Current Community Projects

Community Gardens
Education and Control of Invasive Species
Farmers Market
Oshkosh Area Humane Society Memorial/Tribute Garden
Lincoln School
Octagon House
Paine Gardens
Park View Cutting Garden
Park View Vegetable Garden
Park View Prairie Garden
Park View Flower Arranging
Plant Health Advisors at UW-Extension
Rushford Town Hall
Shared Harvest
Habitat Partners
Washington and Webster Schools

 

Community Gardens, Menasha

Chair:  Ruth Freye, (920) 734-5978
Master Gardeners work with area residents at the community gardens located behind the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley in Menasha.  They assist with planting educational raised beds as well as plant and maintain in-ground beds.  Five mosaic gardens have also been developed by Master Gardeners at this site.

Education and Control of Invasive Species

Chairs:  Lawanda Jungwirth, (920) 836-2878
Audrey Ruedinger, (920) 231-5745
Current efforts center on removal of garlic mustard on the Wiouwash Trail in spring and buckthorn at Waukau Nature Preserve in the fall.  Education of other Master Gardeners and the public on how to recognize and control these invasives is also part of the project.  All Master Gardeners are welcome to help with the removal of invasives and anyone interested in an invasive species other than these two can join the committee as a co-chair for their area of special interest.

Farm Market, Oshkosh

Chairs:  Dorothy Gayhart-Kunz, (920) 233-8468
Janet Priebe, (920) 233-1898
Winnebago County Master Gardeners staff a booth at the Oshkosh farm market every Saturday morning, June until October, to provide information and recommendations to individuals from the community related to care, maintenance and pest management in yards and gardens.

Oshkosh Area Humane Society Memorial/Tribute Garden

Chair:  Dara Sitter, (920) 420-0620
This project focuses on revitalizing and beautifying the Oshkosh Area Humane Society's memorial and tribute garden that exists to remember pets and people in our community. Our focus was to work with the existing memorial structures and young plantings to create a serene, meditative garden space. We created a flow to the garden area and focal points so that the visitor is drawn from one garden room to the other. We improved the lawn conditions and made rock gardens that are not common to most public landscape spaces. We have made a lot of progress in the first year and hope to continue improving the beauty and serenity of the area. This year the Oshkosh Area Humane Society was so enthusiastic about the garden they had a party to rename it. The new name awaits unveiling! All members, especially animal lovers, are welcome to volunteer.

Lincoln School, Oshkosh

Chairs:  Mary Haave, (920) 231-2542
Linda Christensen, (920) 233-0044
This has been a long-term Master Gardener project.  The area has been re-designed and enhanced with plantings of shrubs, perennials and native species.  Annuals are added each year for continuous color and interest.  Additional volunteers are always welcome.

Octagon House, Neenah

Chair:  Jerry Robak, (920) 722-3311
This project takes place at the Octagon House which was built in the 1850’s and is now owned by the Neenah Historical Society.  The purpose of the project is to design and install a landscape that was typical of a Midwest home in the late nineteenth century.  The design includes shrubs, trees, an arbor fence, trellis, kitchen garden, rose garden and a perennial garden.  These projects will be installed as time and funds allow.  The first phase, a kitchen garden, was planted in 2009 and Master Gardeners participated in the first annual County Fair held at the Octagon House in October of 2009.

Paine Gardens, Oshkosh

Chair:  Betty Kuen, (920) 722-9043
Master Gardeners work very closely with the Paine Gardens and Arboretum to help with planting and upkeep of the gardens and in any other capacity as requested by Paine staff.

Park View Cutting Gardens

Chair:  Bill Weber, (920) 231-2936
The cutting gardens are on the southern part of the Park View grounds.  These gardens provide beauty and enjoyment to the residents of the facility.  As these are rather extensive gardens, many Master Gardeners are needed to assist in planting and maintaining them.

Park View Flower Arranging

Chair:  Pat Behm, (920) 410-3290
Master Gardeners cut flowers from the cutting and prairie gardens as well as bring flowers from home to help residents create beautiful arrangements to adorn dining tables and other areas of the facility.  Master Gardeners visit weekly and their efforts are greatly appreciated by the residents.

Park View Vegetable Garden

Chairs:  Al and Judy Harms, (920) 688-5523
The vegetable gardens are located next to the cutting gardens at Park View.  Numerous vegetables are planted in raised, accessible beds each year.  Master Gardeners assist with watering and weeding.  The residents enjoy monitoring the vegetables as they grow and eating them when harvested.

Park View Prairie Garden

Chair:  Ken Hawk, (920) 426-1691
The Park View Prairie was started in 1984 as part of the Zboray Nature Center on the Park View campus.  Carlton and Marion Schneider developed the garden as a prairie plant identification area.  The prairie provides continuous color throughout the growing season and is a favorite spot for Park View residents.  Master Gardeners identify plants, remove invasive species and generally maintain the prairie with spring and fall cleanups.

Plant Health Advisors at UW-Extension

Chair:  Ann Gratton, (920) 231-3015
Plant health advisors are Master Gardeners who volunteer their time and knowledge to assist people from the community with questions about problems in their landscape.  Plant health advisors may work in the UW-Extension office or from home to research answers and respond to messages left on the Master Gardener Help Line.

Town of Rushford Town Hall

Chairs:  Audrey Ruedinger, (920) 231-5745
Carol Dorsch, (920) 589-5936
The Winnebago County Master Gardener Association was asked to help design and coordinate the landscaping at the new Rushford Town Hall in 2009.  Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery, Zillges Stone and a host of town residents were involved as well in providing labor and materials for the project.  Foundation plantings, a rain garden and plantings in a retention pond were stalled initially.  Work will continue in 2010.

Shared Harvest, Oshkosh

Chair:  Ken Friedman, (920) 235-6766
Shared Harvest is a collaborative effort of many Oshkosh area service organizations, farm market vendors, farmers, gardeners and individuals.  Master Gardeners participate in the program by collecting produce for food banks, participating in seed trials and by planning, planting and maintaining a raised vegetable garden at the Christine Anne Domestic Abuse Center. 

Habitat Partners, Winnebago County

Chair:  David Leonard, (920) 379-5860
This project works in harmony with the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity Oshkosh by serving as a resource for new Habitat homeowners in Winnebago County. After an initial visit to the Habitat property, we help the homeowner select a tree or shrub (purchased by WCMG) and assist with its planting. We also provide information to the homeowner on continued care for the tree or shrub and provide an annual calendar of care for their landscape. We offer to remain as a personal resource for the property for one year. We may also suggest appropriate plantings for the future. This is a wonderful opportunity to act as plant educators for new Habitat homeowners.

Washington Elementary and Webster Stanley Schools, Oshkosh

Chair:  Marge Menacher, (920) 233-3467
After school enrichment classes on gardening and plant biology are offered one night per week at each school for five weeks beginning at the end of March each year.  Master Gardeners help the children understand how plants grow and plant vegetables that they can later harvest.