Master Gardener Volunteers

Visit the WI Master Gardener Program, Division of Extension at https://wi mastergardener.org/

GLACIAL GARDENERS

The Glacial Gardeners was started by the graduates of the first training program offered by Florence County UW-Extension in 1997. Current membership includes 21 gardeners from Florence and Marinette Counties of Wisconsin, and Dickinson, Iron & Menominee Counties of Michigan.

A wide variety of volunteer opportunities and projects are available to members:

Diagnosing plant problems
Educational exhibits during local events
Educational workshops at the Crossroads Community Garden
Wreath Workshop
Member Only Plant Auction (second Monday in September)
Spring and Fall plant sales (Annual Spring Plant Sale – Florence County Fairgrounds)

Monthly meeting and programs are held on the second Monday of the month in the lower-level conference room of the Florence Natural Resource Center at 5:00 PM. Master Gardeners from other states or those with lapsed certification are welcome. Annual membership dues are $15 per person. For more information on how to join the Glacial Gardeners, contact via email at glacial.gardeners@gmail.com or stop into the Extension Florence County office located at 5628 Forestry Drive, Florence, WI 54121.

Left to right: Glacial Gardeners Officers: Sharon Chick, Vice President – Nancy Hill, President – Mary Bibby, Secretary/Treasurer

Glacial Gardeners Scholarship Opportunities for 2025

The Glacial Gardeners are once again offering Scholarship opportunities to area high school and current college students as a steppingstone on their journey to higher education. One of our missions has been to reach out to the youth in our communities and kindle a passion for horticulture and all things green. Click on the link below for the 2025 Glacial Gardeners Scholarship Application.

Glacial Gardners Scholarship Application – 2025

Please note that the essay will be used as the deciding factor on who will be awarded the scholarships.

Deadline: Completed application must be postmarked by June 13, 2025.

For more information, send an email to glacial.gardeners@gmail.com.

Master Gardener Volunteer Training Marinette, Oconto and Florence Counties

The Master Gardener program is all about building your gardening skills and providing opportunities for volunteering in the local community. As a member of the class you will learn how to find answers to gardening questions through the use of research-based material from the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. On completion of the classroom sessions (36 hours), there will then be 24 hours of volunteer time put in at one or more of the approved projects in the area. For information on the Wisconsin Master Gardener program, go visit the state website Wisconsin State Master Gardener Program

For more information about the Master Gardener Training or the local association (Glacial Gardeners Master Gardener Association), e-mail Office Manager Jane Lindow (jane.lindow@wisc.edu).

Topics covered in Master Gardener Training include:

Plant Biology & Morphology
Soils & Soil Health
Woody Landscape Plants
Fruit Crops
Composting
Herbs
Lawn Care
Plant Propagation
Backyard Wildlife
Perennials and Annuals
Vegetables
Using Native Plants
Weed Management & Invasive Plants
Entomology
Plant Diseases

To complete an annual re-certification, 24 hours of volunteer time is needed plus 10 hours of continuing horticulture education.

The possibilities for volunteering are limited only by your own ideas and time. Whether you like working most with people or with plants, there are activities that you can do to fulfill the volunteer hours requirement.