Home » Annual Conference

2010 West Virginia
Master Gardener Association
Spring Conference

Homegrown for Health & Happiness

April 16-18, 2010
Bridgeport Conference Center
300 Conference Way, Bridgeport, WV 26330

Download the conference program (PDF)

Registration

WVMG 2010 State Conference Registration Closes April 1st at 5:00pm

The online registration for the WVMG 2010 State Conference will close at 5:00 p.m. on April 1st. Manual registrations must be postmarked no later than April 5th to be accepted. We are nearing the facility capacity and must close registration in order to insure that all participants will have a positive conference experience.

We are excited about the positive response to this year’s conference and look forward to seeing each Master Gardener registrant at the conference.

Registration can be completed online or by mail. To register online with a credit card, use our secure form:

Register online

To register by mail, please download, print and return this PDF form.

Friday, April 16, 2010 Pre-conference Activities

All tours depart from the conference center at 10:00 a.m. and will return by 4:00 p.m. All Tours include Lunch.

Tour 1. Adaland Mansion & Jett High Tunnel Farm

The tour begins with a visit to the farm of Dr. Lewis Jett to see “high tunnel farming” which allows for extending the growing season for a wide variety of crops. The group will then travel on to Adaland Mansion in Philippi, WV. This historical 1870 brick home has been restored with period furnishings. You will have an opportunity to learn about the history of this country home and visit its historical gardens. Lunch will be enjoyed at Adaland Mansion. (Please wear weather appropriate clothing and good walking shoes). Transportation provided.

Tour 2. Lamberts’ Winery & FBI Center Tour

This group will travel to Lambert’s Winery in Lewis County where they will tour the winery & vineyard. and have an opportunity to participate in a free wine tasting. After lunch at the Winery, the group will travel via bus to the FBI Center in Harrison County. The agenda at the FBI Center remains “Top Secret”, but we promise no mug shots.

Tour 3. Fort New Salem and a Nature Walk with Tree Expert, Dr. David McGill

Fort New Salem, located in Salem, WV is a living history, outdoor museum, which takes you back to the early settlement of our region. It is a representation of a frontier log settlement as seen in the 19th century, where the work and leisure activities reflect the values and culture of early settlers. You will partake of simple fare for lunch at the Fort. After lunch the tour will continue to a near-by nature trail where Dr. David McGill, a WVU Extension Specialist will lead a tree identification walk. (Weather appropriate clothing and good walking shoes are a must for this tour). Transportation provided.

FRIDAY EVENING WELCOME RECEPTION, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Harrison County Master Gardeners will host a welcome reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harrison County Recreation and 4-H Center, Route 19 S. Clarksburg, WV (directions). Please come and enjoy the fellowship of meeting old friends and making new ones.

Saturday, April 17, Conference Begins

The hosting Harrison County Master Gardener group has worked hard to plan a conference with content that we hope you will find both educational & stimulating. We believe that master gardeners throughout the state can have a positive impact on the general health and wellness of people in their communities by teaching people how to garden and promoting the use of fresh home grown vegetables. Therefore, the conference will offer a number of workshops that fit our “Health & Wellness” theme, as well as some workshops that are more traditional to our conferences in the past.

Opening Conference Keynote: An Introduction to Square Foot Gardening (Saturday AM)

Mel Bartholomew of Ogden, Utah, will open the conference with an overview of square foot gardening. Bartholomew has introduced square foot gardening throughout the United States, and numerous foreign countries. During the most recent years, he has refined his original processes, and will help us to understand how we can garden more efficiently, more effectively, using smaller back-yard spaces.

8:00 a.m. – Noon	Registration
9:00 a.m.	Welcome, Opening Remarks & Welcome Introduction of Keynote Speaker
9: 15 a.m.	An Introduction to Square Foot Gardening – Mel Bartholomew
	If you want to grow more vegetables and flowers in less space, Square Foot Gardening is for you. For more than 25 years the square foot gardening method, has proven to be an efficient and effective way to garden. In his presentation, Mel will unveil improvements to the method. Information about the SFG International Training Center in Homestead Florida, the SFG Foundation purposes and humanitarian efforts around the globe will also be discussed.
10:50 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(Group I Workshops)	I.-A.
	Gardening for a Healthy Planet – Hannah Mullen
	Every day we are bombarded with the negative impact that humans have on local ecosystems. Hannah will share with you how gardeners can contribute positively to local ecosystems by moving away from industrial quick fixes, and returning to the basics. Such basics include creating your own fertilizer and, designing with the correct plants will help gardeners to make our planet a healthier place to live.
	I.-B.
	American Chestnut Trees – Bill MacDonald, Ph.D.
	Bill will share the progress toward restoration of the American Chestnut tree including efforts to utilize biological controls of the fungus and ongoing breeding efforts. In combining these two technologies, there is considerable hope that the American Chestnut tree will again be restored and seen in eastern forests.
	I.-C.
	Nutritional Eating – Sally Tennant
	Every day we make choices about what we will eat. Concerned with flavor and texture, we often fail to consider the nutritional value of what we eat. In this workshop you will learn about nutrient dense foods and the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals found in these foods. Sally will also discuss cooking methods and share recipes containing such foods.
	I.-D.
	Growing Master Gardeners: Youth & Gardening – Denis M. Scott
	Seeds and sprouts or buds and blooms, no matter their stage of growth, with the proper care and watering, kids can be grown into avid gardeners. This presentation will highlight tips and tricks to boast youth interest in planting projects. Whether it is tending flowers around the home or growing an edible schoolyard, a child’s imagination is fertile ground for planting ideas. Participants can expect to learn about the youth gardening movement, popular project designs and simple hands-on-activities to get kids excited about plants.
12 Noon- 1 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
(Group II Workshops)	II.-A.
	Orchid Basics – Steven Christopher
	Have you ever been attracted by the beautiful bloom of an orchid, purchased it quickly and then gotten home to say, what do I do with it now? Steven, will guide you through the basics – forms of culture and care, light requirements, watering and feeding. He will discuss when to repot, the different types of mediums and the importance of proper drainage.
	II.-B.
	How to Teach, Plan and Build a Square Foot Garden – Mel Bartholomew
	This workshop will cover the ‘nuts and bolts’ of planning, building and planting a square foot garden. In addition, Mel will share tips related to seed starting, plant spacing, harvesting and replanting.
	II.-C.
	Cooking with Herbs – Melissa Dennison
	“Are you going to Scarborough Fair? – Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.” How can one use these common herbs when cooking? Melissa will share her knowledge, with tips about how to grow and harvest herbs. She will also do a live cooking demonstration using fresh herbs. Sample recipes will be available.
	II.-D.
	Backyard Greenhouses – Sven Verlinden
	Have you ever wanted to eat a homegrown tomato in February? How about extending your harvest year round? Backyard greenhouses will teach you about types of greenhouse structures, covering materials, heating and cooling of greenhouses, plant material, pest control, and much more!
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
(Group III Workshops)	III.-A.
	Floating Row Covers in Backyard Gardens – Doug Jolley
	This workshop covers the use of floating row covers as a means of improving vegetable yields and extending the growing season. Dr. Jolley will show various types of row covers and demonstrate how to apply them.
	III.-B.
	Yoga for Gardeners – Mary Ann Renzelli
	No nap mid-afternoon! As an “active participant” you will be up and moving. Mary Ann will discuss, demonstrate and guide you through yoga poses that will increase your muscular strength, endurance, flexibility and stamina promoting overall wellness.
	III.-C.
	Canning Fruits and Vegetables – Becky Mowbray
	Can you differentiate between canning processes for low acid and high acid foods. If not, Becky will help you select products for canning, and then walk you through the canning process. An important aspect of her presentation will be food safety.
	III.-D.
	What’s in a Name! – The Basics of Plant Nomenclature – John Porter
	Participants will learn how & why they should use the scientific names of plants. Content will include plant families, their characteristics, plant name basics and how this information helps you to become a more knowledgeable gardener.
3:15 p.m.	Break
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
(Group IV Workshops)
	IV.-A.
	Eating Healthy from Farmers’ Markets – Susan Sauter
	Sugar whipped into marshmallow yellow peeps or highly processed boil-in-bag meals – these are arguably foods- but will not be found at farmers’ markets. Susan will guide you as you look through the lense of the new West Virginia “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” chapter. You will learn what foods are found at these markets, what makes these foods healthier, and where the markets are located. The nomenclature used in labeling will also be discussed.
	IV.-B.
	Extending the Growing Season with Row Covers – Lewis Jett, Ph.D.
	Can you imagine growing food year round in West Virginia? Extending the traditional growing season in West Virginia will significantly increase the availability of local foods. Various technologies exist which can readily be used by home gardeners. Many cool season and perennial crops can overwinter with row covers.
	IV.-C.
	Freezing & Drying Fruits and Vegetables – Becky Mowbray
	Becky’s presentation will focus on how foods can be preserved using both freezing and drying methods. Included will be how to pre-treat food products before drying. In her discussion of freezing as a method for preserving foods, she will discuss advantages and disadvantages, as well as equipment, packaging, and safety.
	IV.-D.
	Healthy Benefits of Small Fruits – Richard Zimmerman, Ph.D.
	Eating healthy should be everyone’s goal. Many small fruits may be grown in relatively small spaces and will yield sufficient fruit during the growing season and beyond. Recent research relative to the nutritional benefits of traditional small fruits will be discussed.
4:30 p.m.	WVMGA Quarterly Board Meeting
6:30 p.m.	Awards Banquet & Live Auction

Sunday, April 18

8:15 a.m.	WVMGA Annual Meeting
9:00 a.m.	Transitioning to Organic Gardening – Jessica Walliser
	Jessica will share the direct benefits of growing organically and will help attendees gain a new understanding of the ease and convenience of organic practices. This segment of the conference will build upon concepts presented in the opening keynote and workshops, by providing basic information that will guide gardeners through the transition process step-by-step.
10:00 a.m.	Laugh Out Loud! – Bil Lepp
	Join us in this upbeat closing segment of the conference as Bil Lepp shares his humor and wit with stories about gardening & gardeners, true and untrue. We promise this session will send you home chuckling.
11:00 a.m.	Conference – Closing Remarks
11:15 a.m.	Conference Ends.