Fall is fast approaching and that means it's time for pumpkin picking and planting fall cover crops in your garden!

Our September newsletter features a Fall 2022 Volunteer of the Season, new climate resilient initiatives from HGIC, a Bay-Wise Advanced Training opportunity, upcoming continuing education events and more!

Judy was nominated by her coordinator, Edward Goodman, because of her long-standing service to her community. She is described as a champion of the program who has made monumental impacts within her community. She will be going on Emeritus status as she moves to be closer to family, but her contributions to the program will benefit all those MGs who come after her.

Judy joined the MG program to meet others who have similar interests, learn more about native plants, improve the environment and provide for wildlife. Her favorite part about being a MG has been interacting with other MGs and educating citizens about native plants and their role in the ecosystem.

Judy has been very active in the Bay-Wise program. She says that each Bay-Wise yard visit brought a different interaction with homeowners who wanted to make their properties more sustainable and Bay friendly. She also enjoyed making Garden Smarter presentations and answering questions from the audience, and talking to people who came up to their booth at various county events.

Fall Vegetable Garden Evaluation:

Is it time to redesign your garden? 

Monday, October 10th, 2022 | 12 am - 1:30 pm

Zoom Webinar | Free

Fall is the perfect time to assess your garden’s performance and design. This talk gives gardeners the tools to evaluate their site and introduces gardeners to design guidelines using photos of existing gardens. Examples will be primarily drawn from traditional in-ground gardens and raised bed gardens.

Join us for a Bay-Wise Landscape Management Advanced Training hosted by the Calvert, Saint Mary's and Charles County Master Gardeners.

All Master Gardeners are welcome, including those who have already taken the advanced training (but would like to attend for a refresher).

Previously certified Bay-Wise Master Gardeners do not have to pay the registration fee but must register to attend.

The two-day training will be held from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM on November 2nd and 9th. You must attend both days to be certified as a Bay-Wise Master Gardener.

For questions, contact Liz Laher at llaher@umd.edu. 

The National Junior Horticultural Association is hosting their national convention, held in Baltimore, Maryland October 7th -10th 2022. Throughout the year, the National Junior Horticultural Association educates youth in horticulture through the acronym HYCEL: Horticulture, Youth, Careers, Education and Leadership at our annual convention. 

Are you in a position to offer a workshop? They are hoping to have Master Gardeners to be a part of the convention experience. Please contact Susan Knight, 2022 Convention Chair Host and local contact at 443-553-0542 or Dr. Brian Stark at 402-202-8834 and leaders.educators.together@gmail.com if you are able to support our efforts to make a difference in our annual convention. 

Are you interested in using solar to power your home, farm, or business?

If so, you'll want to join one of the University of Maryland’s upcoming Solar Workshops to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with solar energy. Each workshop will cover important topics that will help you successfully, and sustainably, implement a solar electric system, including discussions of:

• How solar energy works and what role it plays
• How solar impacts you as a homeowner or landowner
• How to finance and facilitate a solar project

A team of Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturists, Extension faculty, and Master Gardeners answer yard and garden questions from Maryland and Washington, DC residents. If you haven't used Ask Extension or suggested the service to your community, give it a try!  

Nationwide Ask Extension questions are now searchable by keyword, location, and more at ask2.extension.org. Searching previous submitted questions could be a great tool in your toolkit at plant clinics! 

1. Go to ask2.extension.org (you don't need a log-in).

2. Enter your search term(s). Click on search.

3. On the search results page you will see options to filter by date, month, expert, and state.

Knowing when it's time: Season's end

By Erica Smith, Master Gardener, Montgomery County

Diggin' into plant-based diets

By Beverly Jackey, MS, RDN, LDN, Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Maryland Extension (UME)