UME Master Gardener Newsletter
October 2017
Hello UME Master Gardeners,

Thank you for your continued service towards the success of the UME Master Gardener Program. Your dedication to this program strengthens each year and we truly value your service.

As 2017 nears an end, please be mindful to submit your volunteer service hours, continuing education hours, and contact data into the Online Tracking System for approval. Please take a moment to read Jon Traunfeld's letter, found below, regarding the importance of recording accurate data. As Jon mentions in his letter, University of Maryland administration is very interested in the data we collect and we greatly appreciate the time and energy that you invest by recording your hours/contact data to the best of your ability.

In addition, we have several announcements for you. Please take a few moments to read through the announcements below.

Thank you!

Jon Traunfeld │ State Master Gardener Coordinator
Alicia Bembenek, Ph.D. │ Master Gardener Advanced Training Coordinator
Beth Bukoski │ Master Gardener Administrative Assistant
Deadline for MGs:

Deadline for MGs to submit OTS hours/contacts to their county/city for approval. Please speak with your MG Coordinator & OTS Admins for further instructions.

Important!
Please submit your hours in a timely and responsible manner. Late submissions can not be entered past the deadline date nor should they be added to the 2018 OTS system when it reopens.
The OTS Opens for 2018:

The OTS will open on this date for 2018 entries.

Reminder!
Please do not enter 2017 hours/contact data into the 2018 OTS system.
The HGIC is pleased to announce its new blog,  Maryland Grows!  Follow (and share!) the blog for timely tips, solutions, and personal stories about real-life challenges in Maryland gardens and landscapes. 

The blog features stories on a range of topics including lawn care, native plants and pollinators, food gardening, pest management, and more, written by University of Maryland Extension faculty and staff and Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturists. Each month we’ll highlight a story featuring Master Gardener related topics.

Eight years ago, HGIC initiated the  Grow It Eat It blog , which was capably managed by MG Erica Smith (Montgomery County) and many other wonderful MG contributors who shared their food gardening trials and tribulations – and successes! All of the previous Grow It Eat It stories are now part of the new  Maryland Grows  blog, which will continue to include food gardening content. The purpose for this change is to represent and share timely information on the wider array of topics covered by HGIC.

G row It Eat It
Come join us for a GIEI Statewide Meeting in 2018!
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 │10 am-1 pm
College Park 4-H Center


Thursday, July 12, 2018 │10 am-1 pm
Location TBD
July 2017 GIEI Meeting Minutes
 Remaining 2017 UME MG Advanced Training Opportunity
Winter Native Tree Identification




Carroll County │ Monday, December 4
 Additional Announcements
9th International IPM Symposium
March 19-22, 2018 │ Baltimore, MD
2019 International Master Gardener Conference
June 17-21, 2019 │ Valley Forge, PA
Thank you!