WSU Ferry County Master Gardeners

Our very own Ferry County Master Gardener, Twinflower Wilkie, was on the The Evergreen Thumb podcast! Check out her episode on the easy way to improve your soil!

What if your garden could keep working for you after the growing season ends?

In our latest episode of The Evergreen Thumb, Erin talks with Twinflower Wilkie, a WSU Extension Master Gardener in Ferry County, about cover crops and their role in protecting and improving garden soil.

Cover crops can help retain moisture, protect soil from erosion, cycle nutrients, and provide habitat and food for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife. Twinflower also makes the case for letting your garden go a little wild and embracing the benefits that can bring.

🌱 Learn how cover crops can protect your soil and support a livelier garden.

Listen to the latest episode of The Evergreen Thumb at https://buff.ly/avzdAnG or wherever you get your podcasts.

Wildfire Preparedness for Safer, More Secure Communities - The Evergreen Thumb Wildfire Preparedness: Extension Master Gardeners impart fire-resistant landscaping principles to foster resilient communities and diminish the risk of loss caused by wildfires.

Come learn about Bees!
Pollinator Workshop
Honey Bees & Native Bees
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Colville Reservation WSU Extension Office
22 Nespelem/San Poil St., Nespelem, WA 99155
1:00pm – 4:00pm
For more info and to pre-register contact:
Mary Schilling, (509) 634-2528 or [email protected]

🚨🚨 The application deadline is coming soon! If you want to become a certified WSU Master Gardener, contact us or visit our webpage today! https://extension.wsu.edu/ferry/gardening/join-us/

🌿 Now’s your chance! Applications for the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program are open until August 31! Whether you're new to gardening or a seasoned grower, this is your opportunity to learn, volunteer, and make an impact. Apply today! 🌱💡 https://extension.wsu.edu/ferry/join-us/

Contact us at [email protected] or (509) 775-5225 x1115 with questions or for an application.

Local Food Spotlight: Research Highlights Ongoing Food Insecurity in Washington

Growing food isn’t just a hobby—it can be an important part of building healthier, more resilient communities.

A new Washington State Food Security Survey (WAFOOD6), conducted through a partnership between Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture, found that many Washington households continue to struggle with rising food costs and food insecurity. Nearly 90% of surveyed households reported higher food prices, and almost half used some form of food assistance in the previous month. The survey also found that food insecurity affects households across all income levels, highlighting the financial pressures many families face.

This is one reason the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is committed to providing research-based education that helps people successfully grow their own food. Through demonstration gardens, classes, workshops, plant clinics, school gardens, and community partnerships, Master Gardener volunteers teach practical skills that can help families:
🌱 Grow fresh, nutritious produce at home
🌱 Stretch food budgets
🌱 Improve soil health and garden productivity
🌱 Reduce food waste
🌱 Build resilience for the future

Every vegetable harvested, every gardening skill learned, and every question answered helps strengthen food security in our communities.

Read the full WSU story:
https://news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/washington-households-continue-to-face-food-insecurity-survey-finds/

Read the full story at
https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=47189

🌱 Calling all educators!

Earn your Washington Gardener Certificate through this fully online course and gain science-backed expertise in gardening, sustainability, climate resilience, and pollinator health. 🌎🐝

Equip yourself with gardening knowledge and then integrate these vital topics into your curriculum to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!

Registration opens August 17, 2026.
Learn more at:
https://greenschool.extension.wsu.edu/home/grow-with-wgs/washington-gardener-certificate/

🌱 Local Food Spotlight: Growing Skills, Growing Food in Jefferson County 🥕🍎

WSU Extension Jefferson County Master Gardener volunteers are helping grow more than gardens—they’re growing knowledge, confidence, and community resilience.

In 2025, volunteers grew and donated more than 4,296 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks while contributing over 1,000 volunteer hours to strengthen local food-growing efforts.

Their research-based education reached the community through:
🍅 Monthly vegetable gardening radio programs
✂️ Fruit tree pruning workshops
🌳 Youth fruit tree grafting activities
🏫 School garden partnerships
🌱 Growing Groceries classes
👩‍🌾 Presentations for local garden clubs and civic organizations

Participants in the Growing Groceries program reported stronger knowledge of soil health, irrigation, crop rotation, pollinators, and winter gardening. Many also plan to adopt sustainable practices such as composting, no-till gardening, sheet mulching, water-wise irrigation, and planting more pollinator-friendly landscapes.

💚 Learn more about how volunteers are making a difference across Washington:
https://mastergardener.wsu.edu/priorities/2025-impact-report/nutrition-security-2/local-food/
Visit our Homepage at:
https://mastergardener.wsu.edu

Thistle can make gardening a painful experience! Learn how to keep thistle out of your garden and yard by checking out our latest article by WSU Master Gardener Twinflower Wilkie!
https://extension.wsu.edu/ferry/2026/07/28/a-prickly-situation/

🌱 Sustainable Gardening Spotlight: Are Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Right for Your Garden?

Many gardeners use plastic mulch to warm the soil, conserve moisture, reduce weeds, and improve crop yields. But what happens to all that plastic at the end of the season?

Researchers are exploring soil-biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) as an alternative to traditional polyethylene plastic. Unlike conventional plastic mulch, which must be removed and disposed of, biodegradable mulch is designed to break down in the soil after use—helping reduce plastic waste while providing many of the same gardening benefits.

Before making the switch, it’s important to know:
🌿 Not all biodegradable mulches are the same.
🌿 Some products are approved for use in organic production, while others are not.
🌿 Climate, soil conditions, and how the mulch is used all affect how well it breaks down.

As always, WSU Extension encourages gardeners to make research-based decisions that support healthy gardens and a healthy environment.

📖 Learn more about the science behind biodegradable plastic mulch and whether it may be a good fit for your garden in this WSU Extension publication:

https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/soil-biodegradable-plastic-mulch-suitability-for-sustainable-and-organic-agriculture/

💬 Have you ever used biodegradable mulch in your vegetable garden? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments! 🌱

Are you dealing with pest issues in your garden? Check out the WSU Master Gardener Integrated Pest Management page to learn how to best deal with those pesky pests! https://mastergardener.wsu.edu/resources/ipm/