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Master Gardeners of Greene County August Newsletter

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Table of Contents for August 2020 Hotline Still Open - Remotely State wide - ONLINE: Master Gardener Training Classes Food Preservation 2020 Online Course Unsolicited Mystery Seeds in the Mail Gardening for the Birds Garden Links Previous Newsletter Link Need a Speaker for One of Your Meetings or Groups? Gardening Questions Phone Number

Master Gardener Greene County Hotline is STILL OPEN for business to answer your important gardening questions. We are entering the summer gardening season and with that comes pests and unwanted plant diseases. Please contact us with your questions by phone (417-874-2963) by email or on our website . Feel free to send pictures of your problems or questions via email. All calls and emails are being handled remotely by trained Master Gardeners and answered daily. Please leave a detailed message if calling or just sending an email. Keep an eye on this website for more information as it becomes available. We can't tell you when we will be back to normal operations in the MU Extension Greene County Hotline office inside the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center but we are looking forward to it. In the meantime, if you need a faster answer to your important gardening question, use the MU Extension website and use the topic search box.  Wishing all a wonderful gardening season!

Registration Deadline - August 16th Class Runs from August 23 - December 31 Missouri Master Gardener learning options safely continue to grow. Registration is open for statewide online core training classes offered by MU Extension through August 16. David Trinklein, Missouri Master Gardener program coordinator and MU Extension horticulturist teaches the class with Sarah Denkler, MU Extension regional director for southwestern Missouri.“With online training, you can do the class work whenever or wherever it is convenient for you,” Trinklein said. “It is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Complete details on Master Gardeners and this training system start here. The actual class registration form (with bundle) is linked here.

Food Preservation 2020 - Online Class

Course is $30 This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. Participants of all levels of food preservation experience are welcome, including individuals with little or no previous food preservation experience. Anyone with an interest in food preservation and food safety may enroll. This course covers pressure canning, boiling water bath canning, steam canning, dehydration, and freezing. Highlights of the course include preserving salsas, pie fillings, pickling, sweet spreads, and harvesting and storage of produce. Registration is here.

Mystery Seeds in Mail - DO NOT OPEN

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has received reports from residents of unsolicited seeds being delivered from foreign countries such as China and surrounding areas. Missouri’s announcement follows several states who have also reported packages of these seeds being delivered across the United States. Consistent with nationwide reports, the packages were labeled as jewelry, specifically stud earrings, bracelets and other accessories. If Missouri residents have received unsolicited seeds, the following guidance applies: Do not open the seed package. Do not plant the seeds if you have opened the package. Submit an online report to USDA verifying you have received unsolicited seeds or call (573) 893-6833. Do not dispose of the seeds, packages or envelopes until USDA provides further guidance. Read more here. From the USDA July 28, 2020: Read article here.

Gardening for the Birds

Songbirds, like many butterflies, bees and pollinators, in particular, have seen a dramatic decline in their numbers. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has found that in the last 50 years North America has lost more than 25% of its birds.With millions of home gardeners working the land, we can make a difference creating habitats and food sources for birds to thrive. Here's some ways you can help. Creating a bird habitat with best plants for birds and much more here. Improving Habitats for Wildlife (for better viewing click on download)

August Tips and Tasks How to Pickle For summer and fall planting - Vegetable Planting Calendar PDF

MDC: Teacher Portal - Discover Nature Managing Woodchucks Watermelon: A Brief History Raised Bed Gardening Gasoline is Dangerous Preventing and Controlling Damage by Rabbits Controlling Cucumber and Squash Bug Damage Cool Season Grasses for Lawn Care Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe Swamp Milkweed

Previous Newsletter

Need a Speaker for a Meeting or Group? Master Gardeners of Greene County are unavailable at this time to speak to garden clubs, civic organizations, schools and other groups on a wide variety of topics within the world of gardening, horticulture, landscaping and the environment. Please keep us in mind for a future date. For more information. Email Us

Donating to MU Extension Without MU Extension, there would be no Master Gardeners. Gifts from individual donors support MU Extension's educational programs in Greene County. Primarily, we receive cash donations by check or online with a credit card and the non-cash donation of vehicles.   For more information Donate Online Tax deductible donation Explore MU's NEW Website for Information on Programs, Events and More   Find MU Extension Media Releases Online - News and Articles

For all your gardening questions, please call our Hotline:        417-874-2963 The Hotline is working remotely. Please leave a message. Volunteers will get back to you when they can. We are not fully staffed. email  us or send pictures to hotline@mggreene.org These are two separate ways of contacting us. http://mggreene.org/hotline/ Read our "Ask a Master Gardener" column in the Sunday Springfield News-Leader. Be sure to   LIKE   us on Facebook! Thank you!!   MGGC Master Gardeners of Greene County, Missouri 417-874-2963

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