Happy Spring!  Hope you are finding time to garden.  

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

We need your volunteer hours posted!  I was reviewing volunteer hours and noticed that several volunteers have yet to post hours for this year.  I’ve seen these volunteers in the gardens and at events.  They are doing good work.  Please take time to post your hours.  These numbers help to plan and coordinate future activities.

Searching for research assistants?  If you are interested in assisting with research projects, please send me your availability.  Farm Advisors often need help on short notice (one week in advance) to support research efforts.  I would like to create a list of willing workers interested in research projects.  Can you help me?  If so, email me which days work best for your schedule.  Advisors typically need volunteer assistance in the morning hours from 9-noon.        

Do you like scavenger hunts?  If so, here is an opportunity for you to learn more about the V.C. Master Gardener Program’s external (seen by the public) and internal (where you post your volunteer hours) websites.  If you decide to answer these questions use one email message with an html link for each answered question.  Thank you and enjoy!    

• Can you locate volunteer venues on the external website?  When you find the location - How many volunteer venues are listed? 
• Where are the links to resources?  How many links are listed? 
• Can you find Pest Management - IPM link?  If yes, link to the site and tell me the four boxed categories listed on the front page of the IPM website? 
• Can you find the standing committees roster on the internal website?  If yes, who is the Executive Committee Secretary? 
• Can you find the new California Gardening website?  If so, can you then locate how to grow vegetables?  I will need you to now find how many hours of sunlight are suggested for a vegetable garden? 
• Can you find how to schedule a speaker on the external website?  
• Can you tell me the date and cost for the next Mastering Your Home Garden workshop?  Where is the flyer/registration information located?  

If you answer all of the questions correctly, your name will entered in special drawing for FREE spot in the MG Home and Garden workshop scheduled in November 2012.     

General Information:

• The mission of the Master Gardener Program?  To enhance the well-being of people, plants, and the environment through science-based gardening education and community outreach.   
• Who provides leadership in the Master Gardener Program?  The Master Gardener Advisor and the Program Coordinator in partnership with the Executive Committee members and the lead volunteers.
• Link to Executive Committee Roster –

http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6578&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed 

Earn volunteer hours talking about why 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.

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   

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

Barbara Hill, Approved Site Lead, is facilitating a Pumpkin Giant 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 will be provided and instructions given 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.  Barbara is available to provide support as need to mentoring MG.  However, she will not lead a group.  This is great opportunity for the Vets to grow pumpkins.  If you are interested in supporting this effort, contact Barbara at qbarbhill@aol.com or (805) 443-2073.

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: Joe Santos – ezmail63@yahoo.com ; Lois Shoemaker – loiss105@gmail.com and Judy Anderson – anderson9874@sbcglobal.net

Certified Master Gardeners receive continuing education hours for attending these 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, but, 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.

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Special VC County Fair Announcement!!!

We need your help for the annual Ventura County Fair Exhibit

This year’s theme is

Rides, Ribbons, and Rodeos

(Fair is scheduled from August 1-12)

   As you may know, we usually win 1^st or 2^nd prize for our display.  

WE WANT THE BLUE RIBBON!

We are planning to grow all of our own plant material so we need                                     your help in the following ways:

Manpower to make the display components, assembling succulent wreaths,picture framed succulents displays, (fair workshops)
Loaning hardscape items for exhibit
Help transporting and setting up the exhibit on Tuesday, Wednesday July 24, 25. Help teardown the display Monday, August 13

Entries

For you Artsy types please think about putting together an entry.

The exhibit will have a judging table with the different displays.

Think 'found art'.  Shop your garage, the back shelves of the closet and kitchen for containers and go to it.  Whimsy is the name of the game.  All entries will be returned.  We would also like assorted flowering perennials and annuals in attractive containers entries.

Hardscape

Cement umbrella stands, saw horses, easels and hobby horse.

 Plant material donations

Succulent cuttings, we will need flats of Sedum, Baby's Breath, low growing compact ground covers. If you could grow a flat, that's terrific. 

If not, give us your cuttings or starts and we will grow the flat.
Peruvian Lily plugs & Hollyhocks in gallon containers
Canna tubers
Assorted herbs
Baskets planted with flowers & Potted Morning Glories & Geraniums Cowboy hats & boots
For more information contact: Nancy Nasalroad at n.nazrd@live.com or Charleen Siegler at fauxnombre1@msn.com

 Thank you in advance for your support!!!