OMGA MINI-COLLEGE PRESENTS:
THE JOY OF GARDENING CONFERENCE 2023
AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
JULY 7 AND 8
Friday July 7 8:00-9:00: Welcome, Announcements, Chapter Grant Awards and Introductions
Class descriptions:
Keynote: 9 AM -10:15
Tom Kaye
Coping with Climate: How our changing environment is affecting native plants and habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Bio: Tom Kaye is Executive Director and Senior Ecologist at the Institute for Applied Ecology, a nonprofit organization with a mission to conserve native habitats and species through research, restoration, and education. He is also a courtesy Associate Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. Tom conducts research on rare species reintroductions, pollination biology, habitat restoration, plant invasions, plant population responses to climate change, and engages prison inmates in conservation through the Sagebrush in Prisons Project. Sourcing native plants for restoration is a key area of interest, research, and publication for Dr. Kaye. He serves as a board member for the Society for Ecological Restoration.
Session 1 Friday, 10:30-11:15
1A Raised bed gardening: how to and inspiration, Brooke Edmunds
Description: This session will cover the basics of unframed and framed raised beds, why to use them, what materials to use (and avoid), tips for constructing long-lasting raised beds, and using raised beds to make plantings accessible for gardeners of all abilities. Bring your ideas and tips to share! Includes new research from the OSU Department of Forestry on the safety of treated wood and vegetable gardens.
Bio: Brooke Edmunds is the OSU Extension Community Horticulturist in Marion, Polk, Benton, and Linn Counties. She has worked for the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program since 2014 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture. Brooke also enjoys vegetable gardening in raised beds with her family in Salem.
1B Bug scaping: Gwendolyn Ellen
Description: This session will explore the basics of creating habitats for important beneficial insects.
Bio: Gwendolyn Ellen is the owner/manager of Agricultural Biodiversity Consulting. Gwendolyn has over 3 decades of diverse, applied experience working in sustainable and organic agriculture as an organic vegetable farmer, ornamental and research greenhouse manager, farmers market manager, field consultant and researcher in integrated biological pest management, and an agro-ecological activist and educator. She has managed farmer-led, agricultural educational networks to conserve agricultural biodiversity in the academic, non-profit, and farming sectors across the western states.
1C Soil-What it is and how it works: James Cassidy
Description: It’s ALL about soil! Most people only have a vague idea of what soil is and how it works. You will learn more than you ever thought possible from this lecture. The reason you are alive, what nutrients are, how soil stores water and nutrients. The fundamentals that ALL humans on the planet Earth should know!
Bio: James Cassidy has been an Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University for over 18 years. The introductory class now has over 100 students each term and is very popular. James is also the faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club – OSU’s student farm. Coming from a non-traditional background (music industry for over 40+ years) he is passionate about soil and is popular with students because of his dynamic speaking style. The student farm project has over 300 student volunteers on it’s list-serve and continues to grow. The farm cultivates over 50 different fruit and vegetable crops and is just beginning it’s 23rd season.
1D Conserving natural enemies and other beneficial insects in the home garden: Aaron Anderson
Description: Conserving natural enemies and other beneficial insects in the home garden is about garden pollinator habitat, protecting pollinators from pesticides and pesticide risks, or diving into conserving natural enemies and other beneficial insects in the home garden.
Bio: Aaron Anderson is a member of the Xerces Society.
1F Campus Tour, Haley Okamoto
Meet in the lobby.
In the lobby all day: River Ranch Oregon Olive Oil will host an olive oil tasting in the lobby; 11 AM to 4PM
LUNCH 11:45-12:45 $15.00
Lunch Friday/ July 7
Cobb Salad Bar
Mixed Green Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Tomatoes, Avocado, Green Onions, and Bacon Crumbles served with Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Includes Artisan Bread and Butter and Served with your choice of Two Side Salads. Pesto Pasta Salad with Artichoke Hearts, Tomatoes, Kalamata Olive, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil Pesto
Fresh Fruit Salad
Iced Tea
Ice Water
Session 2 Friday, 12:45-2:00
2A Growing Shiitake mushrooms: Alicia Christenson
Description: This presentation will cover the primary cultural practices for growing Shiitake mushrooms in your backyard. An inoculated log will be raffled off to those attending.
Bio: Alicia has served as the Douglas County Extension forestry agent for 7 years. She works with a wide variety of audiences, most often small woodland owners, to provide education and outreach for forestry and natural resource subjects. She enjoys helping landowners gain forest management knowledge and experience through site visits, workshops, and tours.
2B Garden tools and their maintenance: Fred Alley
Description: This presentation will showcase of all the necessary garden tools you will need in your garden shed. Tool protection and maintenance will also be covered.
Bio: Fred Alley has been a Master Gardener in Douglas County for 13 years. His hobby is collecting and refurbishing used and antique garden tools.
2C IPM: Pesticides and pest management: Logan Bennet
Description: This session will cover the basics of Integrated Pest Management including a discussion on new and emerging threats by insects and diseases in Oregon and how to mount the most effective controls.
Bio: Logan Bennet is the OSU Extension Small Program and Master Gardener Program Manager for Doulas County Extension. Logan Bennett graduated from Oregon State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, and continued to earn his master’s degree in Soil Science. Logan was in the agricultural sector as a crop consultant and scout since 2020. He spent much of his time working in the field with farmers on integrated pest management and crop fertilization. He specialized in permanent cropping systems, such as blueberries, cane berries, apples, and hops. Logan has also worked with row crops and some specialty crops in small scale agricultural systems. He grew vegetables, herbs and cut flowers with the Oregon State University Organic Growers Club (ORGS), where he served as the president. Logan believes that using integrated pest management strategies with an emphasis on economic thresholds in agriculture is key in promoting sustainability while maximizing crop quality and return on investment.
2D Water use classification of Northwest plants: Jeff Cope
Description: Landscape Plants used in traditional gardens in western Oregon originate from a multitude of ecosystems from all over the world. This talk will focus on grouping plants by water needs so when we irrigate, we can do so with confidence based on the plant water needs and soil type. With concerns about climate change, we need to educate ourselves to the water use needs of landscape plants.
Bio: Jeff Cope, co-owner of Home-Grown Gardens retail nursery in Corvallis Oregon, has bachelor’s in science degree in landscape horticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California and master’s in public administration from Cal State at Northridge. He is a Oregon-licensed landscape contractor, Pest Control Operator, nurseryman, and International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Arborist. Jeff was adjunct faculty in the horticulture department at Santa Barbara City College for 8 years where he taught the classes for the certificate program, Vice President of Horticulture at Santa Barbara Botanical Garden for two years and park manager for the City of Santa Barbara, California for 18 years. Jeff is also chair of the Civic Beautification and Urban Forestry in Corvallis. Jeff is currently serving on the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board. Jeff started his horticulture career at the age of 12 receiving personal instruction by a neighbor who took him under her wing teaching him lawn maintenance, how to properly trim a hedge, rose care and citrus care. Jeff considers himself an Urban Horticulturalist.
Session 3, Friday 2:15-3:30
3A Firewise Gardening: Carrie Burger and Eric Bosler
Description: In this session you will learn about wildfire risk and the steps you can take to assess and reduce risk to your house and yard. We’ll explore the principles of fire-resistant plants and examples of plants to select for your home landscaping. Together we’ll brainstorm ways to support your neighbors and community in this work.
Bio: Carrie Berger has over twenty-five years of forestry related experience and has been in her Extension role at Oregon State University for nine years. Carrie is the Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Fire Program Manager and along with her teammates, uses education, outreach, and partnerships to foster resiliency of communities and landscapes to wildfire at scale. She is also the Firewise Chair for her neighborhood and is passionate about extending her knowledge and experience to help people become more fire adapted.
Bio: Eric Bosler, a Master Gardener since 2009, currently serves as Fire Prevention Officer for Klickitat County Fire District 3, working with residents in the Columbia River Gorge on home fire risk reduction and wildfire threat mitigation.
3B Biological pest control: Logan Bennet
Description: This comprehensive presentation will include a look at the basic biology behind biological pest control and an overview of the newest tools available for home gardeners.
Bio: Bio: Logan Bennet is the OSU Extension Small Program and Master Gardener Program Manager for Doulas County Extension. Logan Bennett graduated from Oregon State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, and continued to earn his master’s degree in Soil Science. Logan was in the agricultural sector as a crop consultant and scout since 2020. He spent much of his time working in the field with farmers on integrated pest management and crop fertilization. He specialized in permanent cropping systems, such as blueberries, cane berries, apples, and hops. Logan has also worked with row crops and some specialty crops in small scale agricultural systems. He grew vegetables, herbs and cut flowers with the Oregon State University Organic Growers Club (ORGS), where he served as the president. Logan believes that using integrated pest management strategies with an emphasis on economic thresholds in agriculture is key in promoting sustainability while maximizing crop quality and return on investment.
3C Growing Olive Trees in Oregon: Chris Berry
Description: River Ranch Oregon Olive Oil cultivates both Arbequina and Arbosana varieties of olives in well-tended groves nestled along the banks of the North Umpqua River in Glide, Oregon. These cold-tolerant varieties have superb olive oil attributes and exceptional flavor. The Mediterranean-like microclimate of the area provides ideal growing conditions, while thrifty watering during the season increases the healthful polyphenol levels in the fruit. After months of careful tending, they harvest early by hand, when not only taste but polyphenol levels, too, are at their height and get them to press without delay. Although harvesting at this rather early stage of ripening means less oil is extracted, by doing so they produce a higher quality ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil. Participants will learn more about this fascinating topic.
Bio: Chris Berry worked as a biologist for most of his career beginning in 1994 at a plant engineering lab (CEPRAP) while an undergraduate at UC Davis. He completed my doctorate in 2003 at the University of Birmingham, UK. After a few post-docs, he transitioned into agriculture circa 2009 with USDA grant-writing on wild Alaskan blueberries. Later, he got his first experience with commercial super-high-density (SHD) blueberry farming in 2017; here in Douglas County. He started as an Agricultural Manager at River Ranch Oregon Olive Oil in 2019 with SHD olive production.
3D Gardening education with Food Hero: Leann Locher
Description: Come learn about the innovative social marketing campaign of OSU Extension and OSU’s SNAP-Ed program, bringing to beginning gardeners’ free seeds, gardening guides and tips, grow calendars, and more to thousands of Oregonians.
Food Hero’s mission is to help low-income Oregonians improve their health by increasing their of fruits and vegetables, including gardening and growing their own food. We work at the direct education level as well as the policy, systems and environment levels. Food Hero is an initiative of Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program and was developed by Oregon State University Extension Service and funded jointly by OSU Extension Service, Oregon Department of Human Services, and the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
At this presentation, you’ll learn how Food Hero is aligned as an excellent partner for the Master Gardener program to reach and support low-income Oregonians, and ways we currently work together. We hope you leave inspired to connect to Food Hero in your community, and with new ways you can broaden your outreach to food insecure Oregonians.
Bio: LeAnn Locher works as the bridge between the Master Gardener program, Food Hero, and Extension Communications, helping communicate about gardening to Oregonians at all levels of their gardening journeys. (She's also a Master Gardener volunteer.
3:30-5 PM
Open Round table for Master Gardener volunteers:
Information sharing of Plant sales, Search for Excellence project winners featured, open discussion of other issues facing our organization.
End of Day
Saturday July 9
8:00-9:00: welcome, announcements, and Master Gardener of the year, Behind the Scenes, and Growing and Belonging Awards.
Introductions
Class Descriptions:
Keynote: 9 AM -10:15
Andony Melathopoulos
Topic: Take a Walk on the Wild Side: The remarkable wild bees of Oregon and the volunteers who love them.
Description: The number of bees continues to creep up. First, we had a card that said, “500 species”. Then, when no one was looking, we upped the number to 600 species. Now we say “782 species”. The reason for the ever-increasing number are the remarkable counterpart to the Master Gardeners, the Master Melittologists. Take walk on the wild side with these volunteers as we show you the unbelievably weird bees of the state, the flowers they love and how you can help get the word out about Oregon’s bee biodiversity through your Master Gardener activities.
Bio: Andony Melathopoulos is an Associate Professor in Pollinator Health Extension in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, which was the first such position in the US. He also sits on the Steering Committee of the Oregon Bee Project, which coordinates pollinator health work across state agencies, leads the Oregon Bee Atlas and hosts a podcast called PolliNation.
Session 4, Saturday 10:30-11:45
4A Growing Peppers and tomatoes, Bruce Gravens
In this presentation you will learn how to select and start peppers from seed, planting and growing strong pepper plants, supporting pepper plants, protecting peppers from excessive dry heat and cold nights, and saving pepper seeds. You will learn how to select and start tomatoes from seed, planting and growing strong tomato plants, supporting tomato plants, protecting tomatoes from excessive dry heat/cold nights, and saving tomato seeds.
Bruce joined the Master Gardener program in 2001 in Santa Clara County, where he lead their Tomato and pepper trials, tomato and pepper seed saving, and plant sale pepper production programs. In the trials program he tested a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes and peppers for production, pest tolerance and taste. The results were reported to locally owned garden centers and local news outlets. In the seed saving program, he saved seeds of a dozen tomato and two dozen pepper varieties. These seeds were used to offer unique varieties at the Master Gardener plant sale and garden centers. The plant sale pepper production project offered >7000 pepper plants of >120 varieties for sale to the public. Most plants were sold in the first 90 min. Currently, Bruce gardens in a 7000 sq. ft. garden growing 15 varieties of garlic for a local restaurant, 50 varieties of tomatoes, and 45 varieties of peppers.
4B Mulch Matters: Beyond Bark: Signe Danler
Description: Everything you didn’t know you wanted to know about garden mulches. Learn all the many benefits of mulches, and what types are best for different purposes. Find out when and how to apply different mulches, and what mulches NOT to use. We’ll also cover living mulch – i.e., groundcovers.
Bio: Signe Danler is a veteran Master Gardener, landscape designer and plant nerd with particular interest in urban horticulture and applying ecological principles to landscape design
4C Citizen Science/ Oregon Season tracker: Sarah Cameron
Description: Oregon Season Tracker is a citizen science project where volunteers monitor and report on plant phenology and precipitation. In this session, you’ll learn more about Oregon Season Tracker, citizen science, and ways you can benefit and get involved!
Bio: Sarah Cameron (she/her), Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Oregon State University, Tree School Clackamas & Oregon Season Tracker
4D Entomology basics: Silvia Rondon
Description: In this session you will learn about the anatomy of insects, their classification, and basics on management.
Bio: Silvia Rondon is OSU entomologist and IPM Specialist.
4E Corvallis Saturday Market, on your own, map provided.
Lunch Saturday/ July 8/ 11:45-12:45 $15.00
Southwest Salad Bar
Crisp Romaine with Roasted Corn, Black Beans, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese,
Crispy Tortilla Strips, and Avocado served with Chipotle Ranch and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. Includes
Artisan Bread and Butter and Served with your choice of two side salads.
Traditional Potato Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad
Iced Tea
Ice Water
Session 5, Saturday, 12:45 PM- 2:00 PM
5A Growing Garlic, shallots, onions, and leeks: Bruce Gravens
Description: Learn how to grow and care for garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks from seed to harvest.
Bio: Bruce joined the Master Gardener program in 2001 in Santa Clara County, where he lead their tomato and pepper trials, tomato and pepper seed saving, and plant sale pepper
production programs. In the trials program he tested a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes and peppers for production, pest tolerance and taste. The results were reported to locally owned garden centers and local news outlets. In the seed saving program, he saved seeds of a dozen tomato and two dozen pepper varieties. These seeds were used to offer unique varieties at the Master Gardener plant sale and garden centers. Currently, he gardens in a 7000 sq. ft. garden growing 15 varieties of garlic for a local restaurant, 50 varieties of tomatoes, 45 varieties of peppers.
5B Training and Pruning Fruit trees: Sherry Sheng
Description: Learn how to shape a young tree and steps for pruning apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, persimmon, and fig. You will learn whether fruits are produced on spurs or shoots and how to stimulate an abundance of fruiting wood to support good production.
Bio: Our speaker Sherry Sheng is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener who leads and teaches for the award-winning 10-Minute University™ Program. She began teaching gardening classes in 2006 and has many instructional videos to her credit. Sherry gardens at home and at a community garden.
5C Why Natives, Lynn Kunstman
Description: Why Natives? – Seven Steps to Restoring Biodiversity in Your Yard: Planting native plants is crucial to ecosystem health and to preserving and protecting life on earth. Plant choice matters and choosing native plants helps to restore and ensure vital ecosystem services in our landscapes. Based on the work of Dr. Doug Tallamy, This presentation outlines seven steps you can take to create healthy, productive gardens, and help save our disappearing pollinators and birds.
Bio: Lynn Kunstman began gardening with her parents in Lafayette, California, as a young child. She moved to Humboldt County when she was 20 and lived there for 8 years. She has a degree in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University and, after moving with her husband and two sons to Ashland in 1986 obtained a master’s in science education from SOU. After teaching middle school special ed and science for 22 years, she retired, with her husband, to Medford, where they continue to grow huge vegetable gardens; harvesting and preserving food crops year-round. She became a Master Gardener in 2012, and a Master Food Preserver in 2013. Most recently her focus has been on gardening for wildlife and pollinators. Her quarter acre lot in Medford is certified as a Monarch Way Station, a Pollinator Garden, and a Wildlife Habitat. She established and ran the native plants nursery at Jackson County Extension Campus.
5D Practical Organics: Darren Morgan
Description: Organic gardening is more than the choices you make in the pesticide aisle. Learn to avoid problems with proper plant selection and care, as well as organic control options – with or without pesticides – for problems when they do occur.
Bio: Darren Morgan has worked at Shonnards Nursery in Corvallis for 32 years and is currently the nursery manager. He specializes in trees and shrubs, edible gardening, and most recently beekeeping. Darren also teaches community education classes and workshops at Shonnards as well as through Linn-Benton Community College.
Session 6, Saturday 2:15-3:30 PM
6A Resources from Oregon Flora: Thea Jaster
Description: The Oregon Flora program, based at Oregon State University, offers a wealth of information about the 4,700+ distinct vascular plants that grow in in our state. Thea will
describe how the knowledge used to develop the Flora of Oregon is relevant to gardeners and scientists alike. From the oregonflora.org website tools, learn how native plant species fit into Oregon’s ecosystems, and use this to refine your gardens and landscapes by selecting native species appropriate for your site. Leave this presentation with a powerful tool to add to your plant-lover’s toolbox: the amazing breadth and depth of Oregon Flora books, app, and website!
Bio: Thea’s main botanical interests are in plant conservation, biodiversity, and plant taxonomy. Her passion for plants started at a young age in the garden.
6B Mason Bees: Myths, Web tales, and Best Practices, Rich Little
Description: This comprehensive presentation will include basic biology, life cycle, identification, of desirable nesting sites, nesting system selection for either buying or building, summer management of bees nesting systems to protect bees from pests and diseases, cleaning the cocoons in the fall, winter storage of the cocoons, and getting bees ready for spring.
Bio: Rich Little is a Master Gardener volunteer and an expert in Mason Bees.
6C Root Crops: Darren Morgan
Description: Root crops should be staples in every pantry – and every garden. These vegetables combine very high yields, exceptional flavor and nutrition, and excellent tolerance for storage to eat later. Many root crops are easy to grow; however, they are a diverse group of plants, representing several different vegetable families, and each has specific needs and nuances. This session will cover how to handle most of the major root crops for maximum success.
Bio: Darren Morgan has worked at Shonnards Nursery in Corvallis for 32 years and is currently the nursery manager. He specializes in trees and shrubs, edible gardening, and most recently beekeeping. Darren also teaches community education classes and workshops at Shonnards as well as through Linn-Benton Community College.
End of Day.
Collect your Silent Auction items.
