Opportunities for Member Involvement

Volunteer Hours

33rd ANNUAL HOME & GARDEN SHOW, Tri-County Arena, 700 E. Shady Lane Neenah, WI 54956, March 26, 27, 28, 2010

WCMGA will have a booth at the show with Master Gardener volunteers available to the public to answer questions and share gardening information.

Come and visit the various vendors displaying home improvements, landscape ideas, foods, garden related classes, and, of course, our MG booth. We have display boards of “how to” grow vegetables, tree planting, conquering invasive species, and the 2010 annuals, perennials, and hostas.  Our Wonderful Wormiculite and MG cookbooks will be for sale also.

This year WCMGA is sponsoring a speaker at the show.  Andy Krueger is going to do a presentation on bees and gardening.  We’re eager for this event to take place.

It’s time to start thinking of our favorite season, Spring…and that begins with the Home & Garden Show.  We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Co Chairs:  Cindy Meszaros  233-3550
                    Joni Pagel  233-6619

Continuing Education Opportunities

Refer to Training

Projects

For a full listing of sanctioned projects, please refer to the project directory.

New members will earn all their hours on core projects. Certified members must earn at least half of their hours on core projects, before completing the balance of their volunteer hours on individual projects. Five education hours, hours when members go out into the public and share their knowledge with others in the community, will be expected by all members. The five hours are considered part of the minimum required volunteer hours. Core projects are ongoing, annual, and/or long-term projects that prospective or continuing Master Gardener volunteers may be involved in. "Other" sanctioned projects include specialized projects that are short-term in length and need project leader approval for participation.

Core projects include:

1. Community Education
2. Community Gardens: Menasha
3. Education and Control of Invasive Species
4. Oshkosh Farmer's Market
5. Lincoln School
6. Octagon House
7. Paine Gardens
8. Park View Cutting Garden
9. Park View Vegetable Garden
10. Park View Prairie Garden
11. Park View Flower Arranging
12. Plant Health Advisors @ UWEX
13. Rushford Town Hall
14. Shared Harvest
15. Fox Cities Habitate for Humanity

Committees

1. Education and Trips
2. Education—Meetings
3. Event Planning
4. Historian
5. Membership
6. Newsletter
7. Refreshment Committee
8. State Rep
9. SOP & Bylaw Committee
10. Sunshine
11. Hours & Time Keeper
12. Home & Garden Shows
13. Website, Computer and Projector

Education and Control of Invasive Species

This project currently focuses primarily on two invasive plant species: garlic mustard and buckthorn. Since both species are both so widespread, we have of necessity concentrated our efforts in spring on garlic mustard on the Wiouwash Trail and in fall on buckthorn at Waukau Nature Preserve. However, we are not limited to these geographic areas, or these two invasives. Our focus has been on the actual work of removing these invasives and on educating Master Gardeners and the public on how to recognize and control them. We strive to stay aware of potential invasive plants and to caution people about what they plant in their yards and gardens as there are many plants that are would-be invasives given the proper growing conditions.

Why should you care about invasive plants? Take a look at some of the pictures on the Invasive Plants of Wisconsin Association website: www.ipaw.org for the answer. It’s enough to make you sick! By the way, if you do not know what some of these plants look like, there are good individual photos at the same website. If you really want to be shocked, click on “plant list (pdf)” along the left side of the page and scroll down a bit. This is a complete list of all the plants that are or have the potential to become invasive in Wisconsin.

Anytime you pull up, chop down, or otherwise control an invasive plant, you can count the time as volunteer hours. Audrey Ruedinger or Lawanda Jungwirth will be happy to go with you to get you started, give you information as to the best methods or point you to places that need work. We will also keep you informed, via the Master Gardener newsletter or e-mail as to work days and educational opportunities we hear about that are sponsored by other area groups.

All members are welcome to help with removal of invasives and anyone with an interest in an invasive (including invasive insects) other than garlic mustard or buckthorn may join the committee as co-chair over their area of special interest.

Contributed by Lawanda Jungwirth

Project Questions

Any questions regarding projects, please contact Steve Schueler. Phone: 426-1363 or email: stevelinda@new.rr.com