Weekly Update - April 11, 2012

Special Ventura County Fair Exhibit Edition – See attachment

 From the MG Program Coordinator: Need to reach me?  Send an email to: ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu or call my cell phone, (805) 320-4134. 

Celebrating the birth of grandchildren, the following Master Gardener became a grandparent.  If you would like your information included in the weekly update, just send your facts.  Send the name of your new grandchild and birthplace to: ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu 

Stacy Plasch is a grandmother for the first time to Knox Johnston.  He was born on Jan 18th inVentura.  He’s a cutie with big blue eyes and thinks his grandma is pretty funny.  Congratulations Stacy!

Earn volunteer hours talking about the reason you became a Master Gardener! We need your assistance and here is the list of opportunities for community service.  These activities directly align with the mission and goals of the Master Gardener Program.  Hope you can help us!    

Earth Day in Thousand Oaks on April 28^th from 10am to 4pm.  We need two or three volunteers for two shifts – 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 1:15 pm to 4:30 pm.  Contact Lois Shoemaker at loiss105@gmail.com or (805) 522-4683.

Earth Day in Camarillo on April 21^st from 10am to 4pm.  We need two or three volunteers for two shifts 9:30 am to 1 pm & 12:30 pm to 4 pm.  Contact David at hibbits@vcnet.com or (805) 482-2580.

Celebrate Garden Month at the Ventura County Government Center in the Hall of Administration from April 17^th to April 27^th.  Community Service days are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 am to 1pm. Contact Nancy Nasalroad at n.nazrd@live.com

Ventura Garden Tour - The tour includes eight homes and will be held from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 5^th.  Contact Susan at (805) 415- 7661 or susancrespi@yahoo.com 

Ojai Garden Tour – The tour includes five homes and will be held from     9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 12^th.  We need five or more volunteers for two shifts 9:30 am to 1 pm & 12:30 pm to 4 pm.  Orientation for home tours is scheduled on Tuesday May 8^th at the Ojai Chamber of Commerce office.  For more information, contact Cathy at (805) 320-1686 or cepharaoh@yahoo.com   

Simi in the Garden Community Garden’s Grand Opening will be held on Sunday April 22 at 1636 Sinaloa Road in Simi Valley.  MG Trainee Joe Santos will coordinate volunteers for this effort.  If you are interested in helping, contact Joe directly at ezmail63@yahoo.com

Continuing Education Opportunities:

Location and registration information is available on the MG website.   

Camarillo Speakers’ Series – Every Wednesday until 4/25/2012

MG Lead for series is Linda Owens - llowens2@verizon.net

Goebel Speakers’ Series in TO – 4^th Saturday from 6/23 to 9/22/2012

MG Lead is Peggy Ellis – getpellis@yahoo.com

Ojai Speakers’ Series – 2^nd Saturday from 4/14 to 10/13/2012

MG Lead is Robin Graham –stuartgraham@att.net

Simi Valley Speakers’ Series – Every Tuesday from 5/1 to 6/12/2012

Register on MG website and each class cost $5.00 (pay at the door)  

MG Leads are: JoeSantos, ezmail63@yahoo.com; Lois Shoemaker, loiss105@gmail.com ; Judy Anderson – anderson9874@sbcglobal.net

Certified Master Gardeners receive continuing education hours for attending sessions.  Trainees are welcome to attend sessions, sorry no volunteer hours.  Registration is required!

Mastering Your Home Garden Workshop is scheduled at the Hansen Agricultural Center on Saturday May 19^th from 8:15 am to noon.  Master Gardeners may attend at a reduce rate of $5.00.  Certified Master Gardeners in attendance will receive three hours of continuing education  Trainees are welcome to attend as well.  But, your time spent in sessions does not count towards required volunteer hours.  If you are interested in volunteering for this event, contact Charleen Siegler at fauxnombre1@msn.com or (805) 984-1947 or Nancy Lindsay at nancyllindsay@verizon.net or (805) 987-0201.

Ventura Vets plan to grow tomatoes and they need our help to secure 15 black nursery containers and cages for tomato seedlings.  Barbara has plenty of seeds.  If you have cages to loan, contact Barbara directly at (805) 443-2073 or qbarbhill@aol.com 

Teach Ventura County Veterans how-to Grow Pumpkins!!!

Barbara Hill, Approved Site Lead is facilitating a Pumpkin Growing Contest with the staff and residents of the Veterans Home.  She is forming teams and needs the support of 3 to 4 Master Gardeners to work with these teams.  MG will mentor a team through the process of growing the pumpkins.  The soil has been prepared and is ready for planting.  Seeds provided and instructions on how-to grow pumpkins.  The mentoring MG for each team will need to do a little digging, interpret instructions, share expertise, and make it a fun project.  Hours are flexible and one meeting will be held to get organized.  Barbara is available to provide support as need to mentoring MG.  However she will not lead a team.  This is great opportunity for the Vets to grow pumpkins.  If you are interested in supporting this worthwhile effort, contact Barbara at qbarbhill@aol.com or (805) 443-2073.

MG Hands-On Garden Training Program for the Class of 2012

Hansen Agricultural Center (HAC)

Vegetable Garden Co-Leads – Juan Hernandez, Kathryn Estomo, and Velma Womack

Hands-on photographer: Sally Kosoff – sallyakosoff@aol.com

View pictures: https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=695

Cut Flower Garden Lead – Kim Herren

Hands-on photographer: Patti Handfinger – fingerprintz2000@yahoo.com

View pictures: https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=697

Propagation Group Lead – Kathleen Diermier

Hands-on photographer: Jeff Dodson – jefferseed@gmail.com

View pictures:  https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=696

Camarillo Ranch House

Butterfly Garden Lead - Chuck Andrews

Hands-on photographer: Barbara Wilsey – wilseyb@verizon.net  

View pictures:  https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=698

Channel Island Marine Center & Native Garden

Native Garden Leads - Norma Hogan and Freda Massaro

Hands-on photographer:  Kelli Green – mrsgreenjeans360@gmail.com

View pictures:  https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=692

Earths Academy in Newbury Park

Succulents and Tolerant Garden - Cathy Lewis 

Hands-on photographer: SteveSchwaiger – ashrammastergardener@yahoo.com

View pictures: https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=694

Goebel Center in Thousand Oaks

True Colors California Garden - Laurel Ford, Maryrose Caspray, and Ruth Lee

Hands-on photographer: Barbara Morse – morseb@mac.com

View pictures:  https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=693

Ojai Valley Half-Moon Community Garden

Vegetable Garden Co-Leads – Charles Duncan, Robin Graham, and Gene Volkerding  

Hands-on photographer: Simone Patterson– citrusbaroness@me.com

View pictures: https://ucanr.org/mg/users/photoalbumview.cfm?albumnum=688

    

Happy Gardening!