I read the February article: “RCC/SOU hold lock down in HEC.”
    The story talks about new devices that will be installed to “lock down” doors and a system that will notify people if a “ACTIVE SHOOTER” is on campus. I’ve been through such drills on Portland Community College campuses. And I’ve seen the same thing attempt to be implemented across the nation in all our schools and colleges.
    These measures provide a false sense of safety to people. AND condition them to be easy targets.
    I can say such an attitude, such as automatic door locks, towards such an event is at best mediocre. Teaching people to go inside a classroom, turn off the lights, lock the doors doesn’t work. It didn’t work at Virginia Tech, it didn’t work at Columbine, it didn’t work and wont work anywhere its tried.
    There is time from when the event starts, to when the police are called, to when they arrive, and THEN if they can find the perpetrator, they MIGHT be able to stop him. However, as with Columbine, the police waited outside, until SWAT/SRT teams could arrive.Even if the Patrol officer decided to go in before SWAT, they still couldn’t get there in time.
    The solution is simple and has been implemented in Oregon to an extent. That of allowing individuals to carry concealed with a permit. There have been several noted instances of where a PRIVATE citizen carrying legally, has stopped an evildoer.         Such is the case in Israel, where the vast majority of citizens carry concealed and stop terror attacks right as they start without waiting for police.
    However, locking doors and hiding under tables is akin to waiting and hoping someone will come to your aid. Would you or any other citizen be really safe with this attitude? I say no, it would not be any safer.
     My final example will be the terror attacks of 9-11, the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid, and the underwear  bomber. Three Planes had compliant victims, waiting for rescue.
    The fourth plane, flight 93, fought back, stopped the attack at the cost of their own lives. BUT in doing so, they probably saved others lives on the ground. The same can be said of passengers on the planes with Richard Reid and the Underwear bomber. AVERAGE citizens, unwilling to wait for “help” stood up and stopped an attack.
    And this shows average citizens cannot wait for help from someone else.
    Once again, being a compliant, obedient subject, waiting for rescue doesn’t work.
    Standing up and acting to save ones own life and that of others works much better.So the fake safety measure of automatic door locks does nothing. Nor does issuing laws or rules that ‘forbid’ any weapons/guns on school grounds.
    A criminal doesn’t follow the law. Such laws make sure his victims, however, are unarmed and easy prey.

Respectfully, 

James Bacon

RecycleMania is in full swing at Redwood Campus, and we’re competing against colleges across the nation to see who can recycle the greatest percentage of their waste. So far, RCC is in 3rd place for schools in Oregon, recycling 30.86 percent of our waste. This percentage is ok, but we can do better! The competition is happening until April 2nd and we could really use your help recycling to make this event a success. 
    To encourage recycling on campus, watch out for our Green-Handed Campaign. Club members will be offering free Dutch Brothers drinks (kindly donated) to people that are caught “Green-handed” by recycling or pulling recyclables out of the trash to recycle them. If you recycle you might be rewarded!
    A few weeks ago, to kick off RecycleMania, the Sustainability Club, along with friends and artists, set out to build a sculpture out of just one day’s worth of RWC campus’ waste. We used paper coffee cups, lids, soda cans, and other preventable waste to build a nature scene (complete with a tree, a river, flowers, an osprey, and a salmon). It was astounding to see how many coffee cups were thrown away in just one day! 

This is a great example of how just one small change in your life can affect the environment.  If all of us used reusable mugs instead of paper cups:
    •RCC would have to pay less for trash disposal,
    •The cafeteria would be able to save money on supplies,
    •The owner of the reusable mug would save money on every cup of coffee or tea purchased (most coffee shops offer a discount if you bring your own mug).
This sounds like an easy win-win situation.  As a club we encouraged this idea by offering free coffee (donated by Rogue Coffee Roasters) to those students and faculty that brought their own mug. 
    For more information about RecycleMania, the RCC Environmental Sustainability Club, or to get involved please contact us at rccsustainabilityclub@gmail.com or check out our website

Staff writer

    As a financial aid recipient myself, my college education is completely reliant on whether or not I receive aid. Students such as myself are in the “no aid, no go” boat, making financial aid an absolute necessity. This means I am not alone when it comes to the need for funds to cover my education.
    Sheri Muzzioli, financial aid specialist in Rogue Central said that the key to maximizing the amount of aid you will receive is applying and filing early, so it’s a good idea to file as soon as possible for the summer term. The deadline for the spring term has already passed, but with the summer term deadline being April 11th, there is still time to complete the process before classes begin in June.
    “Students should also make sure they are applying for scholarships,” says Muzzioli. “RCC gives over 400 scholarships, and OSAC gives over 4000. All of these things reduce the amount students have to take out for loan debt,” she concluded.
    RCC has set up a three step financial aid process to assist in getting all of the necessary documents and information filed. The steps are as follows:
    Step 1 – Complete the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to include RCC’s federal school code, which is 010071. You will need to have ready your social security number, individual student information (marital status, veteran status, etc.), prior year federal tax information for you and your spouse/parents, adjusted gross income (AGI), non taxable income and benefits, and any asset information, if applicable.
    Step 2 – Respond to correspondence – Watch for emails from MyRogueTeam at RCC and be sure to file any additional paperwork needed as soon as possible.
    Step 3 – Take charge of your finances- RCC requires aid recipients to complete a certificate, degree, or transfer program within a maximum credit allowance as determined by the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy (SAP), maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average, and successfully complete a minimum number of attempted credits each term. You will need to read the SAP policy brochure sent with your first award letter, and be sure you understand the rights and responsibilities of accepting aid. (Please contact a Rogue Central Specialist for clarification)
    According to the RCC’s financial aid information site, funds from approved grants, scholarships, and Federal Stafford loans are disbursed to students at the end of the second week of each new term. Please note that the actual date your funds will be available will depend on the date your application was processed by RCC.
    A college education can make the world of difference in your attainable career options. Financial aid can assist greatly with fees including tuition, books, and supplies. Federal and state funds are available for you, so remember…apply and file your paperwork early, be sure to apply for scholarships, and answer all of you’re MyRogueTeam email. Please visit www.roguecc.edu/FinancialAid for additional information and clarification.

Staff writer

Few would guess that behind Morgan Mornings’ perpetual smile and chipper demeanor was a rising young star in Rock and Roll. 
    You’ve probably seen him working as a barista at the cafe in RCC’s HEC building, or perhaps caught between the bustle of finding parking and getting to class on time. Though it may seem unlikely, this otherwise humble RCC student is a burgeoning rock star.
    When he’s not busy penning and recording songs for his upcoming EP (to be released on May 17th), you can probably catch him on YouTube entertaining his devoted following of hundreds. Of course fame isn’t always positive as he admits, “This one 13 year old girl, she’s like, in love with me. She sent me a picture of her in a wedding dress with me in a tux. It was pretty weird, I had to block her.” 
    While he tries to play down his success, it is hard to deny that at 19 years old, Mornings whos real last name is Ginsburg has already made more headway than many his age have even dreamed of. His fame on the internet has helped him earn entrance into YouTube’s selective Partner Program, which means he earns a share of their ad revenue. Even more amazing, Morgan is also sponsored by Stone Picks, a company that makes high end guitar picks out of polished stone and dinosaur bone.
    It’s hard to imagine all of this is coming from someone who started out using Apple’s Garage Band software to record songs in his bedroom. In sixth grade, after seeing the movie School of Rock starring Jack Black, Morgan  found his passion in life, playing guitar. Despite his parents’ initial reluctance to buy him one, Mornings found his way by taking any odd job he could get until at last he had saved enough money to purchase his first guitar, a Suzuki Strat.
    Things have come a long way since then. After collaborating with a local producer and expanding to three guitars and a professional grade sound board for home recording, Mornings has already fielded multiple offers for internships in Music production up and down the West Coast, in addition to earning the rare experience of getting to collaborate with some of his favorite musicians. “In high school, they used to call me “Young Hendrix” because I had the hair and the ‘stache,” he says with a grin. If his past success is any indication, he’ll soon be called that for another reason.

Staff writer

Look at the people around you in class. Now look at the instructor. After a term you might feel you know them, but would you be able to say if they are, or have ever been, homeless?

Jenny Jackson spent some of her teenage years stuffed into a singlewide trailer lacking electricity, sometimes with 15 to 20 other people. “It was a really dark and sad time in my life,” said Jackson, now the Associated Student Government advisor on Redwood campus. “I was really scared.”

Many others at RCC and in the Rogue Valley are currently in the same predicament as Jackson once was.

RCC student Ryan Katz is one of many who have struggled with homelessness. Currently in his fourth term, he is excelling in his classes and working on getting his CNA license.

However things haven’t always looked so bright for Katz.

After losing his dad to cancer at 12 years of age, Katz has never been the same. It started on the day of his dad’s funeral when his uncle handed him his first shot of whiskey. Not long after that, his aunt came with his second and that was all it took.

From that point on, Katz never turned back, and that was when the downward spiral began. After his father’s death Katz became a very hateful, bitter and angry child. He was an alcoholic and user by the age of 15.When his mother became a Jehovah Witness, she was no longer allowed to have anything to do with her son because of his actions, and so Katz was kicked to the street.

Not remembering much of anything from the age of 12 to 15, Katz does remember waking up in the hospital after being in an alcohol induced coma for 48 days. Opening his eyes he saw his mother and the tears and pain in her face, “What am I doing to my mother?” he thought, but it wasn’t enough to stop him.

“The pain I felt inside nobody knew,” said Katz.

The two people he loved the most had left him feeling abandoned. And so he lived the only way he knew how to block everything out.

Katz graduated from high school in South Dakota, although he doesn’t remember it, and then joined the Marines for the next 9 years.  While on a two week furlough, Katz had been on acid the entire time. He didn’t remember much from that trip, but he does recall being pulled up a cliff by paramedics. Katz was rolled off a 75 foot cliff in Hawaii and left for dead at 19 years old.

Katz had been clinically pronounced dead after being in another alcohol induced coma for three and a half days. But before even leaving the hospital he slammed a half of a bottle of whiskey given to him by a fellow Marine that was at his bedside.

“This addiction is such a scary thing,” said Katz. “I wanted to kill myself, but I didn’t have the courage to do it.”

“I never took baths. I learned how to eat out of garbage cans, and I knew the best places to eat,” he said. “I went to places that no human being should ever go.” But because of his addictions, he went.

Finally in 2006, Katz had a moment of clarity, and he knew he needed help or he was going to die. He had heard about an Alcoholics Anonymous group in White City, and before he knew it he was at the Domiciliary. Katz is in his third year at the program. Knowing that he has overcome his battles and there are people out there who support him makes each day a little bit easier.

“I’m a guy today that should not be here. Why I’m here is beyond my reasoning,” Katz said, “My life is really good today, although Algebra is kicking my ass.”

Today Katz is taking things one day at a time. “I don’t have a lot in life, but I’m comfortable with who I am,” Katz said. “I’m not a hateful man anymore, I’m not bitter, and I’ve forgiven myself. I’m a freaking miracle, I really am.”

A hand up, not a hand out

Working with homeless and at risk for homeless youth in Jackson County, the Maslow Project is just one of many places willing to help those in need.

In a tiny space on Main Street those who are in need of help will undoubtedly find what they are looking for. Aubrey Sharp and Drew Fitzpatrick are just two of the staff who are there to help those who come through their door.

Sharp, a case manager, and Fitzpatrick, a mentor and outreach coordinator, help supply the homeless with basic needs, and much more.

The Maslow Project has an abundance of supplies to give: On-site food, water, hot drinks, snack bins, heat up food, a hygiene closet, school supplies for those who are continuing in school, clothing, a place to do laundry, a place for showers, food boxes, sleeping bags, blankets, furniture occasionally, and free counseling services.

The clothing is supplied through Jessica’s Closet, which allows you to take up to 20 items once a month, and food boxes can be filled with enough food to last five to eight days.

Once a week a DHS worker will come in to help those who want to get on food stamps.

Maslow Project is open Monday through Friday, and usually sees about 25-50 walk-ins each day.

Besides providing the homeless or at risk with basic needs, they also can provide referrals to shelters and other programs. If the individual is under 18 years old they refer to Hearts With A Mission, and if they are over 18 years old they refer to the Mission.

According to Sharp, most homeless youth do not stay in shelters. About 80-90 percent don’t access shelters; they sleep on the streets, couch surf or double up with two or more families.

“We can tell them about the shelters, but on average they aren’t going to use them,” said Sharp.

The Maslow Project also aids in case management. They can help with the process of getting a birth certificate, an identification card, getting enrolled at RCC, completing the FAFSA, help create a resume and job skills classes. The basic needs are easy to get, but in order to receive extra help you must meet with a case manager once a week. Sharp is actively managing the cases of 60 kids.

“We want to work ourselves out of a job, but due to the economic season, it doesn’t look like it will happen this year.” said Fitzpatrick.

After seeing 1,610 individuals from June of 2009 to June of 2010 and serving roughly 3,500 hot meals on-site last year, the MaslowProject is hoping to find a new space so they are able to expand their services to a larger space.

Thanks to places such as the Maslow Project, homeless youth and families are getting the help they need. “The homeless population in Medford is very invisible,” said Sharp.

Referrals from RCC

According to RCC counselor Tom Pike, when a new homeless student is at RCC referrals can be made. Where they are referred to depends on the circumstance of why the student is homeless and their age.

“We’re not in the business of providing housing, but we certainly refer to agencies that are in that business. So we try to make appropriate referrals and support them,” Pike said.

At RCC there is an SOS program used by faculty. If there is suspicion that a student may be homeless, teachers can contact advisors and they can then try to reach the student and see if they may be able to help in any way. RCC also has master’s level clinicians on staff who are trained to provide personal counseling.

The Drive of Jackson

As a child she was orphaned, and placed between different homes and institutions. This was a struggle and culminated in her becoming a runaway.

From the ages of 15 to 17, Jackson lived anyway she could, couch surfing from place to place. She spent time with people she otherwise would not have. The only reason she was with them was because they were the only people who were there to provide food and shelter.

While living in the trailer Jackson saw a lot. “We would burn kindling down to embers in an old barbecue and then take it inside to keep the children warm at night in the winter.”

The trailer was rented by one person who had an incredible heart for others, and welcomed those without a place to stay. When she could no longer stay in the trailer Jackson moved into a van with two other people, two dogs and all of their things. She lived in that 69 Dodge for about six months.

It was a tough place to live, and even harder for Jackson as she watched her things get destroyed. “Such an unclean place, no showers, and with three people and two dogs, things would get spilled, oils get on clothes and things just got ruined,” Jackson said. “In many ways I’m very grateful for that time because every day of my life I appreciate what I have. I appreciate every meal a little bit more and my big soft cushy bed,” said Jackson.

The people that she lived with in the van had a poor mentality. They spent their days driving around trying to find bottles and cans to turn in so they could buy liquor.

Jackson at 15 was smarter than that though.

“I remember talking with these people who were my mentors, and people that I looked up to, and I was saying, ‘Shouldn’t we do a priority check here?’” Liquor wasn’t on Jackson’s list; she wanted a place to stay and something to eat.

Technically Jackson could not get a job because she was still a runaway and not yet 18 years old. But at 17, Jackson got her first job working at Taco Bell.

Within a month, she had a home, and hasn’t been homeless since.

Jackson started going back to school at 17 years old here at RCC. Where she earned her high school diploma and college degree.

“I am really proud of how far I’ve come and where I am,” Jackson said. “One thing that is unique about having been homeless in the past, is when I tell people I used to live in a van, they view me differently. I can see a real change, because they didn’t imagine that about me. And it gives them a new perspective on what I’ve been through.”

Something that makes Jackson unique is that she can tend to be kind of hard on homeless people. “I have a big problem with people standing on the street corners and begging for money,” Jackson says. “I got up and did something. I made a conscience decision to be proactive and find myself a life.”

“Education has been my saving grace in life.” That is something Jackson says frequently. Jackson is full of encouragement for those who may be in the same place today that she used to be in. “It’s up to you to find what you need. There are resources out there and people who want to help you,” Jackson said. “If you choose to improve your life you can. It’s just a matter of doing it. I’m not saying it’s easy, it’s certainly not easy, but it’s worth it.”

Staff writer

Kris Germana    

October 29, 1969- February 17, 2011 

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” 

Kris Germana

–Henry Brooks Adams 

Kris Andrew Germana, respected faculty member and friend, passed away Thursday, February 17, 2011 in his home in Eagle Point. He was 41.

Germana was a Rogue Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology graduate, and began his career as an instructor/coordinator at RCC in the Manufacturing Technology Department in 2003, according to his supervisor, Jeanne Howell, dean of instruction and Workforce/Continuing Ed.

The faculty and staff members at RCC held Germana in high regard, and spoke very highly of his knowledge, and his commitment and dedication to his profession.

 “Kris took a program that was on its way out, and turned it into a program that manufacturers needed and wanted,” Howell said. “He provided a real contribution to the college, and was totally dedicated to the school, the manufacturing program, and to his students. He honored the huge amounts of knowledge that his instructors brought to the program, and he will be greatly missed. ”

Rand Hill, marketing and community relations specialist at RCC, also shared a high level of admiration for Germana.

“I had a lot of respect for Kris,” Hill said. “He was humble, confident, and soft spoken, but funny. He was noticeably respected by his students, and he was respected greatly by the professional community. He was a sweet guy, and he was always great to work with. I really do feel sad for his family.”

David McKeen, department head of the Manufacturing Technology Department spoke very highly of Germana saying he was “a born teacher.

“He loved his students, and he loved teaching,” McKeen said.

McKeen valued Germana’s vast amounts of knowledge and respected him not only as a colleague, but also as a friend.

“As a department head, I was supposed to be teaching him things, but more often than not, it was the other way around,” McKeen said. “He was always a cheerful, helpful, mentor to students. He was a facilitator of learning. He will be deeply missed.”

The feelings amongst his friends and colleagues at RCC were unanimous. He was a positive and valuable asset to the college and to the community.  The lives he touched were many, and he will be missed.

Those wishing to express their condolences may post their thoughts to a guest book set up in his honor on the Mail Tribune website.

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday in room 184 on the Table Rock Campus.

Germana with a student

Staff writer

What do RCC, SOU, MPD, and the FBI all hold in common?
Staff members from each of these departments were on hand late January while a staged lock-down took place in the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center in Medford.
    According to Grant Lagorio, RCC Director of facilities and operations, the purpose of this drill was to test the functionality of the lock down devices, and to observe a mock lock-down in order to identify any flaws that could be fine tuned.
    “In the event of an actual emergency where an armed intruder was in or near the facility, we want to make sure that everyone in the building stays as safe as possible,” said Lagorio.
    The doors leading into the HEC building and stairwell areas are all equipped with electronic locking devices that can be simultaneously activated.
    “Each floor has a lock-down button,” said Lagorio.
“When a button is pressed, it secures the corresponding floor by prohibiting entry through the doorways and elevators on to other floors.”
    Lagorio said that in addition to the locking devices, the plan also includes a timely warning announcement system.
    This system requires a four digit code to be pressed, which turns the phone speakers on in each room so that instructors can be informed that a lock-down is in effect.
    The overhead PA system is also activated so that instruction can be given to everyone in the building.
    Heather Freiheit, SOU EMHE Disaster Preparedness grant director said that flyers were sent out to all staff members the night before the lock down to notify staff of what to do and procedures to follow during the drill.
    “Tuesday morning prior to the lock-down, I visited with students near the coffee shop downstairs and told them about the drill,” said Freiheit. “I asked them to think about where they might go and what they would do,” she added.
    Lagorio said that the HEC building was relatively full just before the drill, and that Medford Police and FBI officers were present to offer support, insight and suggestions on how things should be done.
    At 10:15 am, the lock-down devices on each floor were activated.
“The phone system and PA devices were utilized, and two or three staff members were on each floor to insure that every door was locked, including class room doors, and that students in each room were hidden out of sight,” said Lagorio.
    Linda Renfro, Dean of instruction and college preparatory education, said, “Over all, the drill went quite well.”
“There were a few glitches with the phone and PA system that need to be tightened up, but that’s why we do a drill,” Renfro said.
    Medford Police Officer Ernie Whiteman agreed, saying “Being that it was the first time the school held a drill, I think everything went surprisingly well.”
    Whiteman added that he has overseen many drills in the past, and that this one ran pretty smoothly.
“The only thing that really crossed my mind was that we needed to make sure that our department had ease of access during a lock-down,” he said. “We don’t have keys to the building currently, so that would be an issue, if we arrived after the lock-down was initiated.”
    Freiheit agreed as well saying “I think the drill was great.”
“We need to consider putting blinds up on all of the windows, I think, so that every person inside the building is out of sight and safe.”
    When asked if other buildings on campus would be included in the future, Lagorio said that the HEC building was first because it was built with all of the proper equipment, but that he hopes to have lock-down capabilities at all of the facilities eventually.
    “I am very pleased with how our first drill went,” said Lagorio.
“We plan on having another one soon to re-test the system and fine tune the process.”
    Lagorio said that in order for such a process to be successful, faculty has to be part of the entire plan. “They are the leaders of each group, and if faculty does not participate, the students are not going to know what to do.”
    “I am pleased that we were able to have FBI and Medford Police Officers here during the event.”
    “We invited them, and they came,” Lagorio said.
    “We learned many things today, and we did it with the help of these officers,” he concluded.

Staff writer 

Eye-to-Eye, Heart-to-Heart is a theatre performance designed to break the fourth wall and transform the often singular experience of watching theatrical performances into one of mutual collaboration.
    “If we don’t see eye to eye, we definitely need heart,” so begins the diverse collection of scenes that aims to educate the RCC community about, “…how we are the same, how we are different, and what matters most to us.”
 

   “The fact that we are human may fail us as a bridge sometimes”, said one of the troupe’s 15 players. Here, we find the central problem that this project of RCC’s Diversity Board has undertaken, exploring the community issues that arise on our inclusive campus.
    Through a cast that ultimately stretches to more than 30, according to the official program, Eye-to-Eye, Heart-to-Heart has integrated modern theatre with techniques borrowed from Brazilian Theatre and the field of Drama Therapy as a form of dialogue in order to promote understanding according the program provided.
    At the core of Eye-To-Eye, Heart-To-Heart, is a philosophy that dialogue can facilitate change. As their program states, “Theatre for change, in our changing culture,”
The first level of dialogue the troupe focuses on is simply that of theatre itself. The act of attending a show is a one way form of interaction. The group has expanded on that by adding multiple layers.
    To begin with, they hand out surveys to audience members and then integrate the responses into the performance. Further, the cast on occasion called upon the audience to add their own input or subject matter, in much the same way as improvisational theatre groups field material from the crowd.
    Though far different from many other performances, the cast allows members of the audience to join them on stage and even direct the action of the scene.
    Performances like these take many risks by attempting to push the established boundaries of theatre to a new dimension. Sometimes though taking a risk doesn’t pay off.
    During their January 26th performance at RCC’s HEC Presentation Hall, the audience was unresponsive which led to a few long silences on stage.
    Eye-to-Eye, Heart-to-Heart is designed to facilitate communication and, yet if the audience is unwilling to communicate, then it is difficult to achieve the dialogue they seek. Confronted with a tepid audience rarely willing to share, the players were readily filled the gap. “Silence is OK, it means you’re thinking,” quipped one performer.
    The performance ended as it began, with a performance utilizing the entire cast speaking one at a time to convey the same message. In a show of multicultural unity, the cast bowed together, ending their first of only two performances. There is no word yet as to whether they plan to do more, but according to Bobbi Kidder, the program’s director, everyone is excited about it.

Staff writer

Medford Ore.—The Southern Oregon Spartans are in the playoffs again this year.  Known as the Rogue Valley Wranglers when they first started in 07, the Southern Oregon Spartans are rolling into the playoffs this year with a 31-13 record.
    Having won six straight games and ten out of the last twelve the Spartans figure to be a problem for anybody in the playoffs.  Their main competition will be coming from the Seattle Totems who have handed the Spartans eight of their thirteen losses this year.
    Home games for the Spartans are played at The Rrrink in the south end of Medford.  Going to the games is a great way to spend an evening.  Having never gone before this last weekend we had a blast watching the big hits and high octane offense that the Spartans bring to the table.
If you haven’t made a game yet this year there are only four home games left in the regular season.  Be sure to get to The Rrrink early though because the last few games have all been sellout crowds.  For more information please visit www.sospartans.com

President of RCC Enviromental Sustainability Club

    With all the beautiful weather we’ve been having lately, many gardeners are anxious to get outdoors and prepare for spring. This time of year is great for starting many types of herb & vegetable seeds indoors.
    Starting   plants from seed is a great inexpensive option for starting your own garden.
    This is a great time to start lots of leaf crops like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, chard and many more. You can use a variety of containers from old beverage containers with tops cut off, trays, pots, or even old egg cartons.        
    Any organic potting soil made for household plants will work. To start seed indoors you need to have a warm sunny place that stays generally between 60-75 degrees (seed packets will specify for particular variety).   
    It’s best to have your plants in a south or west facing window. If a
bright sunny spot is not available, you can use fluorescent lights to supplement natural light. When planting the seed, it is important not to cover the seed with too much soil.
    This is a common mistake. Again, seed packets will give you exact information on the particular variety. Its best to have your seeds planted and growing indoors for approximately 4 to 8 weeks before transplanting outdoors.     
    Do not plant outdoors until danger of frost has passed.
If you don’t have a lot of space outdoors, container gardening is another simple way to grow vegetables & herbs. Certain plants do better in containers than others. Some plants that are well suited for containers include lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green onions, beans, radishes, as well as many kinds of herbs. Just as with indoors, a warm sunny spot is needed for best results.   
    You can use a variety of containers for gardening, but regardless of the type, drainage is important. Use a lightweight potting soil, as gardening soil is too heavy for container gardens. Using a layer of coarse gravel on the bottom will help improve drainage. A sign of poor drainage is wilted plants
although there is sufficient water. Another sign of excessive water is yellowing from the bottom and poor coloration. Container plants also need more fertilizing than regular gardens because the constant watering will leach minerals out of the soil. Use a water soluble fertilizer two months after planting.       
    Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks with using the fertilizers recommended rate of application.
    No matter how you go about gardening this year, it’s important to check on your garden daily for best results.        
    Make sure you look for any signs of insects, pests, or signs of
disease. Feel the soil and check the moisture levels. If you have questions, there are tons of resources available! The OSU Extension Service and Master Gardeners are a great resource of local experts. You can find them in Josephine County at www.jocomastergardeners.com or call (541)476-6613. In Jackson County check out http://extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/ or call (541) 776-7371.   
    You can also check out
lots of great gardening classes at the Home Gardener Seminar, Saturday, Feb. 19th at Rogue Community College, Redwood Campus. Cost is $20 per student. More info about the event is available at their website.