Master Gardener Volunteers
Visit the WI Master Gardener Program, Division of Extension at https://wimastergardener.org/
GLACIAL GARDENERS AWARD TWO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2025
On Monday, August 11th, the Glacial Gardeners Association awarded two scholarships to Baily Broecker of Kingsford, MI. Baily was awarded the Hazel (DeGayner) Dault Memorial scholarship, donated by Hazel’s siblings, in the amount of $1,250. Baily also received the Inga Fleming Memorial Scholarship for $1,000. Baily is a 3rd year student at St. Norbert’s College in DePere, WI, with a major in Communication and a minor in Earth Science.
Both scholarships are open to students who reside in Iron or Dickinson Counties in Michigan and Florence or Marinette Counties in Wisconsin. The scholarships are awarded annually to beginning and returning students who are studying agricultural and applied economics, agricultural education, agronomy, botany, entomology, environmental sciences or engineering, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture, plant pathology, soil science, earth science or wildlife ecology.
The Glacial Gardeners want to thank the siblings of Hazel (DeGayer) Dault, who generously donated $1,250 for this year’s scholarship. The Glacial Gardeners appreciate the many community members who attend and support the annual plant sale held the last Saturday in May at the Florence County Fairgrounds. Proceeds from this very popular plant sale help fund the Inga Fleming Memorial Scholarship program that has now awarded $33,000 to area students. We would also like to thank the volunteers who helped with the plant sale and the following businesses and organizations who donated money, materials or advertising: Spread Eagle Garden Center, Jessica Klumpp and the Florence County Fair Board, Eric Printz and Florence County Economic Development, Pat’s Foods, Wal-Mart, DNM Greenhouse, Duck Soup (Nan Prichard-Sullivan) and Stephenson Marketing. The Glacial Gardeners meet the second Monday of every month at the Florence Natural Resource Center lower-level conference room at 5:00pm. They are involved in many projects in local communities and with area schools. New members interested in gardening at home as well as within the community are always welcome. Annual membership dues are $15.
For more information, send an email to glacial.gardeners@gmail.com.
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
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.
