Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash

Autumn brings thoughts of thankfulness

Autumn signals the time of harvest before the cooler weather arrives. Harvest season has been highly celebrated for millennia, especially in times when survival depended on a successful winter stock of food.

When life revolved around the availability of food, this was both a joyous and critical time of the year for communities all over the globe. It's a season of gratitude and celebration.

• In West Africa, they celebrate with the Yam festival.

• Native American tribes such as the Creek, Seminole, Iroquois, Yuchi, and Cherokee nations hold Green Corn festivals.

• In some European folk traditions, the harvest festival called Mabon, after a Welsh god, occurs around the autumnal equinox, and celebrates both the grape and grains harvest.

• The Chinese celebrate Chung Ch’ui with the Full moon that falls on the 15th day of the eighth month. This is considered the birthday of the moon, and special “moon cakes” are baked in a round shape to honor that celestial sphere.

What all these harvest celebrations have in common is gratitude. It's the season of feeling grateful for the bounty the land has provided. Our American holiday of Thanksgiving reminds us that the food on our tables has, for ages, been sown, grown, and harvested in sync with nature and the people in our community. 

May gratitude fill your heart. Happy Thanksgiving!

Our largest fundraiser of the year is here!

Giving Tuesday is a national day of giving when people committed to our mission of community education donate to our program. This day gives us the opportunity to support a cause we love and win challenge prizes.

The primary donors to this annual campaign are Master Gardeners. This isn't surprising. We give our time and resources to what we value most. Fortunately, you show that you value this program and your fellow volunteers in so many ways.

This year, we are honoring Ventura County Women in Ag. We've been fortunate to have the leadership, expertise, and financial support of amazing women in our County. Thelma Hansen and Elayne "Angel" Harbert are two women who deserve our recognition and gratitude.

By working together, I have no doubt we can win these prizes!

DONOR CHALLENGE:

We'll award a $500 prize to the ten funds that have the greatest number of unique donors for Giving Tuesday. (We can do this! All donations count.)

DONATION CHALLENGE:

We'll award a $500 prize to the first four funds that secure an individual $500+ donation on Giving Tuesday! (Donating early matters for this prize!)

IN-IT-TO-WIN-IT CHALLENGE:

We'll award a $500 prize to the fund that raises the most on Giving Tuesday! (This is the biggest challenge and we can do it!)

Here's how you can have the biggest impact:

1) Make a donation on Giving Tuesday!

Use this link https://donate.ucanr.edu/givingtuesday/ and donate on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The challenge prizes are calculated from 12:00am to 11:59pm PT.

Click Make a gift to UC ANR

Choose Ventura County

Choose UC Master Gardener Program (click on our logo)

Select UCCE Ventura County Master Gardener Fund or Ventura County MG - Elayne "Angel" Harbert Endowment Fund

Choose a Donation Amount

Leave a Comment (see more below)

2) What woman influenced your love of gardening?

When you make a donation, please leave a comment and share about a special woman (from the past or present) who has impacted and inspired your efforts in the garden.

We'll collect all of your comments and share them in an upcoming newsletter and on social media (only after receiving your permission).

3) Ask your family and friends to donate on Giving Tuesday.

People love to support the people they love. When you ask, you may be surprised how happy people are to support you and the program.

Remember, gifts of all sizes are welcome and appreciated - you need not ask for a major gift.

Click here for sample language you can use in an email or text.

Watch for social media posts on our VCMG Facebook and Instagram pagers that you can like and share. There will be a few emails related to this campaign. I have some fun surprises for you!

If you have any questions, please reach me at [email protected].

Two inspiring Ventura County Women in Ag,

Thelma Hansen (L) and Elayne "Angel" Harbert (R)

Admin. Assistant Updates

New MG PT Admin. Position: The position has been filled and Master Gardener, Jeanette Villegas, will begin on November 27.

UCCE Admin. Position: Sandra Lyday is now on board and in the office Monday through Friday.

Master Gardeners now have full access to the UCCE Office. Come by during business hours (9am-4pm) to pick up & return carts.

Cultivate Healthy Soil in Your Garden

2023 Healthy Soils Week Event! Learn why healthy soils are important and how to create healthy soils in your own backyard. Understand the ways each essential plant nutrient contributes to a healthy plant and how to make these nutrients available for plant uptake. Taught by Emma Volk, UCCE Production Horticulturalist, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Time: 6pm

Please register in advance with this zoom link:

https://ucanr.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJModuCprTkqHtB4mflZK38i9PVcWMsYSABM

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Garden Professors

NEW USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Ok–I know something is wrong, but what is it?

Plant Disease Primer - Part 4: Going Viral

While the COVID-19 pandemic officially ended months ago, the virus is and will continue to be present in our communities.

• The most important thing you can remember to do is STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. Please stay home if you have symptoms of any infectious illness or are feeling ill.

• If you do test positive for COVID-19, you can report the positive test result to Jill Tyler, so we can assess the risk of other volunteers or staff.

• Masks are not mandatory, although we support those who choose to wear them.

• Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are recommended to protect against the viruses.

Meet the American Pika: This Pint-Sized Mountain Mammal Gathers Wildflowers and Has a Distinctive “Bark”

So cute!

If you'd like something included in the newsletter,

please send it to [email protected]. Thank you!

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