Winter is on the wane and soon thoughts will turn to spring and gardening.
If you’re thinking of gardening but have not yet tested whether your thumb is of the green variety, fear not. The Oregon State University Master Gardener program offers resources for every level of experience.
In 2016, the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener program was present in 28 of Oregon’s 36 counties. While programs are more common on Oregon’s west side, the program’s annual report notes that Umatilla County’s Master Gardeners were very active last year.
Milton-Freewater hosted the Master Gardener Training course for 2016, as well as continued their weekly participation in their Farmers Market Plant Clinic booth and parade presence; Hermiston participated with the Oregon Food Banks’ Seed to Supper course and had a significant presence in receiving Plant Clinic house calls; Pendleton continued to participate with their hosting farmers market test kitchen food tasting booth.
In total, the Umatilla County program reached 1,828 people, produced four community gardens and one youth garden, and donated 1,500 pounds of produce. To learn more, go online.
