Upcoming Ventura County Master Gardener Events:

May 15, 2012 – MG Slate of Officers for 2012-2013 will be sent to all Master Gardeners for review prior to elections scheduled on Thursday, June 28, 2012.

May 24, 2012 – Final Training Class for 2012 MG Trainees

June 28, 2012 – MG Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner will be held at the Camarillo Ranch House in Camarillo.  The event is catered and scheduled from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday June 28.  You may bring your spouse or one friend.  Membership Chair Joanne Abing is the contact for this event.  You can reach her by email at mrsja@roadrunner.com or phone at 644-4586.  Registration is required and the deadline is June 22, 2012.  Register at: http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=8428

General Information:

Did you know?  We are capturing names of individuals interested in receiving information about Master Gardener events and activities.  MG speakers and event leads are encouraged to retrieve speakers’ kit where they will find a sign-in sheet used for capturing names.  Our distribution list has nearly 2,000 names.  We use this list to promote the Mastering Your Home Garden Workshop, the Ventura County Fair and the Master Gardener training classes.  This is a wonderful way for us to communicate with people interested in receiving University of California science-based gardening information. 

Ventura Home Garden Tours scheduled on May 5, 2012 – If you are scheduled to volunteer for this event, there will be a packet of information at each home for Master Gardeners to review and use.  Included in the packet are flyers related to recruitment for the Class of 2013 and Home and Garden workshop scheduled on Saturday May 19.  There are also helpline question sheets to track answers given and questions needing additional follow-up at the helpline desk.  As you talk with visitors in the gardens, be sure to ask them if they are interested in receiving information via email about planned Master Gardener activities.  The sign-in sheet is included in the packet.  Don’t forget to distribute a bookmark to interested home gardeners and remind them to place the bookmark in their Sunset Garden Book.  Also point out the helpline desk phone number and website information on the bookmark.  This is a great opportunity for MGs to reach home gardeners and thank you for your support.  Special thanks to MG Susan Crespi for her efforts.

Need Your Input!  In 2010, VC Master Gardeners held a series of focus groups and based on input received we made adjustments to the program.  We would like to know your thoughts about these changes.  Please take a few minutes to answer questions on survey.  Complete survey by May 9, 2012.  Link to the survey at – http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=6304

Volunteer Opportunities:

Ojai Garden Tour – The tour includes four homes and will be held from     9:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 12^th.  We need 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.  Contact Cathy at (805) 320-1686 or cepharaoh@yahoo.com   

Who doesn't like a ripe tomato fresh off the vine?  Thanks to some helpful Master Gardeners now 20 large pots with 6-7 different varieties are planted on the patio of the Veterans Home inVentura.  The residents have the pleasure of watching these plants grow as they do their daily walk.  Come mid summer, they can select the biggest, reddest, juiciest one and feast on it every day.  Salsa will surely be on the menu.  Imagine the smiles!!!  Simple pleasures can make your day.

The Great Giant Pumpkin contest is under way!!!  Three teams consisting of residents, staff, and two Master Gardeners as advisors have their seeds and selected their plots.  Now the secret plans start.  You might see small groups in the dining room or whispers in the halls--who will grow the biggest pumpkin?  Do they know that a couple of other residents are growing pumpkins in hidden areas?  The mysteries continue.

HOWEVER, we still need a couple more MGs to be available--even if it is just by phone--to act as a private helpline for these independent renegades.  Join the fun with a party in the fall to celebrate the Biggest Pumpkin with special pumpkin desserts.  Contact qbarbhill@aol.com to ask questions or to volunteer

Continuing Education Opportunities:

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

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

MG Lead is Robin Graham –stuartgraham@att.net

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

MG Lead is Peggy Ellis – getpellis@yahoo.com

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.

If you need to reach the MG Program Coordinator:
Send an email to: ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu or call my cell phone, (805) 320-4134.

Thank you for your support!