From September 2023
In the world of horticulture, companion plants are defined as those which share a mutually beneficial relationship. In our Master Gardener chapter, Eric and Shari Bosler represent the human equivalent of companion plants. For more than fourteen years they have supported CGMGA, OMGA, and each other, sharing and spreading the joy of gardening.
Shari and Eric were not natural-born gardeners. Neither was bitten by the gardening bug as a child, although Eric remembers “hanging out” in his mother’s vegetable garden when he was young. Their shared interest in gardening sprouted from practicality when they began growing vegetables to make baby food for their two daughters. Experience is a powerful teacher. One lesson they learned in those early years was never, ever plant 13 hills of zucchini!
When Shari retired after a 33-year career as a speech pathologist, she wanted to do something that she had not had time to do while working: volunteer. In 2006 she signed up for Master Gardening classes in Clackamas County. Over dinner on class days, Shari would enthusiastically share all that she’d learned, and Eric consumed knowledge as readily as he did his meal. When Shari graduated, the post-ceremony potluck sealed the deal: Eric decided to join the program and became certified in 2009. Master Gardening has been a team effort ever since.
When they moved to White Salmon, they brought with them a wealth of ideas gleaned from the Portland Metro Chapters. They found the CGMA chapter to be smaller, more local, and more personal– the perfect climate for introducing, nurturing, and growing new projects. In 2010, in conjunction with Pam Crider and Elizabeth Daniel, Shari introduced the Holiday Greenery Project, adapted from a similar activity in Multnomah County. In 2015 she assumed responsibility for the chapter newsletter. Eric noted that Shari has a “highly developed sense of the need to communicate” and that the newsletter is a natural extension of that need.
Meanwhile, Eric introduced the Seed to Supper program after learning about it at Mini College. In 2018 he became actively involved in the construction of the CGMGA greenhouse, utilizing skills he’d acquired while renovating and building their own homes. Until 2016, the chapter had used the old greenhouse on the campus of MCAREC. When that structure was needed for research purposes, the chapter decided to use a donation from the Dorothy Metcalfe Foundation to help fund the construction of a new one, working with Sandi Rousseau, Bud Lacey, Paul Pennington, Bill Sturman, Bill Winfield, Shari and many others. Both Eric and Shari have served as presidents of our local chapter and as OMGA reps. Eric assumed the presidency of OMGA in 2019, a position he would not have accepted without Shari’s full support.
As their gardening knowledge grew, so did their garden. It’s currently home to five varieties of berries, grapes, fruit trees, five raised beds, and the “Annex”: a flat area for crops like squash, beans and corn that require a lot of real estate. They describe their style as “organic” rather than structured, focusing more on production than appearance. In the past few years, they’ve turned more of their attention to perennials and landscape plants, although neither claim to have any experience in design principles. Eric jokes that since he holds a pHD (post hole digger), he digs the holes while Shari deals with the plants. She makes the decisions; he supports them. Teamwork apparently does make the dream work.
Even though they consider the Master Gardener program to be a team activity, there’s still room for each of them to utilize individual talents and pursue their own interests. Shari spent 5 years on the board of the Gorge Heritage Museum in Bingen, where she led a chapter project to renovate the garden there. She’s also been an active volunteer with the local library and Community Partners. Eric is the Fire Prevention officer for Klickitat Fire District 3 and has taught a class on landscaping for fire mitigation at Mini College.
When they’re not volunteering, both enjoy reading, learning, and spending time with family and their Corgi Tanner. Eric also enjoys doing projects around the house. He maintains a sophisticated irrigation system that frees up time for travel in their newly-purchased travel trailer.
Their advice to trainees and newly-certified MGs is to experience the vast differences between the projects and look to see what’s available. The program has enough aspects to it that anyone can find a fit for their skill set. Finding a passion within the program will lead to a more satisfying experience.
Like companion plants, Eric and Shari enhance and complement each other’s growth– and have been doing so for almost 53 years. They are shining examples of the power of commitment, the spirit of volunteerism, and the strength of shared passions.
By Anne Gehrig
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