Oregon State University Master Gardener Program

The Oregon State University Master Gardener™ Program

is an Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service program that educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. This program also facilitates the training of a highly educated corp of volunteers. These volunteers extend sustainable gardening information to their communities through education and outreach programs.

Permaculture Design Certification Course

Permaculture for Master Gardeners highlights horticultural solutions to the issues of our time, from soil improvement, to maximizing landscape productivity, to designing for healthy water management. October 2 – December 18, 2010, Portland, OR.

International Master Gardener Conference 2011

The International Master Gardener Conference will be held at the Charleston Convention Center October 11-14, 2011 when fall brings cool nights and colorful mountain scenery. The event will provide opportunities to learn gardening techniques that will help increase biodiversity, control exotic weeds, make the most of native plants in the landscape and improve gardening methods. Pre and post tours will help you discover the splendor of the Appalachian Mountains and the beauty and history of West Virginia.

Meritorious Master Gardener Passes Away

Marjorie Sandfort Luce passed away at the Health Center of the Rogue Valley Manor peacefully on March 25, 2010.  She was born on February 4, 1925 in Humboldt, Nebraska.

Marjorie graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and Bryan Memorial Hospital as a Registered Medical Technologist.  She came to work at the Medford Clinic in 1950.  Prior to this she worked at the University of Michigan in influenza and polio research.

Marje was a leader and also a mentor in the Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener Program, serving in many capacities both at home and across the state and nation.  She served as President of both the Jackson County Master Gardener Chapter and the statewide association.  She helped to bring the second national meeting of Master Gadeners to Oregon in 1989.  She was instrumental in developing a Search for Excellene program to recognize excellence in education.  She became a board member of the E.R. Jackman Foundation at OSU, helping to raise and manage funds for the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

A lover of cats, horticulture, travel, theater and music, Marje was never afraid to take leadership responsibility when asked, but also gave continual support and provided behind the scenes help wherever needed.  She will be missed.

Marje will be joining her husband Jim, at rest in the Arlington National Cemetary.  A celebration of life service will be held at the Rogue Valley Manor on May 13 from 2-4pm.  She suggested that in memoriam, a tree or flower could be planted to show our love for the earth.

Do you have a garden-related question?

Please contact your county or regional Master Gardener Program to submit your question. Master Gardeners will use a variety of resources to arrive at an unbiased and research-based answer (or answers) to your query. For more information, please refer to the 'Gardening Questions' link on the left sidebar of this webpage.

Another great resource for you to access is OSU's Gardening Encyclopedia. Here, you will find gardening calendars, a variety of garden-related publications, and other information that is of interest to the home gardener.

Are you interested in becoming an OSU Master Gardener?

Please click here for more information.

Online Option Now Available

A new online Master Gardener training course was launched Fall 2008 in partnership with OSU Extended Campus (Ecampus). Visit the website, or contact Ecampus (800-667-1465 or ecampus@oregonstate.edu) for more details.