 Advanced Training Update
Thank you to Staff Chair Berni Kurz and the Washington County Master Gardeners for conducting the August 17th Advanced Training class, "Heirloom Gardening". Sixty-three Master Gardeners from across the state, including eleven attending their first advanced class, now have a better understanding of what an heirloom plant is and why we should grow heirlooms. Many also enjoyed pre-training activities which included an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social, Shiloh Museum Tour and a special presentation by Susan Young on food from days of yore. This interesting and educational training also included seed saving techniques. Even 'not so nice' weather could dampen the enjoyment of the attendees nor the enthusiastic and outstanding hospitality of the Washington County Master Gardeners. Congratulations to the following Master Gardeners who have attained a new advanced training level after completing this class: Level I (5 classes): Joellen Beard, Pulaski County Beverly Hefley, Boone County Connie Whitman, Greene County Level II (13 classes): David Anderson, Montgomery County Mary Emma Watts, Sebastian County Congratulations, also, to: Audrey Holt, Baxter County, and Deborah Zimmer, White County. Both Audrey and Deborah have completed 23 advanced classes. To reach the Level III recognition, each must write an article for a county newsletter, the Garden Voice Newsletter, or other publication OR give a presentation at a regular Master Gardener meeting or public workshop. Lucy Fry, River Valley; Mary Wells, Faulkner County, and Rosemary Wingfield, River Valley. Lucy and Mary have completed the 38 Advanced Training classes required for Level V. Rosemary has already completed 39 Advanced Training classes. To complete the final step to earn a Level V badge, each must complete an educational project that makes a significant contribution to a local community, school or Master Gardener program. The project must be on a preapproved horticulture topic. Advanced Trainings are a product of County 76. Classes are offered to active Master Gardeners who have been in good standing in their county program for at least three years. Notices of upcoming Advanced Training classes are provided via Constant Contact. Classes fill quickly, so don't delay when you see a topic that interests you. Linda Soffer County 76 President
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PUMPKIN BROWNIES with cream cheese frosting
INGREDIENTS 1-15 oz can pumpkin 1 c vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 c sugar 2 c flour 1 t baking soda 1 t baking powder 1 t cinnamon 1/2 t salt DIRECTIONS Beat eggs, oil, pumpkin and sugar. Stir balance of ingredients until evenly mixed. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan (I used generic Pam and nothing sticks). Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until outer springs back when touched. Serve with whipped topping or a cream cheese frosting. Chopped nuts can be tossed on top of frosting. CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS 1/2 c softened butter 8 oz cream cheese 4 cups confectioners sugar 2 t vanilla extract DIRECTIONS Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Then add confectioners sugar and vanilla to mixture and beat until smooth. Nice consistency and tasty! Source: allrecipes (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/211165/pumpkin-brownies/) Ingredients
Directions Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a circle and fit into a 9-inch pie pan, finishing the edge of each crust as desired. Refrigerate until ready to use. Rinse the sweet potatoes and place in a large pot. Add enough water to cover them. Over medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil. Cook until the sweet potatoes are completely tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the potatoes from the water. Put the butter into the large bowl of a standing electric mixer. Carefully peel each potato (because they are hot), also removing any brown flesh. Add the hot potatoes to the butter and mash them until smooth. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Beat the sweet-potato mixture with the white and brown sugars until smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste and the lemon juice. Mix on low until thoroughly combined, adding the eggs until they are just combined. Divide the pecans between the two prepared crusts, reserving about 1/3 cup of the best-looking halves to garnish the pies. Pour the sweet potato filling over the nuts, dividing the batter between the two pies. Top each pie with the pecan halves, arranging them as desired. Bake the pies for 1 hour. Raise the heat to 350 degrees and bake until the pies are firm, the crust has begun to brown and the pies have puffed a little, 25 to 30 minutes. Servings: 20 Yield: Makes two 9-inch pies or 20 servings Source: "Christine Taylor's Sweet Potato and Pecan Pie" http://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/christine-taylors-sweet-potato-and-pecan-pie/7639/?utm_term=.219f377abb63  October 2018 Garden and Master Gardener Events
6 - Pollinator Festival, River Valley MG Program, Fort Smith, AR. 7 thru 13 - Master Gardener Week 13 - 30th Birthday Celebraton for Arkansas MG Program, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm, Roland, AR. For active Arkansas Master Gardeners only. 17 - MG Basic Training Class via Zoom (for those counties that are participating). Class is held on Wednesdays 18, 24, 31 and Nov. 7, 14. Contact your county extension office for more information. 18 - 21 - Oklahoma MG Study Trip, For more information call 501-771-0987 Information Registration Form 20 - Bulb Sale, Union County, El Dorado, AR. 23 - County 76 Quarterly Meeting, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Little Rock State Extension Office Auditorium, 2301 South University Ave. Email Linda Soffer if you plan to attend. lfsoffer@gmail.com 
The Baxter County Master Gardeners are a fun group of folks who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with any visitor. At our meetings we have speakers, refreshments, & fun. Come join us! Next Meeting Date: October 11th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm Meeting Place: The First Presbyterian Church 1106 Spring Street Mountain Home, AR September Speakers: Tina Marie Wilcox, "Herbal Vinegars" Horticulture Table: James Lovelace, "Dividing Houseplants and Winter Care" Master Gardeners Monthly Radio Program: Mountain Talk Radio October 17th on 97.1 7:15 a.m. - 8:am. Master Gardener Hosts this month are Tommy Hagan and Ceil Gasiecki Directions: From Mountain Home Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery. Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. From Gassville: Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery. Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side.  From: Bellamy Photostock After the heat of summer, fall brings a needed temperature relief for both plants and their caretakers. Yet fall brings a different stress for these same entities: falling leaves. Some gardeners say leave the leaves where they fall; others hope for wind to remove them; others diligently fill numerous lawn and leaf bags. Perhaps more importantly, what does a layer of leaves do to your lawn?
According to our own Mark Keaton, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Office, "The leaves should be collected as they fall. You don’t want a heavy covering of leaves entering the winter months. A dense layer can actually smother a lawn. People often leave leaves on the lawn until it turns cold and then rake them. If you have a covering of leaves on your lawn prior to the first frost, the leaves may prevent your lawn from going dormant. When you finally do rake up the leaves, you’ll expose actively growing grass to cold weather. Your lawn could suffer winter injury." So there you have it! Get those rakes ready and probably some muscle liniment for afterwards. For other fall gardening suggestions, see the October Garden Calendar in this issue. Baxter County Master Gardeners are preparing for our 25th Anniversary on Saturday, March 23, 2019, with our 2019 Spring Seminar entitled, "Developing an Ozark Green Thumb -- Celebrating 25 Years of Master Gardeners in Baxter County".
We are excited to announce our featured speaker will be Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor of Entomology at the University of Delaware, author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens and co-author with Rick Darke of The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden. Dr. Tallamy will be speaking on “Bringing Nature Home”. You’ll find additional information on his website at www.bringingnaturehome.net/lecture.html. Registration forms will be available in early December on our website, so please check as seating will be limited to the first 200 people. Tickets for the public are $30. The following is a garden checklist for October:
For more information on any of the above points, contact the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at 425-2335. Bull Shoals White River State Park Project Leaders
There will be a leadership opportunity for 1, 2, or 3 people to be Project Leaders at Bull Shoals White River State Park beginning in the new year. After a number of years, Betsy and Margareta have decided to retire at the end of this season. They have done an outstanding job at the park and would like to pass on this wonderful project to new leadership. They generally meet on the first Tuesday of the month, but of course that can change. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested or have questions. Lets keep this picturesque project going. Penny Wells, VP Garden Projects pennywells321@hotmail.com |
Photo used under Creative Commons from NatalieMaynor
