5 Key Takeaways from 2024
A Growing & Dedicated Garden Community
We began the year with 52 returning Master Gardeners, 12 associates, and 27 trainees — welcoming 19 newly certified MGs. Together, we contributed 4,161 volunteer hours and made more than 2,500 community connections, continuing to build a strong, supportive gardening family.
Education at the Heart of What We Do
From weekly hybrid classes and OSU webinars to 89 plant clinics and eight months of Garden Gatherings workshops, education remained central to our mission. We met gardeners at Extension, libraries, local stores, and community events — sharing practical knowledge and answering hundreds of questions.
Growing Food & Growing Good
The FISH Food Bank Garden produced 1,273 pounds of fresh food for local families. We improved irrigation, expanded composting systems, focused on high-demand crops like fresh herbs, and welcomed youth groups and community volunteers into the garden.
Community-Powered Fundraising & Shared Resources
With 66 volunteers pitching in, our annual plant sale raised over $9,500 to support programs. Meanwhile, our Tool Lending Library continued to grow in popularity with 175 checkouts, helping neighbors garden more affordably and sustainably.
Stronger Outreach & Looking Ahead
We launched a new website, continued bilingual and local radio programs, published 35 newspaper articles, staffed community fairs, and celebrated our volunteers and graduates. As we look toward 2025, planning continues for expanded outdoor educational space and even deeper community roots.
Full 2024 Year in Review
Published January 2025
Membership: The year started with 52 recertifying members, 12 associate members, and 27 trainees of which 19 became fully certified. Volunteer hours totaled 4,161 with 2,521 contacts.
Classes: We held 14 classes in person at Hood River Valley Christian Church, with the option to join on Zoom. Approximately 40-60 attended each week in person, and 7-15 attended each week on Zoom. Our improved audio/video equipment helped make the presentations more audible for Zoomers. This system will continue to be fine-tuned. Education hours totaled 1,961.
Webinars: OSU continued to offer the Level Up series with speakers once per month, and these were attended by some of our members.
Plant Clinics: Plant clinics were held in person at the OSU Extension plant clinic office. A total of 89 (including 34 Saturdays and special events) were offered and staffed by 64 MGs. Extra clinic work was also completed by volunteers outside of clinic hours when the workload exceeded the time scheduled for the clinics. A total of 192 questions were answered in office. Saturday plant clinics were continued at Ace Hardware and Tum-A-Lum in Hood River, and we added monthly clinics at the Hood River Library and White Salmon Library.
Plant Sale: Our plant sale was again a hybrid with 50% of our plants sold online and the rest sold at the in person day of sale on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. We continued to successfully use Shopify as our online sales platform. We had eight seed starting/up potting work parties with 6-10 volunteers plus 2 leads at the Master Gardener greenhouse and nine smaller work parties at Apple Core Farm with 2-3 volunteers per work party. We had 66 Master Gardeners participate in some way in the plant sale activities. We planted approximately 4400 seeds and ordered approximately 1200 plugs from Vanguard Nursery. We also received approximately 100 native plants donated by Hood River Soil and Conservation and 50 milkweed plants started by one of our prior Master Gardeners. The sale was financially successful with over $9,500 profit (~$13,000 gross). The plant sale committee discussed the pros and cons of having an online sale in the future due to the extensive hours required for the online sale portion. It was recommended to the Executive Committee to continue the plant sale with only an in person day of sale, and this was approved by the EC. The plant sale committee chair recommended some ways to reorganize the sale responsibilities.
Garden Tour: This event was not held in 2023 or 2024. It had typically been a biennial event, but no one stepped up to chair it. So it was replaced by our educational outreach program.
Projects: All of our projects continued in full force this year.
- FISH/Spirit of Grace Garden: In 2024 the FISH Food Bank garden raised 1273 pounds of vegetables and fruit and was a site for youth education and service. In the garden, we again grew food on parts of the east field, after putting it to rest last year after the loss of the Jesuit volunteers who had previously managed the garden. We received a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts for contractor services and materials/supplies and have already used this to install a full irrigation system on the east field in order to be able to use it more productively.
We focused on growing foods that are popular with the clients, particularly enjoyed on the day of harvest, and expensive in food stores. We learned that fresh herbs were one of the items that “flew off the shelf” at FISH so we put more focus into cultivation and harvest of these. In terms of resilience, some plants suffered from the spring weather patterns. Transplants were ready to go in the ground before the soil was warm enough, and some seeds did not thrive and were replanted. The plan is to start transplants later and adhere closely to adequate soil temperatures. Generally we plan to sow seeds around Memorial Day.
A major project of the year was organizing our previous composting and vermicomposting setups into a larger scale and more efficient one along the back fence. This entailed building rat proof pallet bins, making orchard bins into worm composters, building storage for manure, chips, and leaves, and purchasing a sturdy, ergonomically sound garden cart with bins to haul the food bank veggies to the back of the garden.
Educational signs which were partially funded by a Karl Carlson grant from OMGA were completed by the end of the year.
We planted a Three Sisters grouping of corn, beans, and squash. During some regular Saturday work parties, we had a teaching session for the volunteer kids about the tradition of companion planting and the sandy loam soil as a product of the Missoula floods. We also taught groups of students on these topics. We provided education and service events for the Hood River Online Academy, Parks and Rec summer camp, Klahre House, and a Community Prevention mentor and mentees. We have begun a class for the New School which will grow transplants for the garden in 2025. One large community group, Key Bank, did a large work party.
- Holiday Greenery Event: This was held in December at the greenhouse with 13 MGs creating 63 wreaths and swags to donate to the FISH Food Bank and WAGAP (Washington Gorge Action Programs). One bow-making work party was held, where 7 of us created over 30 beautiful bows in advance of our greenery event. The directors of both FISH and WAGAP have shared thankful comments from the recipients of these items.
- Learning Garden: Most work parties continued to be staffed by a core group of MGs with a couple of new additions from the recent MG classes. Due to drainage correction issues around the entire Extension building, the Small Space Garden was removed and replaced with an aggregate patio space.
The specific areas of focus this year were:
- Irrigation: Main irrigation lines were disrupted during the drainage rectification, so a new main drainage line was installed after hand watering much of the Learning Garden for a couple of months.
- Patio Garden: The new aggregate area created a space to demonstrate pots with drip irrigation. A $2000 grant from OSU Extension supplied monies to install under aggregate irrigation lines and drip irrigation, purchase pots and soil, purchase a table and two chairs, and paint three extension window frames and door.
- Herb Garden: This garden was partially torn up with the drainage rectification project, so replanting was completed as well as heightening the two raised beds to utilize the bricks with donor names that were removed from the Small Space Garden.
- Pollinator Garden: New native plants were added to the pollinator garden along with additional compost in the spring. The fig tree canopies were killed over the winter so they were trimmed back and shaped to allow more sunlight into the garden and to open up a gorgeous panoramic view of the Hood River Valley. We installed drip irrigation. Fall planting was designed to replace some natives that succumbed during the disruption of the irrigation system and we added more crocus in the eco lawn. Stepping stones were added throughout the garden to minimize soil compaction while tending the garden. We worked with the Bee Keepers to place stones to allow easier access to the hives.
- Native Garden: New plants were added to the Native Garden to fill in some open spaces and offer more color to the OSU Extension and Experiment Station entrance. Seven (7) Hairy goldenaster (Heterotjeca villosa) and three (3) West Coast goldenrod (Solidago elongata) were planted along the south and west perimeters of the garden in late September. Two Native Huckleberry bushes that were displaced when the bioswale behind the Extension Office was removed to make way for a new septic system found new homes on the north side of the Native Garden.
- Raised Beds: We were hoping to do a community workshop featuring Three Sisters Planting, but due to no available irrigation, this was impossible. The beds were planted with a cover crop for the winter.
- Shed: An additional $2000 from OSU Extension was received for 2025, so concrete was poured in the area under the lean-to and behind the shed.
- Library Garden: The Waterwise Garden at the Hood River Library reshapes itself gradually, year after year under the care of its hardy crew of volunteers. This year individual plants have been showing off, and they have even won awards! Best Adolescent Shrub of the Year is the energetic purple Beautyberry Bush, and Most Improved goes to the northwest corner’s Juniper who also won in a second category, Best Dancer. The Liatrises marched diagonally northward in summertime glory while Black-Eyed Susans scrambled around the rose bushes. These rugged troopers tied for Most Durable and Most Reliable. Lithodora competed with Lavenders for Most Ascendant Servant at the feet of Diane, the Witch Hazel. The Lead Plant, possibly a False Indigo, belied its common and botanical names and was honored with Most Splendid in July/August, but was put to shame by the winner of Most Astonishing Blond Ambition grass in late August and September. The wildly generous Gaura whirled like a thousand butterflies through the year and won kudos as Miss Hospitality for all the library’s guests throughout the summer and fall. Now, the garden is sleepy, and it is time to put our sweet garden to bed for the winter. Let’s hope for a nice cushion of snow to keep away the harshest cold temperatures of winter. Diane, the Witch Hazel, wakes up early, so look for her blossoms in February.
- Parkdale Memorial Garden: This garden continues to be maintained as a joint effort between the Parkdale Garden Club, Parkdale Grange, community members, and CGMGA. The garden contains memorials to our veterans, Gold Star families, and members of the community that have passed.
Greenhouse: The CGMGA greenhouse and shade house were constructed in 2017-18 with CGMGA funds and labor.
In 2024 the greenhouse provided 3 major functions. The first two are the interlocking education of propagation (mainly seedling production) and growing of plants for the Chapter’s annual plant sale. The third is to provide a facility for miscellaneous education and community outreach efforts …. a main one being the Holiday Greenery Event with Master Gardeners and guests producing holiday wreaths and swags and distributing them through the Hood River FISH and Bingen WAGAP food banks.
In addition to its regular annual operational efforts, some minor maintenance was required, and just prior to the 2025 season, a new automatic opener for the roof vent will be installed. Weed and grass incursion from the surrounding orchards is significant but was controlled.
Educational Outreach: The Ed outreach team started in January and hit the ground running. We offered workshops for 8 months of the year with two sessions a month, except for May and October which had only one session scheduled. Classes were called Garden Gatherings and were held at either the Extension or Fish Food Bank on a Saturday morning or at the alternating libraries of White Salmon and Hood River. The libraires have their own database of subscribers so that helped us quite a bit on our outreach and marketing. Each one was successful with class size ranging from 12 to 50 people depending on the subject matter. The team also tabled at two Hispanic events, El Grito and Dia De Los Ninos, and gave out seeds and other info about our program. 15 minute workshops were tested out at the annual plant sale as well. These were popular and will be continued for the 2025 plant sale.
In addition to workshops the Ed outreach team coordinated with a local silk screen and embroidery business to offer t-shirts to our members for the first time ever. Over 45 members bought a t-shirt and wore them at many public events, workshops, plant sales, work parties etc. Stickers were also given out to members to add to their water bottles, laptops, folders or whatever.
Members of the Ed outreach team and the publicity/social media teams met in November to discuss future steps in 2025 toward improving our branding statements, communication streamlining, and our voice.
Website: CGMGA created a new website that is more user friendly for the public and members. It was launched in September.
Garden Visits: Two garden visits were held: a social gathering and potluck at Maude Collins’ home and orchard in April and an outing to Humble Roots Native Plant Nursery in May. In June we had two field trips: one to the Healing Forest in Toppenish, WA, and a second one to the Education Garden at Portland Community College at Rock Creek and the Learning Garden at the Jenkins Estate. In July we had a potluck at Hope Ranch, a lavender farm of a former Master Gardener, Ivy Roulette. Ivy presented information about lavender varieties, cultivation, and distilling lavender oils. In total, we had two potlucks, one nursery outing, and two field trips.
Hood River Heights Front Yard Garden Tour: In July, six Master Gardeners toured and selected eleven gardens in the Heights neighborhoods, identifying sustainable gardening practices, native plants, food production and lawn alternatives. Throughout the summer, Master Gardeners in plant clinic identified twenty-three OSU publications and resources to highlight on educational QR code signs throughout the tour.
On September 7th, seven Master Gardeners joined homeowners to host over 220 visitors, answering questions and providing gardening information and resources. Community members mentioned that they enjoyed connecting with other residents, learning garden concepts, asking questions of Master Gardeners and being inspired by the variety of gardens.
Hood River County Fair and Other Community Fairs: We staffed a booth at the Hood River County Fair for three days, July 24-26 from 12-6 PM each day. Twelve MG volunteers handed out seeds and information on pollinators, weeds, and vegetables and also answered and collected plant clinic questions. We had a spinning wheel for kids and adults to answer questions about gardening, and we handed out a large number of prizes. We had a total of 178 contacts at our booth.
We also staffed booths at the Trout Lake Fair (50 contacts), TreeFest (40+ contacts), and Dia del Ninos (300+ contacts).
Hablando del Huerto: Building upon the initiation of a Spanish language radio program in 2022, CGMGA has now completed the third year of a radio show with gardening tips in Spanish. Renamed this year to “Hablando del Huerto” it was a biweekly staple on Radio Tierra with DJs Dennis Carlson and Leanne Hogie.
Tool Lending Library: The Hood River Library continued to host a check out system for garden tools supplied by CGMGA. There were 175 checkouts in 2024 which was an increase of 70 from 2023 (105), the first year of the program. The most popular tools checked out were the soil tester, hand tiller, and hoe.
OMGA: The Oregon Master Gardener Association is the umbrella organization of the County Master Gardener Chapters. Charged with supporting the activities of the Chapters, OMGA’s efforts through the year tend to be providing advice and assistance on an “as requested” basis for Chapter business activities and direct support from the OMGA Treasurer regarding state and federal reporting and tax documentation.
There are three major activities that OMGA conducts: (1) a mandated statewide educational event currently titled “Joy of Gardening”, (2) end of year recap and budget planning, and (3) a retreat to codify goals and plans for next year based on the business of the year and the budget.
This year a two-day ‘Joy of Gardening’ event at OSU Corvallis was attended by nearly 300 people. It was excellent and thanks to the support of our Chapter, Central Gorge was represented by 4 Chapter members and our Program Coordinator. There was a broad choice of classes and keynote presentations by Dr. Silvia Rendon, Leslie Madsen, and a tag team of Gail Langellotto and Sherry Sheng. Some highlights included:
- Gail Langellotto led a tour of 4 labs dedicated to horticultural research at OSU.
- The Honey Bee Lab: Directed by Ramesh Sagili we were hosted by researchers Carolyn Breece and Priyadarshini Basu. They are, among other things, working on honeybee pests, diet and hive health.
- Oregon Bee Project Taxonomy Lab: Andony Melathopoulos and his researchers are cataloging thousands and thousands of bees into the Oregon Bee Atlas.
- OSU Garden Ecology Lab: Gail and her team study the plants, insects, animals, people, decisions and management practices that either improve or degrade a garden’s ability to promote environmental and human health.
- Plant Breeding Lab: A tour was given of the work at Oregon State University that embodies the Land Grant mission of integrated research, teaching and extension in the context of cultivar development and fundamental genetics.
- A new version of a diagnostic tool “SPP” https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/ was released.
Publicity: The Publicity Team transferred management of the Educational Writing Crew and Garden Gathering to the newly formed Educational Outreach Committee. Photos with captions of CGMGs in action were featured in traditional and social media as they continue to be an effective way to keep the CGMG program and volunteer activities in the public eye. Feature articles of CGMG events were also published in the Columbia Gorge News and posted on social media. The Social Media Crew continued CGMG outreach with 929 Facebook and 380 Instagram followers. Tip of the Week answered popular Plant Clinic questions through social media posts. Populating the CGMG YouTube Channel stalled when the MG volunteer videographer moved out of the country.
Newsletter: We continued to publish a monthly newsletter which was sent to every MG via email. The articles summarized recent events and project updates, provided educational articles, spotlighted various MGs, recognized award recipients, and provided gardening resources. A calendar of events was also included. The final edition of the CGMGA monthly newsletter was September 2024. Without a volunteer publisher and revelation via a chapter-wide survey that few MGs read the newsletter and most referred to Megan’s updates for chapter reminders, the newsletter is no longer being published. It is hopeful that MGs will start referring to the Calendar of Events on the new website.
Radio Broadcasts: We continued our bi-monthly radio show Mid–Columbia Today on AM 1340/98.3 FM KIHR in Hood River and News radio 1300/103.9 KACI in The Dalles. Current gardening topics and Master Gardening programs and projects were discussed.
Recognition Event: The trainee recognition and awards ceremony took place on Nov. 14th at Riverside Church with approximately 50 members in attendance. Our Master Gardeners of the Year, Margo Dameier and Tracy Willet were recognized as well as our “Behind the Scenes” recipient, Helga Reese. We had 19 trainees graduate and awarded 9 association awards to members who had gone above and beyond in their efforts. Many raffle prizes were given out, we voted on 2025 officers and the budget, and enjoyed a nice evening of potluck fare.
New Ventures: Discussion resumed on the creation of an outdoor educational area in the Learning Garden behind the OSU Extension building. The landscape plan that was designed in 2023 was evaluated and changes suggested. More planning and funding will be pursued in 2025.
Remembrances: No Master Gardeners passed in 2024.
Coordinator: Our program coordinator continues to be Megan Wickersham. Megan is excellent at establishing a personal relationship with each and every Master Gardener that comes through her program. She continually strives to “better’ the program here in Hood River County to make sure that both trainees and returning Master gardeners are getting what they need out of the program.
Links to articles in the Columbia Gorge News: #35 Total
January 5 Home and Garden: Winter Gardening For Wildlife: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/winter-gardening-for-wildlife/article_0ecbeef8-ac2e-11ee-9a0b-9b87d423125f.html
February 1: Inspiration to Garden and Cleft Grafting Antique Apples: ??
February 14: Garden Gathering Series – Seed Starting: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/hoodriver/garden-gathering-series-begins-with-seed-starting-presentation/article_bb4174c2-caa2-11ee-8176-f724e9098977.html
March 6: Making Sense of Seed Selection: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/making-sense-of-seed-selection/article_c8239ad6-dc0d-11ee-bd00-5f1e98449a8f.html
March 20: FISH Garden Clean-up Planned March 20: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/fish-garden-clean-up-planned-march-20/article_0081ecea-e611-11ee-80c2-0b82ade99e07.html
April Home and Garden: Starting Seeds for a Bountiful Harvest: ??
April 2: Spring Plant Sales Scheduled: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/spring-plant-sales-scheduled/article_2818f3b0-f148-11ee-b029-e70d0dbc8aee.html
April 2: Garden Gathering: Managing Moles, Voles, and Gophers: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/garden-gathering-managing-moles-voles-and-gophers/article_d4540908-f148-11ee-9ce5-a77688cc0f8c.html
April 10: Master Gardeners Host Plant Clinics: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/hoodriver/news/master-gardeners-host-plant-clinics/article_b88f58d8-f69a-11ee-ae30-7b84ab527aad.html
April 10: Demo Garden Maintenance: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/demo-garden-maintenance-for-master-gardeners/article_23c538be-f751-11ee-a8ea-0363a9aa5823.html
April 30: Garden Gathering Presents Pop-up Workshops at Plant Sale: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/gorge-life/garden-gathering-presents-pop-up-workshops-at-plant-sale/article_e62abdb8-06d1-11ef-94c4-5fbda203cd06.html
May 1: Garden Gathering Pop-up Workshop[s at Plant Sale: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/gorge-life/garden-gathering-presents-pop-up-workshops-at-plant-sale/article_e62abdb8-06d1-11ef-94c4-5fbda203cd06.html
May 7: Growing Gardeners Kids’ Corner at Master Gardener Plant Sale: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/growing-gardeners-kids-corner-at-master-gardener-plant-sale/article_d5b0f0e4-0c4c-11ef-9a92-2f66baf46db6.html
May 28: Garden Gathering – Invasive Weeds: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/garden-gathering-presents-invasive-weed-workshop/article_a0928c40-1d42-11ef-87c4-4392243124db.html
June Home and Garden: Planting: ????
June 4: Garden Gathering Presents Invasive Weed Workshop: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/garden-gathering-presents-invasive-weed-workshop/article_a0928c40-1d42-11ef-87c4-4392243124db.html
June 12: Family ‘Garden Party’ at FISH Food Bank Garaden: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/family-garden-party-at-fish-food-bank-garden/article_8d198528-2824-11ef-a42c-bfd14264629b.html
June 26: Garden Gathering to present Waterwise Gardening Workshop: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/garden-gathering-to-present-waterwise-gardening-workshop/article_53e50bf4-3316-11ef-8b72-efcf3aae4c4f.html
July 2024 Home and Garden: Cool Tips for Hot Weather Gardening: ???
July 22 Volunteers Welcome: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/volunteers-welcome/article_286367c2-48b1-11ef-a3d5-9b2766634de6.html
July 30: Hood River Learning Garden 2024: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/hood-river-learning-garden-2024/article_bc268178-4e48-11ef-8936-b73ab7b8d075.html
Aug 6: Plan Now for Your Fall Garden: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/from-our-august-home-and-garden-publication-plan-now-for-your-fall-garden/article_1931b48a-537d-11ef-a6e3-3fe7d495c72e.html
August 13: Welcome Florida! https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/welcome-florida/article_f634097c-5955-11ef-a85e-f7f7d3ffe0f1.html
August 19: Garden Gathering – Planning Your Fall Garden: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/plan-your-fall-garden-tools-available-at-library-of-things/article_489d53c2-5ebe-11ef-b845-bb064bc18667.html
August 27: Tools Available at Library of Things: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/tools-available-at-library-of-things/article_2d917246-64c9-11ef-9ddc-6f0746645117.html
August 28: Garden Gathering – Seed Saving Workshop: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/garden-gathering-to-present-seed-saving-workshop/article_26e83a46-656a-11ef-8fe1-a7e356244eea.html
August 28 Home and Garden: Garden Transitions: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/garden-garden-transitions/article_4977b50a-6583-11ef-bc63-5f6d5cfb0095.html
October 21: Master Gardeners Host Plant Clinics thru October: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/master-gardeners-host-plant-clinics-thru-october/article_e0bb0d12-903b-11ef-a43f-1bfe559e77cd.html
November Home and Garden Section: Central Gorge Master Gardeners: Of and For the Community: ?? link not found
November 13: Sustainable Gardening: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/sustainable-gardening/article_01dd9a82-a0e0-11ef-8f2c-23281d31aa2f.html
November 20: Master Gardener Training: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/master-gardener-training/article_bce2adf4-a667-11ef-8197-e76f4d337ca1.html
November 17: Central Gorge Master Gardeners Present Awards and Celebrate Successes: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/central-gorge-master-gardeners-present-awards-and-celebrate-successes/article_ec0dcc16-ad02-11ef-a420-0759599c5349.html
November 27: Plants and Community Over the Holidays (Home and Garden Section): https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/eedition/page-c-5/page_c734fd4e-370b-5991-9f10-90d6ed365d71.html
December 4: Master Gardeners Present Awards, Celebrate Successes: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/free_news/central-gorge-master-gardeners-present-awards-and-celebrate-successes/article_ec0dcc16-ad02-11ef-a420-0759599c5349.html
December Home and Garden Section: Native Plants for your Winter Landscape: https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/eedition/page-c-1/page_46c9a96f-1dbc-5b6a-afc5-d70d6ef8f5d0.html
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