Plant Sale 2010

On October 30, 2010 our Hilo, Hawaii Master Garden Association had a plant sale in conjunction with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human resources Open House.  I was part of the  Advertising Team and created (4) print posters to advertise the sale and this video or the actual event.  It was fun, but lots of work!!!  The event started off in the rain, but the Public was there with their umbrellas waiting in line for the 9AM start!  After expenses we raised over $5,500!

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Finally Certified!

I finished my MG certification hours and was acknowledged as certified in the December general meeting! But, still waiting for my certificate and new MG name tag minus the "trainee" tag!

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My First Day on the MG Phones!!!

Last Tuesday was my first day on the MG help line phones!  And it was a little hectic!  I finished two pending issues and took on one new issue.  Doesn't sound too bad.  But there was a bit of chaos in the office as many MGs came in and out during the 3 hours phone session.  Too much noise and too small an office!

Jaboticaba
What a very cool fruit tree with glorious flowers and fruits as seen left!  Unfortunately for one Hilo resident, her fruits were all yellow.  She called our MG office last Tuesday looking for an answer.  I took the call, but had to ask for samples before an answer could be presented.  Hopefully, she brought in the samples on Friday and Tuesday I can read the experts answer!

During my research I found that this tree is a favorite of the bonsai community!

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MG Classes Are Over! - Now it is Time for the Volunteer Work!

Last Thursday we had our final MG class followed by a pot luck.  My camera went on the blink so I have no pictures, but it was a fun time! I am ready for the office and phones training today.  Next week I start to work the phones.  There will be two MG trainees with one seasoned MG.  

I have been inspired to create a database to store my call-in activity work.  I will be testing it and then hopefully have it offered to the entire MG phone volunteers.

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Last Week of MG Classwork!

Actually, I am sad to say that this week is our last week of MG classroom work!  It went by very quickly!  Lot's of information and interesting discussion during the classroom work. And lots of hands on work and take home goodies.

• We did some tree pruning
• Janice Crowl gave us her Container Gardener in Hawaii book and some native naupaka seeds
• We grafted an avocado tree (I am sorry to say that mine did not take, but I plan to graft a lemon-lime tree soon and will post on the process and results!)
• I was given pak choy seedings and some "compost tea" (made from vermicompost) for the vegetable garden
• I was given a clove and cinnamon tree seedlings (looking for the right place to plant in the landscape...)

Clove

Thursday we get training on how to work the community call-in phones, we take our final exam and celebrate with a pot luck.  After that it is 20 hours on the phones and 20 hours of additional volunteer work before certification!

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Did You Know???

I am studying for my MG test today!

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

• 90% of the Hawaiian native plants are endemic (a plant that arrived before humans circa 400AD but has evolved and is only found in Hawaii)
• taro, coconut and sugar cane are not native, but Polynesian Introduced
• sanitation (removal of infested fruits)  is one of the best control methods for fruit flies
• the Oriental fruit fly attacks fruit and the Melon fruit fly vegetables, hmmmmmm
• the wedge graft is the most effective method of grafting
• there is such a thing as a disease triangle
• less is more when it comes to fertilizers
• a "prill" is the little polymer coated ball in your favorite fertilizer

Well, I must hit the books again...ugh!

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I Need to Study!

We have our second test on Tuesday 3/30!  I have been working on my landscape and posting to my blog instead of studying my MG material!  But, there is always tomorrow, at least until Tuesday!!!! LOL

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Grafting an Avocado

Today we learned about fruit trees that will grow in Hawaii and about grafting methods. We actually got to graft an avocado. I grafted the "green gold" species. Now it is a matter of waiting to see if the graft takes.

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Good Results! And Hawaii's Fruit Flies!

I am happy to report that I received a 51/52 on my first MG test! :)

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In class we learned about the 4 fruit flies negatively affecting Hawaii's commercial agriculture and backyard growers. The fruit fly essentially destroyed the profitable mango production on Kauai.  However, with the help of the University of Hawaii and the USDA  the fruit fly is better under control in Hawaii.  The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), Hawaii publishes a very good white paper on fruit flies.  

Since I live at about 20-25ft my garden will be most affected by the Oriental Fruit Fly and the Melon Fruit Fly.  Since I currently have no vegetables or fruits in my current garden, I plan to set out traps within the next month to get baseline numbers.  Soon we will be building raised vegetable garden beds and I will be grafting a lemon-lime citrus tree.  So it is only a matter of time before fruit flies affect my backyard garden!  And good management is the only solution.

Oriental

Melon

"Hawaii is the only state under a full federal fruit fly quarantine; the presence of fruit flies in Hawaii is a threat to U.S. mainland agriculture and a major bottleneck to the expansion of diversified agriculture in the state, for local as well as export sales."  from the Hawaii Invasive Species Program 

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The First Test is Over! Phew!

I did not study as much as I should have for the first test.  Hey it has been many years since I took an academic test!  There was so much material! It became a guessing game to figure out what would be on the test.  I guessed some material, but missed some, especially in the area of soils.  I will know the outcome Thursday!

In addition to the test we had a lecture on Floriculture in Hawaii.  Did you know that the anthurium industry in Hawaii was almost wiped out by a bacterial blight?  There is no cure for this blight except for good sanitation practices.  So millions of plants were destroyed to regain the health of the commercial industry.  Today, strict sanitation procedures are practiced during propagation and in the fields.

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I Missed a Week of POSTING!!!

Wow, didn't think it would happen! But I missed my Artistic Tuesday post and MG class summaries for the week. And class was so interesting! Today I am studying for our first test scheduled for Tuesday!

We started the MG week with soils. On Hawaii Island (the Big Island) there are many types of soils and they have been mapped by the state. I live in the Puna District and our house is built on 350-500 year old pahoehoe lava with some soil from decomposed ironwood needles. The biggest problem with soils in Hawaii is acidity and the active Kilauea Volcano continues to adds to the problem.

We brought in some cinder soils (volcanic cinder and soil mix) to our landscape because we are on rock! The trick is to gardening on rock is to find the deeper "pukas" (holes) and fill them with soils.  I am sure I have at least thee different types of soils and will have to manage them differently.  My first step is to test the PH levels.  Has anyone out there used the home soil test kits?

We covered entomology on Thursday and it is a fascinating science!  The Professor brought in an electron microscope and you would not believe the little critters we saw crawling around!!!  Currently the rose beetle is feeding on  many of my leafy pants.  I am not happy :(

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First Field Trip

We hit the road Thursday on our first field trip to visit the Waiakea Research Center located mauka (mountain side) of the Panaewa  Rainfoest Zoo and Gardens.  We toured the anthurium green house and fruit tree orchards.

Upon arrival we were given class materials including the weather station data from this location.  Rainfall for this  area is 183.73 inches/year with March and November receiving over 30 inches!  Talk about a rain forest...

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Plant Pathology - Who Knew?

I saw so much plant disease and pest pictures today it is amazing anything grows!  The first half of our class today was conducted by Dr. Scot Nelson from the University of Hawaii, also known as the Plant Doctor.  Check out his website. Of course he is Hawaii-centric, but these pathogens are everywhere!!!

About 80% of his lecture was looking at pictures of diseased plants, from virus to microscopic nematodes to the common aphid! Yuck! But, I loved it!  I can't wait to checkout the website!

Actually, I went home after class to look a one of my new gardenia plants that has not grown much and the leaves are beginning to yellow.  Well, I found lots of little black mites? on the underside of the leaves!  I blasted them with water.  Gone for now!  I think I might also have some powdery mildew on another gardenia.  I hope I do not become a plant hypochondriac!  Is there such a thing!

Trees and tree pruning was the second half of the class.  Not quite as exciting for me, but fun! I did take some pictures.  The camera will be a tool I take to class from now on.

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First MG Class

By the time I reacted the MG classroom, (I was 15 minutes early) half of the classroom was already populated with my fellow MG "Trainees", at least that is what our name tags called us "Trainee"!

We listened to some introductory lecture and finally introduced ourselves to one another. A Botanist, an Illinois Master Gardener, a small business owner working with the disabled, school teacher, everyone had a very interesting story to tell! Wiamea/Kamuela, Lapahoehoe, Volcano, several classmates are traveling far to attend the MG class! More lecture - photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, dicots, monocot - shades of high school biology!

Then the tour, we visited the secure lab where disease and pest testing is conducted and learned that virus is a real threat to plant life in Hawaii. We toured the grounds. There are plans for a walking/bicycle trails, more composting and gardens, but it is obvious that more hands are needed! So, my first volunteer hours may be in the garden, joining fellow MG and friend Laureen!

Finally, the pizza party! First meeting the certified MGs, short introductions, lots of pizza and friendly conversation! A good day!

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First Master Gardener Class this AM!

At 9AM today I will be sitting in a classroom at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and taking notes! OMG!   I know this is a volunteer program, but I have not been in an academic classroom with real Professors in decades!!!

The class size is relatively small, only 17 students.  And I do have a recently made friend in the class. And I hear from the grapevine, that there are some interesting students this session. Making new friends is always a plus.

Am I excited?  Honestly, not yet.  But after my coffee, breakfast and creating the grocery list for the week I think that my passion for the dirt and all that grows from it will return!!! Rock on MG!

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3 Days!

Only 3 days 'til I start my master Gardener training!

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7 Days!

My first Master Gardener class is only 7 days away! 

According to my friend, there will be pizza after the class and former class members will be there to welcome us newbies!  

how sweet it is...

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Accepted into the Master Gardener Program!

I received my letter yesterday from the Cooperative Extension Service stating my acceptance into the Spring 2010 Master Gardener program. We start February 18 and finish class work in mid April.  Certification requires 40hrs of volunteer work, 20 of which are on the phone banks.

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MG Interview Appears to Have Gone Well!!!

I arrived about 30 minutes early to my 9:30AM MG interview. I was actually hoping that they would start my interview early. Low and behold, they did, fifteen minutes early! I was asked to spend 5 minutes telling them about me. I probably talked for 8 minutes and way too fast, it was the nerves. Then they each asked me a question or two and it was over.

The big hit was the fact that I had web design and blogger experience! They have a position for me! Long story short. I thought that the interview went well and the acceptance letters will go out next week.

Classes start February 18th and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9AM to Noon. The classes run through April with a spring break in March.

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MG Interview Scheduled for 2/19/10

I am scheduled for a Master Gardener Interview.  Apparently this is a 15  minute panel interview.  The results will determine if I am accepted into the program which starts February 2010.

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