MGV Meeting Minutes
May 2021
- President Carol Smith kicked off the first face to face MGV meeting in 14 months by leading us all in the Pledge of Allegiance. She called for all the members to reintroduce ourselves because it has been awhile since our last gathering. Along with the MVG members at the Extension Office there were also (8) members on Zoom as well.
- Kristen started the conversation by stating she has several MGV volunteer opportunities. Need (3) MGV to help with the Garden Art classes on June 29th that Pam is teaching. Also there is a speaking opportunity about general gardening and planting with young kids ages preschool through 6th grade, any day between June 13 to the 18th 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Austintown Community Church. Please inform Kristen if interested. We need help at this office with Local Flavor kits, a door needs stained in this conference room, and someone to teach classes on Zoom. The Boys and Girls Club say thanks for the help with their garden. The extension office is hiring paid internship positions this summer to any one of college age. The pollinator garden at the extension office is being expanded.
- Marilyn commented about the MGV Speakers Bureau. If any one is interested in speaking to groups of people about gardening to give her a call. Colombiana County and Columbiana County Parks and Recreation needs our help. The Smucker House in Salem is really coming along with landscaping, and other programs. Lisbon is also wanting to establish a pollinator garden as well. Salem has been certified the 129th city for the Bee City USA program. Salem Rotary and Kiwanis is now a participant in the international organization called Operation Pollination. All these areas need education to promote their programs. Also the Land Banks of Mahoning County are becoming more active by turning vacant land into pollinator areas and need people to talk about this subject. A Zoom webinar by Dr. Mary Gardiner on June 16th will answer questions about pollination gardens on vacant land.
- Marilyn said that State Awards will be on Zoom this year. We are going to submit our Pest and Plant Clinic and all the Zoom classes that were taught by Master Gardeners this past year for the newly added Preservation Award. We have gotten the Platinum Award from the State in the past years.
- David said the Virtual Clinic is now over. We are now meeting face to face in the regular clinic Mondays and Thursdays from !0:00 am to 12:00 noon. We we are limited to only (4) people at a time working at the clinic during those hours. A big thanks to Kristen for all the technical support and know how that got us through all the virtual clinics and classes that were held during the pandemic.
- Theresa explained that the Local Flavor Community Gardens meets every Monday at 6:00 pm starting June 7Th through August 16th visiting a different community garden every week. We are inviting Local Flavor Committee members as well as any Master Gardeners to come and talk about various garden issues from plants to weeds. Good Natured Garden Partners is a program for children to participate in gardening. No information yet from Mill Creek Park about Christmas tree decorating at Fellows.
- Pam reported on Garden Arts which she has been teaching on Zoom all winter long. Pam will have an in person class on June 29th next month which will also be presented on Zoom.
- Pinky reported on the Bring One Take One event. We would also like to have a plant sale along with the plant exchange this year, asking Master Gardeners to bring in any quality plants that could be donated for the sale. We could also sell garden art and garden yard as well. The event will be held outside this building on Saturday August 21st. We will organize the plants the day before here in this building. A later meeting will be held to further discuss planning issues.
- Kary discussed the Junior Master Gardener program. Planning a Monarch garden, a Native American Three Sisters Garden, and The Great Sunflower project a Citizen Science event where you grow a certain type of sunflower and monitor them to see what type of pollinators show up. The gardens are at St Patricks Community Gardens and we meet on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm.
- Chester reported on the Grounds Committee and Wreaths for Veterans by reading a report submitted by Mike Beaudis. Mike thanked all the committee members that helped get the grounds in shape this spring. Special thanks to Eric and Kristen for helping on a couple of nights to move mulch and wood chips. The Wreaths for Veterans needs to find a new location for the ceremony this year. A meeting with the committee members will be held on June 10th at this office at 6:00 pm, prior to the regular meeting to discuss this issue.
- Marilyn told us we got a service award nomination from the State of Ohio signed by Mike DeWine and Jon Husted.
- Pam commented that this years Canfield Fair Master Gardeners area will be the same as to what was planned for last year. Each MGV committee will be represented by a display area table.
- Plant sale at The Canfield Fair Grounds May 22nd 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Vegetable Barn.
- Meeting Adjourned at 7:30 PM
Next Meeting June 10th at 6:30pm
Rick Patterson Secretary MGV