February 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter

In this issue…

From the President…

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

~ Jane Goodall

Inauguration Day and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day are the backdrop as I compose the February newsletter message. My yard is covered with brilliant white snow and the thermometer is in the single digits. The signs of change in the news this week are hard to ignore. Taking a break from the broadcasts, I head out to run an errand. While making a quick stop at my local grocery store, the first thing I encounter at the entry door is a large Burpee seed display! My desire to hibernate close to my wood stove is given a dose of reality: Spring and seed starting are just around the corner.

The CCMGA Board met this month with a lengthy agenda. So, I have some news to share: The restructuring “Guiding Document” for our Association was completed and approved. The entire document will soon be available to all Association members once we best decide how to do this. The “CCMG Board” will now be known as the “Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Advisory Committee” (CCMGVAC). In short, the former Board will now be the Advisory Committee. The goals of creating the document were to streamline our Association’s documents to be more consistent with other county and state-wide MGV guidelines. 

The 2025 CCMGVAC Budget proposal was submitted and reviewed. We will tweak a few items, intending to formally approve the new budget in February. The hope is that the Advisory Committee will be responsive to all the needs of our Association. The subcommittees (Education, Engagement, Seed Grants, Plant Sale, MGV Applications) will all have representation and direct communication with the Advisory Committee.

The schedule of events for 2025, Annual Meeting and Harvest Celebration logistics were discussed.

The 2025 Plant Sale’s new leadership will be invited to our next meeting. The Speaker Series is going well. Please forward to Barbara Dee any suggestions for topics or speakers for the next Speaker series.

There are two Advisory Committee (Board) opportunities available this year! This is a great opportunity if you are interested in shaping the future of the CCMGVAC and to assist the Association in achieving our vision and mission.

The following are the qualifications for being an Advisory Committee Member per our “Guiding Document”:

  • Term commitment: Serve a term of three years and can be re-appointed for an additional three-year term. Members can serve two consecutive terms and may return after taking a break from the committee.
  • Minimum qualifications: To serve as a member, MGVs must successfully complete the MGV training and their internship (initial 40 hours of volunteer service). They must also be enrolled in the program, up-to-date on their background check, and actively volunteering on approved projects.
  • Attendance: Attend and engage in all committee meetings. There are typically 9 meetings in a year with off months being July, August, and December.
  • Subcommittees: Volunteer for and engage in the work of at least one standing committee.

If you are interested in being considered for the Advisory Committee please send a letter of interest to garyhoyt50@gmail.com

The theme for my year that I spoke of last month – to be less selfish, more open-minded, more appreciative, in essence to approach life simply each day – was lofty yet I am persevering and trying not to give up!

February teaches us the lessons of hope, that there are sunny days at the end of every freezing night. ~ Anonymous

Gary Hoyt
CCMGA President

Survey Results Recap 

Thanks to those of you who took our survey – we’ll be incorporating your feedback into future newsletters. Be on the lookout for new monthly columns such as “Ask an MGV – Tips & Tricks for Growing your Best Garden Yet” as well as “Things We’re Digging” featuring links to articles, blogs, and other things we’re liking that month. 

Please email Heather Wiggins Berger if there’s a specific area of your garden you’re looking to troubleshoot or learn more about, or if there’s a resource you’d like to share with this group. 

Roots – Meet MGV Kerri Frazier

MGV with garden produceMaster Gardener Kerri Frazier settled in Maine (Westbrook) in 2015 by way of New Mexico, Idaho, and Oregon. While Kerri recalls her mother keeping a garden throughout her childhood, Kerri’s love of gardening started in 2000 when she bought her first house in Portland, Oregon. Upon leaving New Mexico, she had a hard time finding a salsa (which “makes its way on most of my food”) that met her standards so she decided to grow and make her own. 

“I started out with 3 raised beds and have since expanded to growing flowers, herbs and many different types of veggies besides the ingredients to make salsa. I start most of my veggies and flowers from seeds and/or by propagating and dividing. Since completing the Master Gardener curriculum I have become addicted to fall sowing of native plants and have gone back to integrate more of those into my existing beds.” 

When not working in the garden, Kerri enjoys hiking, kayaking, painting, and travelling (including a family trip around the world!) She’s also an active volunteer at the Walker Memorial Library doing a teen/adult craft each month and is part of the Friends of the Walker Memorial library. For MGV volunteering, Kerri has helped out at Tidewater Farm and is a key contributor to the monthly newsletter.

Kerri encourages fellow gardeners to try to grow something new or try new techniques in gardening. “Do the research and then try it. Take good notes and learn from your mistakes. Every year I am always learning and reflecting on what worked and what didn’t and refining for the next growing season.” 

One problem Kerri has not yet solved relates to her beautiful, old crabapple tree. “I think it was planted around the time my house was built in 1951. Unfortunately, it has apple scab. It’s gotten so bad that, by August, the tree has few leaves left and rarely produces any fruit. I’ve tried mechanical measures to help such as raking the leaves and pruning to allow for better airflow with little effect. I don’t want to use sprays as I have a pollinator garden near it, and I think it would be difficult to spray given how large it is. I know I probably need to just chop it down and take the opportunity to plant something native, but I’m not ready to do this yet…” 

Please help Kerri save her tree! You can reach out to her at pdxsail@gmail.com (cc heatherwberger@gmail.com) with any and all advice. Your answer may be featured as our first “Ask an MGV” column.

Is there a Master Gardener Volunteer you’d like to see featured here? Nominate them by emailing Heather Wiggins Berger

Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight

We’re working on a number of volunteer project articles and will be back in March. 

We’re looking for volunteer projects to feature in our Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter. If you are interested in having your project featured – or if there is a project you would like to learn more about – please reach out to Kerri Frazier.

MGV Events

Cumberland County MGV Speaker Series 

The Education Committee has an exciting schedule planned for the months ahead. All events are offered on a sliding fee. If you have any ideas on topics or presenters please let Barbara or Jim know. All events are offered on a sliding fee. 

    • Thursday, February 13: Drought Resistant Gardens with Amy Witt | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, March 13: Therapeutic Horticulture | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, April 10: Biochar and Soils with Andrew Carpenter of Northern Tilth | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, May 8: Insects: Maine’s Oddballs, Tricksters & Lookalikes | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom
    • Thursday, June 12: TBD

Community Events

MGV Updates

Pamela is out of the office until early March. Here is the coverage plan while she’s on leave: 

Garden-related questions:

MGV portal questions (e.g., hours reporting, project enrollment):

  • Please contact Becky Gray, our Statewide Home Horticulture Administrative Specialist, via email or phone at 207-356-1348 (work cell).

To request supplies for educational workshops/events (e.g., publications, brochures):

  • Please contact Jenni Cappello-Ruggiero, our Agriculture and Horticulture Administrative Specialist for Cumberland County, via email or phone at 207-581-8362.

General Cumberland MGV or seed grant questions:

  • Please contact Jenni and Abi. The new MG Seed Grant Request Form went out to project leaders in mid-January. Please note that approved MGV projects must be enrolled for the 2025 season in order to receive this form. Seed grant requests will be due back by EOD February 14. The requests will be reviewed and leaders will be notified by the end of February, with orders placed in early March. 
  • Don’t forget to report your hours and impact in the MGV Dashboard!

Past Editions: Missed a previous newsletter? View them all HERE  (password: ladybug)

About this Newsletter: The Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter is edited by Clarissa Brown, Kerri Frazier, and Heather Wiggins Berger. If you would like to submit an event, article, or help with any aspect of the Newsletter, please contact Heather Wiggins Berger, the newsletter coordinator.