Jackson County Master Gardener Association

THE JACKSON COUNTY
MASTER GARDENER™ PROGRAM

Current Jackson County Master Gardeners - this links to forms, schedules, a calendar, list of Board of Directors and Committee Chair contacts, and other resources for current Master Gardeners. 

The Garden Beet is the monthly newsletter of the Jackson County Master Gardener Association. It contains monthly columns and articles about gardening and the Master Gardener program in Jackson County. Read this month's Garden Beet or catch up with past issues here.

Welcome to the 33nd year of the Jackson County Master Gardener SPRING FAIR held at the Jackson County Expo.  You're invited to the largest plant event between San Francisco and Portland.  Now more than ever, people are looking for cost effective ways to enjoy a wide variety of healthy plants, quality products, education, informational opportunities and we look forward to your attendance.

Click on the poster image to download a full-size PDF of the poster.

Are you a Spring Fair vendor or would like to be a vendor? Interested in becoming a vendor? Email for information.

COMMUNITY GARDEN GRANT

To support sustainable community gardening efforts, the Jackson County Master Gardener Association will assist stablished or developing Community Gardens with grants up to $2,000. Application information is available at the Extension Office located at 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, or can be downloaded here. All submissions should be received no later than January 6, 2012. Monetary awards will be given to qualifying Community Gardens on February 15, 2012.

Community Garden Grant Application Answers to questions about the Community Garden Grant Program

History of the Jackson County Master Gardener Program

The Oregon State University Master Gardener™ program in Jackson County provides urban horticulture education to local residents. The first class in 1979 had approximately 12 students; 75 students were enrolled in the 13-week course in 2010.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association was formed in 1982 to promote, assist and perpetuate the OSU Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners volunteer thousands of hours of their time each year to the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center and to the community. Members staff plant clinics, present evening programs, teach classes on garden related topics, organize the Winter Dreams-Summer Gardens Symposium in November, have a children's summer gardening program, and plant and care for the demonstration gardens on the Extension grounds.

The Master Gardener Spring Fair held the first weekend of May at the Jackson County Expo is the premier gardening event in Jackson County and signals the beginning of the summer gardening season in the Rogue Valley.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association awards grants to local schools with horticulture programs and scholarships to Jackson County graduates attending OSU.

The Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley, a month-by-month guide tailored to the growing conditions of the local area was was first published in 1984. A completely revised 13th edition was released in December 2006 and may be purchased at the Extension office or at local nurseries.

Through their support of the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center and with a focus on gardening education, the Master Gardeners are a valuable asset to Jackson County.

OSU Endowment/Scholarship

The Jackson County Master Gardener^TM Association provides a scholarship annually for a Jackson County High School graduate who is or will be a junior, senior or graduate student at Oregon State University to further his or her education in a plant-related field.