The Green Thumb
news & updates
for Polk County Master Gardeners
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Don Reynolds, Master Gardener from the class of 2019, passed away from cardiac arrest on March 20th. Don was a dedicated volunteer with PCMG, sharing his time and talents primarily with the Demonstration Garden on various projects - including helping extensively with the recent shed construction, learning raspberry maintenance, and helping at the rented greenhouse. Don's presence will be greatly missed in our organization.
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Message Regarding Covid-19
ISU Extension and Outreach, Polk County is working to adhere to local, state and national recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our priority is the health and safety of our staff, volunteers and program participants.
Volunteer guidance in accordance with ISU:
- In accordance with the governor’s proclamation, extension indoor programs and events are limited to 15 people, and outdoor programs and events are limited to 30 people. These limits apply to all extension-related activities, including activities of 4-H clubs and volunteers, Master Gardeners, and other extension volunteers. Masks are required when participating in extension-related activities.
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No prepared food can be served, sold or provided by staff, volunteers or participants at any county extension hosted program or activity regardless of the program or activity location. Prepared food examples include: prepared food fundraisers, food stands selling prepared food, and activities such as barbecues, potlucks, etc. Individually pre-packaged food (ex. individually wrapped granola bars, bottles of water) can be provided.
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The Open for Iowa committee will continue to monitor how the pandemic is impacting our organization and how to best implement the guidelines from the governor.
In-person gatherings relating to the Master Gardener Program are highly discouraged. You may want to host MG meetings online. Please work with the MG coordinator to set this up. People who are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19 should consider staying home and limiting contact with others. Those populations include older individuals (over the age of 65) or with underlying health conditions. To view a list of higher risk populations, view the CDC website.
A reminder that participating in Master Gardener volunteer opportunities is not obligatory at any time. While some garden activities continue on a small scale, and within guidelines placed by our local health department, ISU, and ISU Extension, we recognize that you may not feel comfortable participating in any activity during the current situation, and that is accepted. The health and safety of our volunteers and participants remains our highest priority during this time. If you have concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to contact Kalsa Parker Browning, the contact for the Polk County Master Gardener program at kparker@iastate.edu or 515-401-6068, or Paul Gibbins, Regional Director for Polk County Extension at pgibbins@iastate.edu or 515-229-9182.
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ISU Extension and Outreach in Polk County is committed to sharing pertinent information from the Polk County Health Department regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time vaccine supply is still limited so we encourage residents to check out the Polk County Health Department website (available in Spanish here) or their Facebook page (@polkcohealth) for the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and eligibility.
Additionally, for seniors 65 and over in Polk County without a computer or internet access OR for our non-English speakers, Polk County Health has opened a help-line, (515) 323-5221, to answer questions regarding how to schedule a vaccine appointment.
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Message from Steering Committee Chair
and PCMG Volunteer Feature
The sun is shining and the soil is warming and it is all I can do to force myself to sit at this desk and draft this article for the Green Thumb! It’s a beautiful day and I want to be outside playing in the dirt—oh, I know—it’s soil not dirt! Whatever it is, I’d like to be working in it. Gardening is one of those tasks that can take your mind off the “must do’s” of our lives.
One of my favorite PCMG projects to work in is the Farmer’s Markets. I talked to Sherri Soich this month to get some information about her and the Downtown Farmer’s Market Booth. Sherri co-chairs the Farmer’s Market with Matt Dore and Randy Campbell and each of them plays a role in coordinating and staffing the Market. Before the pandemic, PCMG appeared at the Market one Saturday each month - May through September, from 7a-12p - to answer gardening questions. Sherri, Matt and Randy all three work the booth along with two or three Master Gardeners or interns volunteering in shifts along with them.
They usually hand out Iowa State publications, packets of free seeds, and dog treats. One of the main purposes of the booth is to answer garden questions for the public and it’s a good way to get volunteer hours. There seems to always be someone in the booth who knows the answers to the questions and for Sherri, it is as much of a learning experience as it is a volunteer activity. A few other farmer’s market booths have popped up in the past few years. I established one at the Beaverdale Farmers Market a few years ago, I know there was a booth in Johnston at one time. And it’s very likely they have popped up in other locations over the years. A farmer’s market booth is a fun way to earn volunteer hours, meet other Master Gardeners and serve the mission of the organization. Although it’s unclear when market’s will be up and fully running this year, look for this opportunity to volunteer in our spring publications. Market leads use signup.com to provide volunteers a way to reserve a shift to work the booths.
Sherri Soich has lived in Beaverdale for 20 years. She is a lawyer and has worked in the Attorney General’s Office for 33 years. She became a Master Gardener with the class of 2012 because she wanted to learn more about flowers. I’ve seen the garden in front of her Beaverdale Brick and she learned her lessons well! She has a beautiful garden around her home. Like most of us, Sherri gains her education hours from the lectures offered in our PCMG project gardens and online videos and webinars.
In the future Sherri would like to see PCMG have a greenhouse again—whether it is through fundraising efforts or from a partnership with a business or a government entity. In Sherri’s opinion, the greenhouses have provided our interns with invaluable hands-on training, produced healthy plants for the project gardens, and connected this organization to the public through our highly-regarded plant sale each May. She recommends that new Master Gardeners and interns check out each of the projects to determine where their interests may lie.
As the weather continues to improve, look for volunteer opportunities in each of the PCMG project gardens, the upcoming plant sale or in the summer farmer’s market booths. THIS is our season! See you in the garden--
Steering Committee Chair
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Horticulture Questions - We need your help!
With the closure of the Hortline, ISU and Polk County Extension are working on alternative ways to support consumer horticulture clients in our community.
We are looking for Master Gardeners who are interested in helping to answer horticulture and gardening questions from the public. Volunteers will utilize ISU Extension and other research-based resources to answer questions, and interact with the public via phone or email to deliver that information in a timely manner.
If you enjoy educating others, sharing information, and are looking for a volunteer opportunity you can do from home - let us know!
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Program Committee
Final MG Program Night for this year!
Thursday, April 8: 6-9 p.m.Thomas Rosburg Iowa plant adaptations (focus on Iowa species & Iowa's threatened and endangered plants. Sign up here!
We are hopeful that next year's presentations will be after a soup supper!
Did you miss previous Program Nights?
Check out these recorded presentations:
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Plant Sale
We are hosting a Plant Sale taking place at the Demo garden on May 15th and 16th (in addition to the sales at the Enabling Garden - see separate section for those details). Stay tuned for mid-month updates from this planning group!
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Downtown Farmers' Market
We’ve recently received word that, due to COVID precautions, the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market will initially include only fresh produce and artisan-packaged food booths when the Market opens in May 2021. We’ll schedule Farmers’ Market appearances by the Polk County Master Gardeners when, and if, that rule is relaxed as the season proceeds. We’ll let you know with a Green Thumb announcement when and if that happens, so you can volunteer for open spots. In the meantime, thanks for your patience.
Co-chairs:
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Demonstration Garden
Spring has arrived! Several gardeners have been posting photos of their spring-flowering bulbs which include daffodils with sunny or southern exposures.
Our transplanted seedlings in the greenhouse are taking hold. With a bit of sunshine and warmth in the coming weeks, they should be ready for planting by mid-May.
The Demonstration Garden is kicking into high gear this month. Please join us for the following volunteer opportunities.
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April 1st, Thursday - Join us in our annual spring kick off meeting. Start time 6:30pm. Please contact a co-chair if you did not receive the Zoom meeting link. During this meeting we will outline a number of volunteer opportunities at the garden.
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April 10th, Saturday - We are looking for a few volunteers to assist in removing rose collars in addition to digging grasses within Demo's Ornamental Grass bed. Divisions will be provided to the PCMG Spring Plant sale that benefits the overall organization. If you have an interest in working with a shovel, please let us know in advance so that we can manage the number of volunteers and maintain appropriate spacing. Start time 9 am.
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April 17th, Saturday - Join us in our annual spring clean-up. Start time 9 am. Arrive when you can, leave when you must. This is the time for many of us to get all our beds prepared for the season. A variety of opportunities will be available.
Enjoy the early spring sunshine and we hope to meet you in the garden.
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Discovery Garden
Greetings all and Happy Spring. Hope you are all doing well and getting ready for our 2021 Garden Season.
Here are some key tentative dates which are subject to change depending on the weather.
- Pond Cleanup Saturday 4/24 starting at 8:30. Any questions, contact Dean Brand
- Garden Cleanup, 5/5 with an alternative date of 5/12
- Plant Deliveries to the Garden 5/14
- Garden Plant Dates 5/19 with an alternative date of 5/26
- Mulch Delivery the week of 6/9
- Pork Expo 6/10-6/12. We may be locked out of the fairgrounds during those dates
- Good Guys Car Show. We may be locked out of the fairgrounds during those dates.
- Fair shift signup for Discovery Garden Team Members starting on 7/5
- Fair shift signup for other MG's starting 7/12
- Pre Fair celebration 8/4
- Iowa State Fair 8/12-8/22
- Summer Class Schedule will be announced at a later date.
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Enabling Garden
A TASTE OF SPRING: It didn’t take much coaxing. Unusually warm temperatures pulled some of us out of our homes and into the garden to do some early clean-up and pruning. Any hesitancy concerning future snow and cold quickly dissipated. The activity felt great as did reuniting with friends. True to form, the little green stem heads of spring bulbs were making themselves known, giving promise to a fashion show of color to come later. Timely rains would fall the following week and so very welcome.
CONTINUING CLEANUP: Saturdays, April 24, and May 1. We’ll begin at noon. There will be a break for the purpose of organizing all assignments for the County Wide Plant Sale on May 8. You’re welcome to bring a snack and beverage. And yes, we love those name tags.
NEW INTERNS: We welcome you! Shake off any apprehension. It’s a great time to join the team as we’re all in that start-over, begin-again mode. Many regulars could use assistance with their beds. Make it a point to ask several gardeners what they have gained from being involved in the Enabling Garden. Their testimony should motivate you to return again and again.
HOPE AGENCY VOLUNTEERS: Some of you met them last fall. Emily, a team leader brought a client to help with garden cleanup. Hope Agency is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting special needs children and adults with developmental disabilities. The Agency expressed interest in returning this spring and cleanup dates have been sent to them.
WORK NIGHTS: Every Tuesday, beginning May 4. Annuals arrive May 11. Early gardeners arrive around 4:00 PM; others may linger till close to sunset. Let it fit your schedule. Around 6:00, the cowbell rings. It’s a signal to meet, greet and eat, so we encourage you bring a sack lunch. This is a moment for announcements, updates and timely information. Do not miss this part of the evening unless absolutely necessary.
APRIL 17th PLANT SALES – Noon-4:00 PM (Rain date April 18)
2. A-Z PERENNIALS: (shop 1:30-4:00) Name your perennial; you’ll likely find it here.
3. GARDEN FLEA MARKET: (shop 1:30-4:00) Donations welcome. Anything related to gardens/gardening.
PLANT SALE CONTACT INFORMATION:
2. A-Z PERENNIAL SALE: Linda Brown at 515-779-6331 or email at ebrown54@q.com
ONE DAY SALE TO FUND COUNTY WIDE PROJECTS – Saturday May 8 (noon to 2:00)
Volunteers are needed from throughout the County for digging (May 1-4) and dividing (May 5 & 6). Text or call Marlene Olson at 515-681-6344 or Eva Henderson at 563-608-9312.
This is strictly a FACEBOOK SALE with funds supporting annual operational costs of Polk County Master Gardener projects. Profits will benefit the Discovery Garden, Demonstration Garden, Enabling Garden, Art in the Garden, Bus Trips, Garden Tour, Farmer’s Market booth, Plant Sales, and Program Committee expenses. GRASSES, HOSTAS AND DAYLILIES will headline this sale. One or two other perennials may be included.
VEGETABLE VISIT: Are vegetables your preferred area of gardening? A favorite discussion topic? Perhaps even a passion? Would you like to learn more about raised bed gardening, soil health, new varieties, composting? Then please pay a visit to Enabling Garden’s large fenced-in vegetable area. Improvements continue each year and the results and rewards are evident. A brand new compost bin sits just outside the fence. There’s a wealth of information and experience to be gleaned if you should volunteer here. Experienced gardeners will work with you.
All vegetable donations are harvested, cleaned, weighed, and delivered to the Caring Hands Food Pantry located on the north edge of Altoona. We’re presently looking at the possibility of several individuals or couples joining up with one another in a weekly rotation cycle to handle this responsibility.
FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS: Grow an Extra Row! (Information from Larry O’Connor, food pantry director for 17 years.) What are the most popular vegetables donated from local gardens? If you guessed tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini, give yourself an A. Which ones are snapped up quickly if more were donated? The answers are: onions, cabbage, carrots, green beans. If you’re into vegetables and love to donate space in your home garden, please consider some of the less popular. For certain, they won’t get tossed out or picked over. I’ll give a little plug for the onion. There are many varieties; they need little attention; they are included in the first step of many recipes. A hint about cabbages: Rather than huge heads that have to be halved and wrapped, a better selection is the smaller head variety.
Co-Chairs:
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We are looking for a leadership team for the Garden Tour! The next tour will take place in 2022, but there is plenty of planning and organizing that can be done this year to prepare.
Are you interested in making an impact in our community by leading this event? Share your time and talents with us! Leadership teams and co-organizers are very welcome (grab a friend within PCMG!).
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Continuing Education Opportunities |
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Become an EMTree!: Observe your Plants to Prevent Problems
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Insects and diseases can wreak havoc on your landscape plants. To help property owners identify and manage these issues, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in Woodbury, Dubuque, Polk, and Mahaska Counties and the ISU Extension and Outreach Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic is hosting three virtual workshops focused on identifying, preventing, and treating disease and insect issues in trees and shrubs. Register for the series here!
Tuesday, April 13th at 6 p.m.
The Art and Science of Plant Problem Diagnosis
Plants get sick too! Learn how to sharpen observation skills and learn what clues to collect to determine a list of suspects.
Tuesday, April 20th at 6 p.m.
Insects and You!
Demystify insects by learning about insect life-cycles and how they feed on plants. Learn how to observe insects in your yard and determine if they are a pest concern and how to protect and enjoy all the beneficial and harmless insects.
Tuesday, April 27th at 6 p.m.
Common plant problems in Iowa, what resources are out there?
Join us to learn about resources that can help you to keep your plants healthy! We will showcase resources to learn how to observe plants, prevent and investigate plant problems. (This presentation was given for a MG Program Night on 3-25).
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Iowa Master Gardener YouTube Channel
Check out these new additions!
- Increasing Wetland Vegetation throughout Iowa - 1 hour
- Becoming an Urban Water Steward - 1 hour
- Forest Impacts to Water Quality - 1 hour
Review concepts from the MG Training with these webinars:
- Plant Pathology - 1 hour
- The Nature of Native Plants - 1 hour
- Botany - 1 hour
- Insect Pest Management - 1 hour
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Learn about mushrooms, how to identify them, best hunting practices, and common fungi found in the spring across Iowa! Videos feature Dr. Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca from the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic.
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Polk County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources programs aim to help all Iowans, from the home hobbyist to the ag professional, make informed decisions through research-based education. Some programs and focus areas include farm management education, technical expertise for crops, livestock and pests, as well as our Polk County Master Gardener volunteer program; our signature horticulture education program. Our work supports clean water and healthy habitats, profitable farms, and a more secure food system. |
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Contact
Kalsa Parker Browning
Natural Resources Program Coordinator
ISU Extension and Outreach, Polk County
(515) 957-5768
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