CENTRAL GORGE
from your President
Welcome to the Dog Days of summer. It’s sunny, it's hot and our plants know it and respond accordingly. They either go dormant, they thrive (looking at your peppers) or they need to be consistently watered. 2023 was the warmest year on record for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. This year is on track to be warmer than last. These trends have led me to re-evaluate the veggies I have been traditionally planting at the same time each spring and summer. I have discovered in my own garden that my cool season crops cannot make it through June without suffering from the heat. I have resorted to planting those crops two weeks earlier in April even if it’s too cold outside. (I cover them to keep them from frostbite) but quite often I have decided that the effort was not worth it for me. I have begun looking at vegetable crops that can withstand the consistent hot temps we are experiencing. Ten years ago, I would have not had enough of a hot summer to develop those heat loving crops to maturity but now I am trying again with some of these veggies. I have also observed trees and flowers putting on a show earlier in the season,
Tierra at 97.5
August 23: Friday: 8-9am: CGMGA on the radio, K11360
August 23: Friday: Deadline for
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CGMGA & OMGA
using their energy to produce the flowers before the heat sets in and then going dormant earlier. This is nature’s way of adapting to the climate. I have to adapt too. My Blueberries fruited earlier, I had Dahlias in bloom by mid-July and my June bearing strawberries were done by June 10th. In addition to the temps the air is dry and windy and it’s fire season here in the Gorge. These factors have me constantly evaluating my gardens for waterwise practices. Do I have all my drip irrigation running efficiently, have I planted the right plant in the right place, are my plants water huggers or drought tolerant? The waterwise garden we maintain in front of the HR library is a great example of water-wise planting for full sun with drip irrigation to supplement the plants. Next time you're in town please stop by and look at what our hard-working volunteers have cultivated in that garden under the leadership of Norma Benson. If you have not invested in drip irrigation please really consider doing so. This really is a more efficient way to water than overhead watering or hand watering. Our educational outreach committee will be looking to offer a class on drip irrigation next year if you would like to learn how to install it. Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay cool!
Jennifer Harty President CGMGA
CGMGA Rep Report August 2024
OMGA’s Educational Conference, Joy of Gardening (I still call it Mini College) was really good this year. Thanks to the support of our Chapter, Central Gorge was represented by 4 Chapter members and our Program Coordinator. There was a broad choice of classes, Keynote presentations by Dr. Silvia Rendon, Leslie Madsen, and a tag team of Gail Langellotto and Sherry Sheng. Let me share with you the best highlight of my attendance. Over the course of upcoming months, those of us who attended will be sharing with all our Chapter members what we learned and the (Continued on page 3)
Month at a Glance
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submissions to the September CGMGA newsletter
Learning Garden work parties
Thursday, August 8: 9-11am
Thursday, August 22: 9-11am Saturday, August 31: 9-11am
FISH Garden work parties
Saturday, August 3: 9-12pm
Saturday, August 10: 9-12pm
Saturday, August 17: 9-12pm
Saturday, August 24: 9-12pm
Saturday, August 31: 9-12pm
Library Garden work party
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experiences we enjoyed.
On Friday morning Gail Langellotto lead a tour of 4 labs dedicated to horticultural research at OSU.
The Honey Bee Lab: Directed by Ramesh Sagili we were hosted by researchers Carolyn Breece and Priyadarshini Basu. They are, among other things, working on honeybee pests, diet and hive health.
Oregon Bee Project Taxonomy Lab: Andony Melathopoulos and his researchers are cataloging thousands and thousands of bees into the Oregon Bee Atlas.
OSU Garden Ecology Lab: Gail and her team study the plants, insects, animals, people, decisions and management practices that either improve or degrade a garden’s ability to promote environmental and human health.
Plant Breeding Lab: Their work at Oregon State University embodies the Land Grant mission of integrated research, teaching and extension in the context of cultivar development and fundamental genetics.
This was a great tour and we got to visit briefly with friends who’ve provided us with many great educational experiences. Too bad that we didn’t see Nicole Bell (daughter of Neil Bell and Bernadine Strik) as she is studying out of state at the moment.
The Library Waterwise Garden
August’s Waterwise Garden cleanup is scheduled for Friday, August 16, from 8 to 10am. Who knows how hot the weather will be that day, but let’s beat the typical heat of mid-August. We welcome all ideas, comments, questions and suggestions. There are empty patches in the garden that are crying out to be filled this fall.
Norma Benson, 509-969-2187
We’ll be sharing more from these outstanding programs and from the other presentations which took place at Mini College (oops, Joy of Gardening) 2024.
Thanks for your interest and support.
Eric Bosler, OMGA Rep
PS Want to see the latest version of a fantastic diagnostic tool?
Check out “SPP” https:// solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/
In order to allow time for formatting the CGMGA Newsletter, please submit articles or calendar items by the 3rd Friday. Send newsletter information to Shari Bosler at sharibosler@hotmail.com
Thanks!
Upcoming events
Garden Educators please join us for a two day Tend, Gather and Grow (Tend) workshop at Wapato Island Farms. Tend is a K-12 curriculum that focuses on native and naturalized plants of the Pacific Northwest region. Northwest Native American plant knowledge and stories are woven throughout the curriculum. Tend’s 60+ lessons align with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STEAM) education principles and Next Generation Science Standards.
We will joyfully explore themes and activities in cultural ecosystems, wild food traditions, and the social-emotional teachings of plants. Educators will expand their plant identification tools, gain new skills in outdoor education, make plant medicines with rose and plantain and make delicious plant inspired beverages and foods. Participants will take home the entire 800+ page Tend curriculum that is adaptable for kindergarteners through adults.
Delicious lunch, snacks and beverages provided.
Taught by Mariana Harvey (Yakama) and Kim Gaffi, both members of the Tend, Gather, and Grow Curriculum Development Team
Presenter Bios
Mariana Harvey is a citizen of Yakama Nation, an íła (mother) and an artist with a passion for protecting Native foods and medicines and sharing their gifts in community. Mariana co-led Native student buffalo harvests in college which sparked her journey into Tribal Food Sovereignty. She worked for 7 years serving Native youth in leadership development
initiatives nationally with the Native Youth Leadership Alliance and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Youth. She is a founding member of Tend, Gather and Grow curriculum development team. She holds a B.A. Degree in American Indian Studies from Fort Lewis College and is an Evergreen Longhouse Advisory Board member. Mariana is a 2021 NDN Collective ChangeMaker Fellow where she focused on expanding the Tend, Gather and Grow curriculum to Plateau Tribes. Mariana received the 2021 Potlatch Fund Spirit of Reciprocity award and the 2018 Inspired Native Award from Eighth Generation. Mariana enjoys gathering foods and medicines with her family, learning Ichishskíin (Yakama) language, designing earrings, and composing and sharing songs in community.
Kim Gaffi is the Co-Founder and past Executive Director of GRuB (Garden Raised Bounty) and a founding member of the Tend, Gather, and Grow curriculum development team. Kim earned her BA in Community Development and BS in Environmental Science from The Evergreen State College and loves thinking about and working on the intersection of humans and the natural environment. She brings her passion for experiential education & food justice as well as her skills in group facilitation, organizational development and educational policy.
Register here, to request a scholarship, contact Melina
Volunteer with the Hood River SWCD this summer!
There will be three Puncturevine Pulling Events at the Hood River Waterfront Park over the summer months.
Puncturevine, also known as goathead, is a noxious weed that has made its way into Hood River County. It can be found in sunny, dry, rocky locations such as roadsides or gravel parking lots. This invasive weed forms a dense mat with sharp and spiny seed heads. The seeds spread when they become embedded in footwear and vehicle tires. They are extremely sharp and cause damage by easily puncturing bike tires, inflatable rafts, or dog paws.
During these events, volunteers will identify and pull puncturevine growing along the Hood River Waterfront. Bring your favorite gardening tool and gloves to help eradicate this pesky and painful weed! Registration is required and available now for the following volunteer opportunities Thursday July 18th, Thursday August 15th, and Thursday September 19th. The event will run from 8:30 am until 11 am each day. Feel free to sign-up for one or multiple days. The more help the better! For more information and to sign up to volunteer please visit: www.hoodriverswcd.org
Spotlight on a master gardener
Christine Purvis MG Class 2024
This past year has been busy and exciting for Christine Purvis, her husband, Sam, and their sons, Asher and Eliot. They recently moved from Portland to Hood River to find outdoor adventure here in the gorge. When Christine is not homeschooling her boys, she is learning about her new hometown, enjoying outdoor activities with her family, and learning to become a Master Gardener.
Christine’s gardening experience began when she
started dating her husband, and they would go to a farm to help plant and harvest. One crop was cherry tomatoes. There is nothing better than a fresh picked tomato, and they could eat as many of the warm, pungent tomatoes as they wanted. Ironically, Christine’s husband developed an allergy to them. Soon, she found herself helping elementary school
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Spotlight on a master gardener
children learn the joy of growing vegetables and preparing delicious and healthy food from the school garden. Christine was hooked. She became passionate about healthy, farm to table food.
Growing up in Montana without a garden, her first attempt at her own was in Portland with lots of trial and errors. She is now trying a casual but organized raised bed garden with her sons. This year they planted vegetables and some flowers. One plant, a dianthus, she bought at the MG plant sale. One day Christine noticed that something was wrong. “Something pulled the plant out of the ground!” It didn’t take long to research the problem. Her husband thought it was a weed. Christine and the boys helped replant it and are happy to report that the plant survived the trauma.
The Fish Food Garden has been Christine’s perfect match. She was surprised and pleased to learn that kids can come help and learn at the Fish Food Garden too. You will often find Christine and her sons there helping with work parties. Christine says she is learning more about growing healthy vegetables and is grateful for the Fish Food Program itself. This is what she always wanted to do: to help others. This garden’s food for a cause is something she loves being involved with. At some point she would like
waterwise garden because she
Christine’s advice to new trainees is something we were
information. Don’t get
Participate and get involved. Enjoy this community of Master Gardeners. It is a lot of fun sharing a common interest and being a part of this community. “
One of Christine’s goals in becoming a Master Gardener was to be a more proficient gardener. She felt she needed to be immersed in the gardening world. She wanted to know how to find information. She liked the idea of one day being someone in the community who could help others with their questions.
Christine has had fun from the very first class meeting. She enjoyed being welcomed into the gardening world by all the members who wanted to share their knowledge and love of gardening. She knew then that this would be a good experience. After the first class she did feel overwhelmed with information like most of us. It was a toss-up between “This is so cool!” to “This is A LOT!”
Inspiration comes from many sources and Christine’s main inspiration comes from cookbooks. “I wonder if I can grow that?” She wants to focus on the best, freshest ingredients. She is also inspired by chefs and other gardeners. She is aspiring to be a good gardener, but feels she has a long way to go. Christine is excited about the learning process to achieve that.
Christine has found fulfillment in the Master Gardener program. She has come a long way from learning at the farm years ago, to gardening now at the Fish Food Garden. Christine appreciates working together with a group of people who tackle so much. She finds it very gratifying seeing what can be accomplished when working together as a group to get so much more done.
Cheryl McKay
Plant, Grow, Harvest and Enjoy!
Let's share ideas, tips, successes and learning experiences. Please send me your items to share with others in our chapter members. Shari at sharibosler@hotmail.com
A simple “take away” from a presentation by Darren Morgan (the nursery manager at Shonnards Nursery in Corvallis and a very knowledgeable speaker at the Joy of Gardening conference): if you need to apply pesticides, do so in the evening…when the pollinators aren’t out!! Shari
Gardening Resources
Hood River County Master Gardeners
blogs.oregonstate.edu/cgmga/
Growing Your Own
OSU Publications
Monthly Gardening Calendars
PNW Handbooks
HortSense
UC IPM
OSU Gardening
WSU Gardening
Weed Identification
Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management
Area
GardenSmart: A Guide to Non-Invasive Plants
Where to Pickup a free copy of GardenSmart
Oregon Flora
https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/mgcoordinators/
Transplanting Established Trees & Shrubs Click here to download
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