MESSAGE FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
Welcome to the new class of Master-Gardeners-in-Training! On October 20th, there were 21 new registrants who attended the Garden Fundamentals class at Assiniboine Community College’s training centre in Winnipeg. Members of the Board as well as Study Group Coordinator, Tim Evans, were on hand to greet our new MGITs and to share information.
Lori Graham, Membership Director, and Darlene Belton, Volunteer Coordinator, take the time to meet personally with new MGITs and will correspond with them both by phone and email throughout the year. The co-chairs and Board Directors take turns to drop into the classes throughout the year – it’s an invaluable opportunity to share information, network, and build relationships in our Master Gardener community.
Each one of us has the opportunity to provide encouragement and assistance through our volunteer activities, study groups, and the opportunity to socialize and network at MMGA events.
We are excited to attend the MMGA’s First Annual Season Windup and Potluck Event on Saturday, November 10th! Special Events volunteers have been busy behind the scenes planning and preparing for what is sure to be a great event. It is a special opportunity to show our appreciation for all the wonderful volunteer activities that MMGA members contribute to their communities throughout Manitoba. We look forward to seeing you!
Lori Graham, Membership Director, recently compiled the number of volunteer hours donated by MMGA members in 2017 as well as a breakdown of wide-ranging activities. The results are in: 5,705 hours. The MMGA plans to post an annual tally on our website – it’s important to keep a detailed record of your volunteer activities throughout the year. MMGA members can take pride in their contributions to our communities in Manitoba.
At the September Board meeting, Darlene Belton, Volunteer Coordinator, reported a more than 45 percent increase in the number of events attended by the MMGA as well as in-house events in 2018 compared to 2017. Already 2019 is shaping up to be a banner year for the MMGA. Be sure to keep abreast of all the MMGA news posted in the newsletter, on our website, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
Co-Chairs Colleen Zacharias and Diana Dhaliwal
colleenzacharias@mgmanitoba.com
dianadhaliwal@mgmanitoba.com
Notice:
The Board is planning its first strategic planning session which will be held in the New Year (date TBA). Our goal is to identify important issues and to develop strategy for going forward. Your insights and input are important and always welcome. If you have a particular concern or issue, please contact Colleen or Diana by December 31st. Thank you!
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"A seed knows how to wait...a seed is alive while it waits" Hope Jahren
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ABOUT SEEDS AND SEED SAVING
Part 1 of 2, part 2 will be published in the January 2019 newsletter
I was recently asked to give a talk in Swan River, Manitoba on behalf of the Manitoba Master Gardener Association. The following is a recount of the power point presentation.
Millions of years ago neither plant life nor their methods of reproduction were as we know them today. Fast forward through the evolutionary development of flowering plants. Some flowers developed fragrance and many displayed bold, bright eye-catching colours. Insects and other creatures (bats, birds, lizards and lemurs) evolved alongside the flowers and were drawn to these new food sources. Flowers also developed in ways that ensured pollen grains (male) landed on the female area known as the stigma. Migration of pollen down the pollen tube through both the stigma and style into the ovary results in fertilization and the production of seeds. The movement of pollen across flower surfaces by pollinators, or in some plants by wind, inadvertently deposits pollen onto the stigma initiating the process of fertilization. Modern humans can trace their dependence on food production to the evolution of flowering plants and their pollinators. Seventy-five percent of food crops worldwide depend at least partly on pollination. Read on here
Susan LeBlanc, Master Gardener
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GROWING WINTER SQUASH
In her book Edible Plants for Prairie Gardens, June Flanagan distinguishes winter squash from summer squash such as zucchini as being for the “enthusiastic gardener”. While I agree with Flanagan that growing heat loving winter squash can be challenging for gardeners in zones 2 and 3, and that limited garden space presents an additional challenge, it is well worth the effort. Winter squash is a nutritious, versatile vegetable rich in vitamin A and C, fiber, and protein. Squash can be the main component of many winter soups, salads and casseroles. Winter squash does not demand space in my freezer, fridge or cold room, but sits on a shelf in my basement until I’m ready to use it. Read on here
Lenore Linton, Master Gardener |
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HORTI CULTURE
AT MAISON GABRIELLE ROY
This story is about my experiences as a budding Master Gardener in Training (MGiT) attempting to marry a love of French-Canadian culture with a passion for horticulture.
The culture part: Gabrielle Roy (1909-1983) French-Canadian novelist, three time recipient of the Governor General Literary Award, grew up in St Boniface. La Maison Gabrielle Roy in St Boniface, Manitoba, was her home for close to 28 years (1909-1937). Bought and sold many times, the house was finally lovingly purchased and restored to the year 1918 by a group of dedicated individuals. It is now a provincial historic site.
The horticultural opportunity: One day I met the museum director of La Maison Gabrielle Roy and offered my neophyte gardening skills to the planning, care, and historical restoration of the flower beds to the early 20 thcentury. My objective was to gradually take the beds to a more historically and culturally accurate state. Read on here
Rita Morier, Master Gardener in Training |
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Great Horned Owl spotted in a River Heights Garden
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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Master Gardener Keynote Speaker at the Northern Healthy Food Initiative Conference
In early July, Jessica Burton, Coordinator of the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI), contacted me through our website to ask if the MMGA could supply a keynote speaker on the topic of seed saving to their September conference. I contacted our member Susan LeBlanc, a very experienced seed saver and found her very receptive to the idea of travelling to Swan River. Susan also has much experience in greenhouse operation, a bonus for the conference participants, who need strategies to extend the short northern summer season. Because of the success of Susan's experience (see below) and also because the NHFI office is in Winnipeg, the MMGA hopes to have further contact with Jessica in the future.
Read about Susan's experience here
Darlene Belton, MMGA Volunteer Coordinator.
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Reduce Reuse Recycle Let us know your Garden Recycling Tips so we can share them in our newsletter. Send any tips and/or photos you have to Lisa Renner and Jo Swartz at newsletter@mgmanitoba.com
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UPCOMING EVENTS
MG Events
Saturday November 10, 2018 at NOON
DONT DELAY AND PUT IN YOUR RSVP TODAY for our
First Annual Season Windup and Potluck
All Saints Auditorium, 1500 Day Street in Transcona
RSVP to Tim Evans at timevansmassage@gmail.com, or 204-295-4442
If you want to draw attention to your community project bring a poster and/or pamphlet and let Shelley Walker at sdwalker@shaw.ca know so tables can be set up to present your materials.
If you have a photos for our MMGA Gardening 2018 slide show send them to Lori Graham at lorigraham@mymts.net so she can add them and everyone can admire them!
Save these Dates:
- Saturday January 12, 2019, 1pm Educational Updates
Location: Riverside Lions Senior Residence, 188 Worthington Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5K1
Learn the latest on Climate Change in Manitoba with Chris Hull from Climate Change Connections, followed by What can the home owner do to plan for/cope with the loss of a tree? with Gerry Engel from Trees Winnipeg.
- Saturday February 2, 2019, 12:30pm Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf
Film presentation at the Cinematheque
Community Gardening Events
Monday November 5, 2018, 7pm
Gardens Manitoba is presenting a talk by Gerald Dieleman, Project Director, about Canada's Diversity Gardens
For registration and location go here
Find a list of other events in the Garden Club News Section under the Resources tab of our website.
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RECYCLING OF GARDEN PLASTIC
This is the first in a series of articles and tips by the members of the River Heights Study Group on recycling in the garden.
It is estimated that there are over 250,000 tonnes of plastic or 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans. Of increasing concern is the amount of microplastics in the oceans, rivers, lakes, fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals. Microplastics are plastic pieces less than 5 mm in diameter that result from the break down of larger plastic pieces, fibres from our fleece clothing plus microbeads from cleaning and cosmetic products. These microplastics are generally not visible without a microscope.
Gardeners use a lot of plastic, from plant pots to the velcro used to tie up plants. This plastic is often not recyclable so it ends up in the landfill and often eventually in our water as pieces of plastic or microplastics. Read on here
Jane Zoutman, Master Gardener
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IMAGE CREDITS
- BANNER PHOTO, AMUR MAPLE: JO SWARTZ
- SUGAR PUMPKIN SEEDS, GREAT HORNED OWL: LYNNE MCCARTHY
- SQUASH PHOTOS: LENORE LINTON
- GABRIELLE ROY HOUSE (WITH PERMISSION): UNDATED PHOTO, SOURCE: ST. BONIFACE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES, GENERAL COLLECTION, SHSB2679
- RECYCLING AND GARDEN PLASTIC: DIANA DHALIWAL
- GARDEN PLASTIC POTS: JANE ZOUTMAN
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