OSU (Oregon) Master Gardener Program

08/22/2026

For Nancy of Corvallis, being an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer means helping young people discover the joy of gardening.

"I get to work with students, teachers and community volunteers at Mountain View School in Corvallis," Nancy said. "It is so fulfilling to see the students light up with excitement in the garden, to watch what they have planted grow; to harvest and taste; to see birds, worms and insects living in the garden."

Nancy has also helped install a pollinator garden at Mountain View School through a grant from the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District and served on the Benton County Master Gardener Association board, where she built lasting friendships with fellow volunteers who continue to inspire her.

"I am happiest when surrounded by plants and people who share that interest," Nancy said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us!

beav.es/mgstory

08/20/2026

If you’re hoping for a spring harvest, now is the time to get planting. Crops like mustard, broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, garlic, radishes, and more can tolerate cooler temperatures and help keep your garden producing after summer.

Which cold-hardy veggies are you planting now? 🌱

08/17/2026

Meet Erica Chernoh, the OSU Extension horticulturist serving Lane and Linn counties. 🌿 Since 2019, she's served the southern Willamette Valley to support sustainable gardening education and community outreach.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Erica shares how she got into gardening, what her favorite insect is, and her choices for beginner-friendly plants in her area.

👉 Swipe through to see:
🐝 Erica's favorite insect
🫜 Her top plant recommendations for new gardeners in southern Willamette Valley
🌱 Some insight into the growing conditions in the area.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you.

Read the full story with Erica at: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/mgcoordinators/2026/08/17/meet-the-coordinator-erica-chernoh/

Share your story with us here: https://beav.es/mgstory

✍: Charlie Barth

08/13/2026

Last season, the tomatoes growing in this spot got overheated, so I made a few changes this year. To help with water stress, I switched from a plastic pot to a fabric grow bag, added straw mulch and companion planted a zucchini in the same pot to provide some shade for the tomato. The result? A happier tomato plant and plenty of tomatoes and zucchini! 😋

Gardening is a lot of observation, experimentation, and making small adjustments as you go. What companion plant pairings have surprised you in your garden?

✍+📸: Charlie Barth

08/13/2026

For Marlene, becoming an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer has brought far more than gardening knowledge. It has created lifelong friendships, a sense of purpose and opportunities to help others succeed.

"The amount of knowledge I now have and the continued education are wonderful," Marlene said. "But the surprising perk of being in the Master Gardener Program is the wonderful people I've met and become friends with."

As a volunteer on the Oregon Coast, Marlene enjoys teaching classes that help gardeners learn how to grow successfully in the region's unique microclimates. Sharing research-based gardening knowledge with the community is one of the things she is most proud of.

The friendships she found through the program have also become an important part of her life.

"I've made some very close friends. We will do anything to help one another. When my wife passed unexpectedly, they were there for me, and continue to be there for me."

Marlene believes the Master Gardener Program offers something communities need now more than ever.

"Our society is strained and divided right now. The Master Gardener Program brings people of various backgrounds together."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us!

beav.es/mgstory

08/12/2026

Most of Oregon's pollinators aren't honey bees.

In fact, Southern Oregon is home to an incredible diversity of native bees, moths, butterflies, flies, beetles, and other insects that quietly keep our ecosystems—and our gardens—thriving.

Join us for Oregon Pollinator Conservation Day to discover the fascinating creatures living all around us. Hear from experts with OSU Extension, the Xerces Society, Oregon Bee Atlas, and more as they share practical ways to support pollinators in your own landscape.

Whether you're a gardener, native plant enthusiast, wildlife lover, or simply curious about the natural world, you'll leave with a new appreciation for the tiny creatures doing some of Oregon's biggest jobs.

📅 Saturday, August 15
📍 Central Point
💲 $15 (sliding scale available)
Register here: beav.es/NQ6

08/11/2026

08/07/2026

Meet Nicole Sanchez, the OSU Extension horticulturist serving Klamath, Harney, and Lake counties. 🌱 For 10 years, she's served Southern Oregon gardeners to help maneuver unpredictable temperature swings, little growing-season precipitation and short growing seasons.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Nicole shares how she got into gardening, what her favorite insect is, and her choices for beginner-friendly plants in her area.

👉 Swipe through to see:
🪰 Nicole’s favorite insect
🥬 Her top plant recommendations for new gardeners in Southern Oregon
🌳 A few of the lessons she's learned after 10 years with the program.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you.

Read the full story with Nicole here: https://beav.es/Yii

Share your story with us here: https://beav.es/mgstory

✍: Charlie Barth

08/06/2026

🍃 Could wildfire smoke be affecting your plants?

If you've noticed tiny brown or black spots on your plant leaves during this stretch of smoky, hot weather, you may be seeing ozone injury.

Let's get a little plant nerdy! 🤓

Ground-level ozone forms when air pollutants react in hot, sunny weather. During periods of heat, stagnant air and wildfire smoke, ozone levels can increase and injure sensitive plants.

🔎 Signs of ozone injury include:
• Tiny dark flecks or spots (stippling)
• Brown or bronze patches between the leaf veins
• Yellowing around damaged areas
• Symptoms that often appear first on older, fully expanded leaves

The good news? Ozone injury is usually cosmetic. While it can reduce a plant's vigor or slow its growth, it rarely kills established landscape plants or garden crops.

Keep in mind that not every spotted or discolored leaf is suffering from ozone injury. Heat stress, drought, nutrient deficiencies, insects and plant diseases can all cause similar symptoms.

Before jumping to conclusions, take a closer look at your plant and consider the growing conditions.

➡️ Learn how to recognize heat stress and other environmental problems in plants: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9556-heat-wave-garden-how-identify-prevent-heat-stress-plants

Have you noticed unusual spotting or discoloration on your plants this summer? Tell us what you're seeing in the comments!

Photo: Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University Extension

Sources: Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook; UCAR Center for Science Education; National Park Service.

08/05/2026

For Amy, becoming an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer has been about much more than learning to garden. In just a few months as part of the 2026 Deschutes County trainee cohort, Amy has found friendships, mentorship and new opportunities to serve the Central Oregon community.

"One of the reasons I joined the program was to become more connected to my community while deepening my horticultural knowledge," Amy said. "I never imagined how quickly those connections would begin to grow."

Amy says the experience has reinforced something that was suspected from the beginning: "The Master Gardener Program is about much more than plants. It's about people, relationships and finding meaningful ways to contribute to the community."

Amy also believes Master Gardener volunteers are needed now more than ever because they help people reconnect with nature, their communities and one another.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us!

beav.es/mgstory