OSU (Oregon) Master Gardener Program

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OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers educate Oregonians about the art & science of growing plants (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

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10/08/2026

For Chris of Tiller, becoming an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer was a way to continue serving the Douglas County community after retiring from the U.S. Forest Service.

"The best part of being a Master Gardener volunteer is helping people connect with nature and experience the satisfaction of growing fresh, healthy food," Chris said. "I enjoy helping people discover the best practices for growing fruits and vegetables in our area."

That commitment to service eventually grew into statewide leadership. Chris has served in leadership roles with the Douglas County Master Gardener Association and for the past six years as president of the Oregon Master Gardener Association, helping strengthen connections and support Master Gardener volunteers across Oregon.

As Chris passes the OMGA president title to new leadership this year, we are incredibly grateful for the time, energy and care she has given to the program. We wish her well in this next chapter—and hope it means more time for the fun stuff: working directly with community members, solving garden problems and sharing her love of plants.

"The friendships that I've made have been the biggest benefit of gardening for me," Chris said. "These activities improve the joy we get out of the garden and strengthen our connections."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program, and we're sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon who help grow gardening knowledge, connection and community.

10/06/2026

Meet Srijana Shrestha, the OSU Extension Assistant Professor of Practice in the Metro Area Master Gardener program. 🌱 Srijana’s background combines horticulture, applied research, and community education, including graduate research on specialty crops for the Pacific Northwest.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Srijana shares her path into horticulture and Extension, what gardening is like in the Portland metro area, her experience growing cucumbers in a community garden, and the community partnerships that support gardening education.

➡️ Swipe through to see:
🐝 Srijana’s favorite garden visitor
🌿 Her top plant recommendations for new gardeners in the Portland metro area
🌱 What gardening is like in the Portland metro area

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across the state. If you are a volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us at https://beav.es/mgstory

10/02/2026

Sue Karaba Berry of Salem loves her morning garden rounds: "PJs on with Crocs and coffee in hand" to check on the flowers, vegetables, birds and bees in a small yard that, in her mind, is acreage.

Becoming an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer has given Sue something new to share alongside the irises and vegetables she already gives her neighbors: research-based gardening knowledge.

"I've really enjoyed the wealth of knowledge I've learned from talking and working alongside my gardening geniuses," Sue said, "and hope I can be that for someone someday."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program, and we're sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon who help grow gardening knowledge, connection and community.

Current or former Master Gardener volunteer? Share your story: beav.es/mgstory

10/01/2026

🎃 October is here, and there is still plenty going on in the garden!

In season now:
• Pumpkin
• Corn
• Eggplant
• Cauliflower
• Turnips
• Peppers
• Radishes
• Cabbage

October garden reminders:
• Before the rains begin, save seeds from the plants in the garden. That way, you won’t have to buy more seeds next spring.
• Still have green tomatoes on the vine? Cut plants down and hang them upside-down indoors. The fruit will ripen, and you can continue to have fresh tomatoes!
• Leave the garden clean-up for later: dead plants can provide homes and food for pollinators.
• Dig up any plants that have suffered from diseases like powdery mildew or blossom-end rot. Dispose of them in the trash to prevent disease next season.
• It’s not too late to plant garlic and onions to harvest next year!
• For a kids activity, try collecting fallen leaves to use for mulch. Show kids how to check the leaves for butterfly cocoons!

What did you harvest from the garden today? Comment to lettuce know! 🥬

See this and all the gardening calendars on this webpage: beav.es/YpF

09/29/2026

Meet Paul Maree, the OSU Extension Education Program Assistant 2 for the Curry County Master Gardener program. 🌱 Paul has a background in graphic design and recently combined those skills with their Extension work by creating the logo for the Master Gardener Program’s 50th anniversary.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Paul shares his lifelong connection to volunteering, what gardening is like along the southern Oregon coast, the work of Curry County Master Gardeners, and the community partnerships supporting the program.

➡️ Swipe through to see:
🐞 Paul’s favorite garden visitors
🌿 His top plant recommendation for new gardeners in Curry County
🌱 What gardening is like in Curry County

✏: Charlie Barth

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across the state. If you are a volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us at https://beav.es/mgstory

09/24/2026

As an introvert, Kat Rounds of Dallas has never been comfortable with small talk or "networking." But joining the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program felt different.

"There was a sense of gentle community almost immediately," Kat said, where a shared interest in gardening made it easier to connect.

That connection grew into an opportunity to serve. Kat values knowing where to find trusted, research-based gardening information and helping others find the resources they need.

"The Master Gardener Program is a great way to empower individuals to support, educate and encourage their community," Kat said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program, and we're sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon who help grow gardening knowledge, connection and community.

Read Kat's story: https://beav.es/MG-blog-Kat-Rounds

Current or former Master Gardener volunteer? Share your story: beav.es/mgstory

09/23/2026

Q: My apples are rotting while they’re still on the tree. We thin the fruit every year, and this year we even removed some blossoms to reduce crowding, but the apples still look diseased and are making a mess as they fall. What could be causing this, and can we get the tree healthy again without removing it?

A: Your tree may be infected with apple scab, a common fungal disease of apples. Thinning fruit or pruning more aggressively won’t eliminate the disease because infection is caused by fungal spores rather than crowding alone.

The Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook has photos, symptoms and current recommendations for identifying and managing apple scab. Link here: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/apple-malus-spp-scab

Prevention starts before infection.
If apple scab is the cause, fungicides are preventive rather than curative. They need to be applied at the appropriate time in spring before or during periods when infection can occur. Treating the soil won’t solve an apple scab problem on the tree.

Because products and pesticide registrations can change, consult the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook for current options available to home gardeners and always follow the pesticide label.

Clean up infected material.
Sanitation is also important. Remove fallen and infected leaves and fruit from around the tree to reduce sources of fungal spores that can cause infections the following year. Don’t compost diseased plant material.

Apple scab management is not necessarily a one-time treatment. A susceptible tree may require ongoing management from year to year.

Do you have a gardening question? Connect directly with gardening experts from OSU Extension at extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension

09/22/2026

Meet Heather Stoven, the OSU Extension Small Farms and Community Horticulture educator serving Yamhill County. 🌱 With a background in plant protection, pest management, nursery production, and research, she brings a broad horticultural perspective to her work with the community.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Heather shares her path to Extension, what gardening is like in Yamhill County, the Master Gardeners who inspire her, and the community partnerships that support local gardening programs.

➡️ Swipe through to see:
🐝 Heather’s favorite insect
🌱 Heather’s top recommendation for new gardeners in Yamhill county
🌿 What gardening is like in Yamhill County

Read the full blog post with Heather here: https://beav.es/MGHS

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across the state. If you are a volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us at https://beav.es/mgstory

✏️: Charlie Barth

09/18/2026

When Larry King and his partner retired and moved from Multnomah County to Lincoln County, joining the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program helped turn a new place into home.

"We left most of our friends and family behind, but discovered that a new set of friends and chosen family were waiting for us in the Master Gardeners in Lincoln County," Larry said.

For Larry, being a Master Gardener volunteer is also an opportunity to share reliable gardening information with the community.

"So much of gardening seems to be 'what Grandma did,' and although that's great, there's no replacement for research-based information that will work in our local environment."

That knowledge is especially important when helping people grow food. "We provide realistic advice and training for people who wish to grow their own fruit and vegetables right here in Lincoln County."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program, and we're sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon who help grow gardening knowledge, connection and community.

Read Larry's full story on the blog here: https://beav.es/MG-blog-Larry-King

09/15/2026

Meet Brooke Edmunds, the OSU Extension Community Horticulturist serving Marion and Polk Counties. 🌱 She works with gardeners in the Willamette Valley, where temperate weather and fertile soils make it possible to grow a wide range of plants, even through dry summers.

In this "Meet the Coordinator" interview, Brooke shares about her path to Extension, what gardening is like in Marion and Polk Counties, the volunteers who inspire her, and the community partnerships that support local programs.

➡️ Swipe through to see:
🕷 Brooke’s favorite garden visitor
🪴 Brookes advice for new gardeners in Marion and Polk county
🍎 What gardening is like in Marion County and Polk County

Read the full blog post with Brooke here: https://beav.es/MGBE
✏: Charlie Barth

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers and coordinators across the state. If you are a volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us at https://beav.es/mgstory

Address

4017 Agriculture And Life Sciences Building
Corvallis, OR
97331

Website

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/

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