Volunteer Opportunities for Master Gardeners in Western Wisconsin
Listed Alphabetically by County
Barron
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Buffalo
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Chippewa
- Red Cross Garden Stroll. One or two people are needed to be on hand for visitors at one of the gardens in the garden stroll on the west hell from 1:30 - 4:30 PM. Please call Barb Buker at 726-1992 if you have any questions and/or if you are able to help out.
- Chippewa Moraine Ice Age State Recreation Area. Volunteers are needed to help out with the grounds and other areas. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Brenda Rederer, the National Resource Educator/Manager at rederb@dnr.state.wi.us or call (715) 967-2800. Chippewa Moraine Ice Age State Recreation Area, 13394 Co Hwy M, New Auburn, WI 54757 http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/chipmoraine/
- Volunteer opportunities involving gardening are always fun. We are looking for donations of different varieties of gourds grown by our members to be used at the 2007 Annual WIGMA Conference in Eau Claire. Looking for birdhouse, swan-neck, dipper, and bushel gourds. We need several to use as decorations. Looking for fall theme decorations. If you are looking for other items to grow for the 2007 conference, we can also use broom corn, dried grasses, and dried flowers. We will be having a presentation on gourds at our April monthly meeting.
- "Think Spring" Garden Seminar. As garden centers are winding down, now is an excellent opportunity to seek donations for our Silent Auction and for door prizes. Them spent seeking and obtaining items may be counted as support hours for volunteer time.
- Bluebird Monitoring Project. Although groups have already received a schedule of dates that they will monitor bluebird houses, individuals may still get in on this project to help fill in or join a group. At present we have about 35 houses which are monitored weekly during the nesting season. Volunteers take turns on weekends opening each nest box and making a count of eggs or young birds in the nest. The bluebird houses are located near the bike trail by the county land. To get there, take Cty TK I past the hospital and keep going until the road bends to the left. At the bend there is a road to the left, turn there. The driveway is to the immediate right of the turn. For more information on the Bluebird Project contact Gaylord Oppegard at Gpoppegard@aol.com or telephone 723-4613.
- Chippewa Falls Visitors' Center. Volunteers are needed to week the flower bed at the Chippewa Falls Visitors' Center. You may go on your own or in a group. When weeding, please bring along a garbage bag to dispose of debris. Dead plant material will need to be removed, as well as any weeds. We will need volunteers to continue to help make it presentable through the growing season. Please contact Laura at 723-6711 or talloaks@charter.net if you would like to volunteer or have any questions.
- Clean Boats Clean Water Program. The Lake Wissota Improvement and Protection Association is implementing a Clean Boats Clean Water program on Lake Wissota after Eurasian water-milfoil was discovered in the lake last year. Volunteers will monitor boaters on weekends at three landings on the lake. They will be trained to inform boaters about invasive aquatic species and how to prevent their transfer from lake to lake. Volunteers are needed who will commit to a two-hour training session that can be set up at their convenience and at least two four-hour boat monitoring sessions during the summer. If you are interested in the program, contact Mary Jo Fleming 723-0822 or bingnjo@charter.net.
- Downtown Flower Beautification. Help is needed with early morning watering of the flower baskets throughout the summer. You may volunteer for a week, weekend, or as often as you would like. Please contact Chippewa Falls Main Street at 723-7858 if you have any questions or if you are able to help out.
- Extension Office. Assist in helping out at the Extension Office. It gets very busy during the growing season and it is helpful to be on hand to answer questions.
- Growing Gourds. Donations of bottleneck, birdhouse, apple and bushel gourds are needed for our portion of preparations for the 2007 Annual WIMGA Conference. Time spent growing and drying these gourds counts as volunteer hours. Contact Laura at talloaks@charter.net or 723-6711 if you are able to help or if you have any question.
- Newspaper Articles. If you would like to write an article for the newspaper, please give them to Jerry to submit. It is preferable that they be submitted electronically, but hard copy will be accepted as well.
- Northern Wisconsin State Fair Booth. Volunteers are needed to work at our booth during the fair. Our booth is located in the DNR Building near the floral exhibits. Although our booth is set up to be manned or unmanned, we would prefer to have it manned whenever possible. If you are able to help out, contact Jerry at the Extension Office.
- Northern Wisconsin State Fair Floral Exhibits. Help is needed during the day on Monday and Tuesday of fair week starting at 9 a.m. Help is needed as long as it takes on Tuesday evening to set up. Help is also needed on Wednesday morning starting at 6 a.m. as last minute entries are received and to clerk during the judging on Wednesday. It is always a bit hectic from then until 8:30 to get the final things in order from 8:30 until 9, ready for judging. Helpful hands and calm nerves are useful then! Muriel would also appreciate help during the week to help water and check on exhibits. If/when someone is available, please call Muriel Shervey (723-3172) for more information and let her know when you can help. She will keep a schedule. "Take Down Day", is another busy and interesting day where help is needed!
- Presentations. From time to time Jerry receives requests for our group to give presentations. If you are willing to give presentations to the public and/or other groups, please contact Jerry.
- Raised Bed on Hwy 124 and High Street. We have a raised bed just as the road bends where Hwy 124 turns into a one-way street and River Street meets High Street. This is a small raised bed built up with boards. Volunteers are needed to help keep it weed free. An Excellent clean-up day would be on Saturday, April 29 after working at the Chippewa Falls Visitors' Center bed. Routine maintenance is needed thereafter.
- River Source Family Center. River Source Family Center is a new project that we will be beginning this year. There is much planning and preparations to be made before actual planting may begin. Please contact Laurie Hurt at info@cptooling.com or (715) 288-6487 to volunteer or to answer any questions.
- Wissota Lakeside Home. There is an ongoing project at the former Wissota Lakeside near St. Joseph's Hospital. Cathleen Jeschke and Tracy Beachem have been tending this bed for three seasons now. It began as a simple flower bed and has evolved into a 10X36 bed.
I believe there is plenty of time for us to get a few more helping hands to really make this flowerbed something to marvel at. The residents that are able to get outside have a great appreciation for the garden. Tracy has been able to have many great conversations with many past gardeners and it is great to see a smile on their faces brining back great memories for them.
There really isn't a schedule as of yet. This spot does need more help with watering. It is an East facing brick wall, holding lots of heat. We have a hard time in any dry weather keeping it looking nice. The only date that is planned is 4/2206 a.m. to do any spring clean up and analyze what the winter (and vermin) has done to the bed. Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome. Contact Tracy Beachem at beachem@centurytel.net if you would like to volunteer or have any questions.
Clark
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Dunn
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Eau Claire
Northern Wisconsin State Fair. The Fairgrounds, located on Hwy 124, just north of Leinenkugels in Chippewa Falls, WI is the site of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, held July 12-16 this year. Muriel Shervey heads the Flowers & Houseplants section of the fair, and she needs help setting up for the flower show during the day on Monday and Tuesday, July 10 & 11, starting at 9am. Help is needed as long as it takes on Tuesday evening to set up the exhibits, and on Wednesday morning to clerk during judging. Muriel also appreciates help during the week with watering and checking on exhibits. "Take Down Day" , is another busy and interesting day when extra hands are welcome! If you have time to give, please call Muriel Shervey at 723-3172 for more information and to let her know when you can participate.
Landscape Demonstration Center. There will be a scheduled work session on July 22, 9am - noon, Expo Center, Eau Claire. Info: Rolf Utegaard, bigute-hort@prodigy.net or 834-0065.
Master Gardener Plant Sale. ECAMG's 6th annual Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, August 19th from 9am to 3pm, at Eau Claire County Expo Center! All interested MG's can volunteer their help either with advance work like planning and publicizing, or at the event receiving plants, working the cash table, answering questions, etc--or both. Sign up to volunteer with Carla Pelzl at 835-6628 or jcpelzl@gmail.com.
Going beyond the Zones. The Canadian Forest Service has embarked on an ambitious project called Going Beyond the Zones. They've set up a web site (http:/www.planthardiness.gc.cal) where gardeners across Canada and the Northern U.S. are encouraged to report information about the hardy plants in their gardens.
The project is a follow-up to the 2001 revision of the Canadian Plant Hardiness Zone Map. After enough information is gathered on each plant species or cultivars, a really nifty mapping program can generate a hardiness range map specific to each type. What's really needed right now are lots of gardeners to participate and report on the plants that they are growing.
Registration on the site is free and only takes a few moments. Full details about the project may be seen at www.planthardiness.gc.ca/. Once there, select the language of your choice and the page will pop right up.
Making an Arbor Map. The Tree Club is interested in working on the Arbor Map project...where you identify the major (and minor) trees visible from public roads and sidewalks. You create a local map of the Trees and--presto--your village, your neighborhood, your road, becomes an Arboretum, helping people "see" the land, the trees in a new way. "taking tree walks is much like birding, except the trees stay put. Both are exercises in awareness." www.geocities.com/jim_rose_i/arbormaps.html
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La Crosse
The general rule of thumb: The activity should benefit the community, not just an individual. This does not mean that helping someone one on one does not count, it just means that diversity in your hours helps everyone!
- WKBT Garden Forum
This is a wonderful new opportunity to earn volunteer hours without leaving your home. You can answer horticulture questions (using research based materials) through the WKBT web site"Ask a Master Gardener." For more information and to sign up, call Anne Paape at 782-4678, or Marilyn Rebarchek at 781-3278. Check out the web site at: wkbt.com/global/Category.asp?c=77451
- Sharing our Resources "Plant Sale & Horticulture Demos"
Saturday May 13, 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church Coach House, 233 West Avenue North. Donate quality perennials, annuals, bulbs, etc. Interesting and unusual varieties sell very well. All plants should be potted up with a quality soil less mix and identified by common name and or scientific name. Include any information you can about the plants care. Education is the key. Not only are we selling plants, but we are also providing education to the public. Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words. It would be helpful in our pricing if you could use either quart or gallon sized pots.
You can drop off plants Friday May 6th at the Coach House. If you are interested in helping, sign up at the May MG meeting or call Suzee Farmer (608-785-7240) or Diane Palm (507-643-6970).
- Riverside International Friendship Gardens
Planting in the Chinese and French gardens will begin around the end of May. The gardens are located at the North end of Riverside Park in La Crosse. We are looking for volunteers to help plant the gardens and also help with maintenance throughout the summer.
For more information call Marilyn Rebarched (781-3278) or Jackie Jorgenson (452-3419).
Monroe
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Pepin
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Pierce
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
Polk
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
St. Croix
Please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Jenny Langness (jennlangness@yahoo.com) for more information or to sign up for any of the volunteer opportunities listed below.
Baldwin
Greenhouse wanting weekend MG to answer questions for their customers. Call Rochel Karlson 715-684-2104 or email at floralgreens@baldwin-telecom.net.
Hudson
June 3rd Plant sale - digging up plants, transporting plants, selling plants, answering questions, possible mini break-out sessions.
Farmer's Market Booth - Thursday shifts available from 8-10 or 10-12 through October.
Mayfair in Hudson, MG Booth, May 20th
Christian Community Home - weeding, watering, whenever you can help.
Willow River State Park - in need of summer time help with youth groups - can lead tours, assist in tours, etc. Please contact Kari Hussey at 715-425-8895 or email wrspnc@pressenter.com
Glover Park
New Richmond
Community Garden (North on Hwy 65 out of New Richmond) Planting Day - May 18th Need lots of help, come for an hour or two for stay for the whole day! Always in need of planters, weeders, harvesters, etc. Please donate any time you have to a great opportunity. Call Carolyn Barrette at 715-549- or email tbarrett@pressenter.com or contact Don Hall at 715-248-7327 or email at dkhall@pressenter.com.
School District of New Richmond - looking for help in teaching children about vegetables and fruit. If interested, please contact Diana Alfuth 715-273-6781or email at diana.alfuth@ces.uwex.edu.
Prescott
Friends of Freedom Park - The Great River Road Learning/Visitor Center (Freedom Park) has a brand new building, has a ton of education hours, general volunteer opportunities, gardening & even some teaching! Please help prescott move forward in their new building. Contact Jenny Langness 715-262-0063 or email at jennlangness@yahoo.com, or Sally West at 715-262-4411.
River Falls
Farmer's Market Booth - Saturday shifts available.
Spring Valley
Refuge Farm is a great opportunity for all of you horse lovers!!! Help plant remembrance beds, plant/mulch trees, have new & great ideas for a water feature, etc. If any interest please contact Sandy Gilbert at 715772-3379 or email refugefarms@hotmail.com.
Habitat for Humanity Homes - new homes in need of any and all landscape services we can provide. Please contact Amy Muzzy at 715-425-5623 or email schfh@sbcglobal.net.
Trempealeau
Volunteer Opportunities will be listed as soon as they are available.
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