 Adv MG Training Albany
August 23 Garden Tour Meeting
August 25 Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Program
August JMG Meeting
August 30 Monthly Meeting
September 12 Field Trip to Southern Roots
September 9 Beekeeper Picnic
Sept 27 Rain Barrel Demo, Museum Guild Gardeners
November 1 Field Trip-Westville

Of course things get added every day. If anyone has any questions, please call. I will post our meeting minutes asap. I feel like we got a really lukewarm response for selling the coffee again, therefore, I will wait for some more interest before we try to do that as a fundraiser. We had a quite low attendance for our meeting last night. I think everyone is on vacation. I will let everyone know what our next program will be as soon as Ms. Bonnie and Carolyn let me know. I agree with Richard that we need more strucutre to our meetings as I am often taken off track.. I will work on that. Until later!

Valley Master Gardener Blog- First Posting

2007-07-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Today is the day before the JMG "graduation" and the MG meeting, so I have been really busy trying to get everything done. This is my first try at blogging...I hope it helps with keeeping us in touch and decreasing the number of e-mails you guys get. I think we can communicate as a group with this format.

I am sure I will have lots of errors, as I am not the best typist. I will try to let ya'll knowwhat is going on at the office and let youknowsome of the upp to date problems we are getting calls on.

Today, I had several calls, typical things like questions on Erosion and SedimentationControl and 'what's wrong with my grass?"

Thanks to all of you guys who worked with JMG and also to Dave Wilson for stepping in to givea talk to Cusseta Garden club. I am hoping to get more organized so that we can have aseveral people with knowldge of things they are interested in and want ot share with other groups.