Master Gardeners celebrate springtime with seedlings

Who can you ask when your garden isn’t growing well? Find out how the Multnomah County Master Gardeners are willing and ready to help. And learn about their Family Days (one is this Saturday), right here …

Bill Weir, Sophia and Liam visit the Multnomah County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, and get to take home seedling the kids planted.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Perhaps no volunteer group in the area welcomes springtime more than do the Multnomah County Master Gardeners.

As part of their “Earth Week” celebration a few weeks ago, a dozen of their 300 members were on hand to greet neighbors, and show off their Community Demonstration Garden in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood across from the Community Demonstration Garden.

“Our event is geared for family fun,” explained the local organization’s President, Sharon Baker. “We’re here to answer gardening questions, build a ‘summer sunflower house’ in our garden, start a ‘pizza patch’, and give visitors seedlings to take home.”

Fatima Goudiaby says she enjoyed making the paper plate artwork that she shows off to her dad, Adama.

In addition to teaching gardening skills, Baker said their civic commitment continues. “At our demonstration garden, we grew enough food to be able to donate 1,626 pounds of produce to three food banks last year. We hope to give more this season.”

You’ll find between five and twenty-five gardeners at their garden on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9 am to noon, Baker said. “Come see us – you don’t need an appointment!”

Some of the Master Gardeners on hand for their April celebration include Sharon Baker, President of the Multnomah Chapter of Master Gardeners, as well as Louise Kasper, Sally Mackey, and John Jordan.

Family Fun with Master Gardeners on Saturday, June 19
Come on by from 11:00 AM until 1:00 p.m. and join in the free activities (usually the third Saturday of the month) On Saturday: “Taste the harvest, bring your old boots and shoes to boot camp, take home your own painted rock garden mulch.”

While you’re there, see their community demonstration garden and visit with master gardeners and get your gardening questions answered. It’s being put on by Multnomah County Chapter of OSU’s Extension Service at the Master Gardeners Community Demonstration Garden in Southeast Portland.

It’s located at 6801 SE 60th Ave., Portland, OR (across from Brentwood Park between SE Duke and SE Flavel). For more information about Multnomah County Master Gardeners, call (503) 445-4608 or visit their website: CLICK HERE.

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