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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Taste of Ashland starts today Talking trains in Talent Independent Media Week starts Sunday Schneider Children's Center set to close Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel Education Schneider Children's Center set to close Ashland School District seeks volunteers for Educators' Appreciation Luncheon Planning meeting set Wednesday for farewell party Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Earth Day at Bellview Elementary School garden Environment Students at Walker Elementary School in Ashland get hands dirty for Earth Day Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Ride & Drive: 2015.5 Volvo V60 Cross Country Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries F. Jane Hooper Laurence G. (Larry) Corbin William (Bill) Huett Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Brick city, baby Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships NFL draft: the great unknown Grizzlies chomp out 2-0 series lead High school Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships Ashland Karate Academy racks up trophies in Medford Ashland drops eight-inning pitchers' duel SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Southern Oregon University Two Raiders place seventh in CCC Multis Neal, Reitman lead SOU at multi-event championships SOU's Maguin pockets fourth CCC honor SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race For Raiders, a homecoming Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 25 Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Matthew T. Mangino: Faulty hair analysis has far-reaching implications Granlund cartoon: Paging Dr. Oz Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Editorial Our View: Fun with university funding formulas Our View: Passion vs. practicality spelled demise of Ashland theater company Our View: Raises raise eyebrows Our View: Close gun-sale loophole Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Letters Letters to the Editor, April 25 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letter at Length, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 20 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided Guest Opinion: A good day to act Jeffrey Gillespie: Bad cops vs. smartphones My comic adventures City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Workshop on writing and craft Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical A Taste of Ashland returns Five picks for entertainment this week Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Theater Ticket Availability Ashland Middle School to perform "Shrek Jr." musical Ashland New Plays Festival is ready to grow, says new director Ticket Availability Free film fest celebrates OSF 'raconteur' Music The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Movie review: Powerful, tense kidnapping story ‘24 Days’ delivers a strong message Movie review: Crowe’s historical drama ‘The Water Diviner’ isn’t divine, but it’s pretty darn good Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Inner Peace: Creating peaceful relationships Looking Up: Enjoying the bright Moon Costa Living: Basking in flower power Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Frontier Best apps for dog lovers Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: 'Right to rest' misguided ... Annual Science of Wine fundraiser coming to Ashland Springs Hotel ... ASHLAND MASTER GARDENERS Ashland gardeners help make Spring Garden Fair an iconic event Comment By Rhonda Nowak DailyTidings.com By Rhonda Nowak Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:12 PM By Rhonda Nowak Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:12 PM » Social News Most local gardeners know about the Spring Garden Fair, hosted by the Jackson County Master Gardeners during the first weekend of May. However, less well known is that Ashlanders play a big role in the popular event — what one local calls a springtime “rite of passage.” In fact, Ashland residents have always made up a significant number of Master Gardener volunteers who grow all the plants in the JCMG fair booths and carry out the myriad other tasks required to put on the largest plant fair between Portland and San Francisco. Take Victor Chieco, for example. For the past two years, he’ been at the helm of the Spring Garden Fair Committee, bringing in booth vendors, setting up Compton Arena at The Expo in Central Point, and making sure things run smoothly throughout the weekend of the fair. Chieco’s wife, Eileen, also a Master Gardener, helps in the ticket booth. The couple participated in the MG training course in 2009, after moving to Southern Oregon from the East Coast. “We’d been gardeners for years, and wanted to learn how to grow things well here,” Victor recalls. It’s the reason many other folks take the Master Gardener course, which starts up every January and runs weekly through mid–April. Bob and Claudia Law moved from the San Francisco Bay area to Ashland in 1990 and took the class in 1996-97. Bob worked as a Spring Garden Fair manager for several years when the fair was smaller and housed at the Medford Armory. Bob and Claudia served as state representatives for the Oregon Master Gardener Association, and Claudia was president of the Jackson County Master Gardener Association for two years. The Laws’ involvement in the program helped them learn how to redesign their home garden. “We started out with an old, diseased black walnut tree, and a lot of crab grass and blackberries,” Claudia says. After learning about building soil tilth and Southern Oregon native plants, they’ve transformed their landscape and even know how to identify insects and plant diseases. “When we can’t find the answers ourselves, we’ve got other Master Gardeners to help us, too,” Claudia says. The sense of belonging to a community of gardeners is the reason Alan Miller is the longest-standing member of the JCMGA. He trained as a Master Gardener in 1984, when the program was only a few years old. Miller was so inspired afterward that he went on to become certified as a landscape designer and, today, runs Miller’s Renaissance Landscape & Design in Ashland. A resident for more than 30 years, Miller says, “The Master Gardeners program changed my life in lots of ways. It taught me to keep learning and trying different things.” Another local landscaper, Jeanine Sturm, is part of the Master Gardener Class of 2015. She represents an increasing number of participants who are working but still find time to attend the classes and volunteer in the greenhouse. Sturm was so excited about the learning opportunity that she paid for one of her employees, Ashland resident Susan Newman, to train along with her. Sturm says they have both learned a lot from the different speakers, all experts on their topics. “It’s unbelievable how much information you learn you didn’t know,” she says. The benefits of mulching is just one example of how she’s been able to apply the knowledge she’s gained to her business. From longtime members to upcoming graduates, Ashland Master Gardeners have helped “grow” the JCMG program into an important resource for many local gardeners. So, when you feast your eyes on thousands of plants at the upcoming Spring Garden Fair, you can thank Ashland Master Gardeners for some of them! For more information about Jackson County Master Gardeners and the Spring Garden Fair, visit their website at www.jacksoncountymga.org. Rhonda Nowak writes gardening columns for the Mail Tribune and the Jacksonville Review. Contact her at www.literarygardener.blogspot.com.         By Rhonda Nowak DailyTidings.com By Rhonda Nowak Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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