The following are excerpts from the Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association (WIMGA) 2007 Annual Accomplishment Report's executive summary. (The full 60-page 2007 report is available as a pdf file.) Master Gardeners in Wisconsin:
Volunteered over 179,252 hours to UW-Extension and their
communities:
9,873 hours in Youth Education
This is 11,775 hours more in volunteer service than in 2006.
Participated in over 61,283 continuing education hours
to keep them actively learning and updated. These hours represent the contributions of
members of the 47 local associations affiliated with the WIMGA (in 2007) as well as MG
activities from counties that have not yet formed official local
associations.
Today
there are over 2,660 trained MGVs who are
certified or recertified for 2008.
Approximately 975 MGVs trained in 2007 are
working to complete their initial certification.
Outstanding accomplishments in cumulative volunteer efforts
through 2007 include:
2001 with 150 hours of service (275 new this year)
1774 with 250 hours of service (207)
517 with 500 hours of service (101)
288 with 750 hours of service (50)
179 with 1000 hours of service (28)
36 with 2500 hours of service (11)
8 with 5000 hours of service (2)
2 with 10000 hours of service (0)
1 with 15000 hours of service (1)
Major Activities of WIMGA for 2006The WIMGA is a statewide organization that supports the 47 local MG association members and individual MGVs. WIMGA’s Board of Directors is made up of 15 dedicated MGVs, with two representatives from each of the 6 UW-Extension districts plus three Members-At-Large. They meet monthly over the WisLine network and at least twice a year face-to-face.
Some of the major accomplishments of WIMGA for 2007 include:
Published the WIMGA Annual Accomplishment Report for 2007.
Welcomed two new MG local group to the WIMGA: Jefferson Co. MGA in March; and Ashland-Bayfield Co. MGA in September.
Awarded a total of $2,850 in Education Grants to local MG associations:
Four $100 awards: Calumet Co. MGA, Grant Co. MGA, Taylor Co. MGA, and Waupaca Co. MGA.
Five $250 grants: Columbia Co. MGA, Grant Co. MGA, Northern Lights MGA, Ozaukee MGA, and Portage Co. MGA.
Three $400 grants: Rock Prairie MGA (starter kits
including educational materials, seeds, plant markers, gloves, tools for
community garden programs focused on low-income and underserved youth and
families in Rock Co.); South Central WI MGA (butterfly garden in Montesian
Gardens, a small public garden); and Wood Co. MGA (Buds ‘n’ Sprout youth
gardening summer program).
Contributed $1,000 to the WI Junior Hort Association to help defray the costs of WI youth attending the National Jr. Hort. Conference iand $500 to the National Jr. Hort. Association for program expenses.
Donated $3,000 to the UW-Extension Master Gardener Foundation Fund.
Provided $4,000 to Wisconsin Public Television to sponsor The Wisconsin Gardener program.
Provided $2,000 to Wisconsin Public Radio to sponsor Larry Meiller’s Garden Talk program.
Master Gardeners Make a Difference: Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) in the state’s 72 counties provide a tremendous resource in solving local issues and providing valued education. Their work has an impact on a wide diversity of people and communities across the state.
• Assisting UW-Extension with Consumer Horticulture. In Winnebago Co., specially trained certified MGVs (Plant Health Advisors) answered questions on horticulture problems from the public in the UW-Extension Office. Twelve PHAs answered over 300 inquires. This assistance was particularly notable because the Agriculture Agent resigned midway through the year, leaving no other staff to answer questions.
• Protecting the Environment. The Rock Prairie MGA mak23es their own low-cost rain barrels accessible to fellow gardeners in the county. The Rain Barrel Project produced and sold 54 units. Proceeds from sales are used to sustain this project and to assist in funding various community gardens in Rock Co.
• Providing Valued Education. The Glacial Gardeners of Florence Co. organized the First Annual North Stars Garden Conference in conjunction with Michigan MGVs and a local non-MG garden group. In the past gardeners in this area have had to travel 2-3 hours to attend any kind of conference. Over 115 people attended the extremely successful April conference that featured 12 speakers.
• Connecting Food Producers and Consumers. The Columbia Co. MGA developed a guide to local farmer’s markets, greenhouses, community-supported agriculture locations in the county, pick-your-own operations, and farm stands. The guide was distributed at several events in conjunction with a display about the importance of eating locally grown food that included a county map with producer locations highlighted.
• Teaching Children About Gardening. In Taylor Co. MGVs worked closely with the Medford Public Library and the library’s youth group. A MGV guided the youth in planting and weeding gardens of flowers and vegetables, and later the kids had a “taco” lunch with produce from their garden.
• Restoring Historic Gardens. The Sauk Co. MGA is restoring the gardens at Mid-Continental Railway Museum in North Freedom to what a typical railroad station garden would have looked like in the late 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s, when railroad stations were the place townspeople gathered for social interaction. In addition to plantings, they are compiling a book on the history of the plants used.
• Partnering with Community Groups to Feed the Hungry. The Waupaca Co. MGA helped plan and implement a 1.5 acre community garden along with several other community groups. Unlike typical community gardens that offer plots to individuals, this one was planned, planted and maintained by the different organizations. Almost a ton of produce was given to the Waupaca Food Pantry and other organizations.
• Promoting Horticulture. The Northeast Wisconsin MGA focused on horticultural education at the N.E.W. Outdoor Living and Landscaping Show sponsored with the Green Bay Chapter of the Wisconsin Landscapers Association in March. They arranged a program of well-known speakers and had a booth to answer horticulture questions.
• Working with Youth. Over 5,000 students participated in the Walworth Co. MGA’s “Come Grow With Us” project. MGVs planted sunflower seeds with students in 34 elementary schools in Walworth Co. that the kids could take home for Mother’s Day. They also educated students in correct planting techniques and maintenance of potted flowers and vegetables that were displayed at the county fair.
• Battling Invasive Species. MGVs in Sheboygan, Calumet and Manitowoc counties reared and distributed over 300,000 leaf-feeding beetles for biological control of purple loosestrife. A 20-minute video highlighting the contribution of volunteers in helping to control this weed was produced by Milwaukee Public Television and shown on the Outdoor Wisconsin program.
• Educating the Public. The “Ideas Garden” at the Eau Claire Co. Expo. Center, conceived and maintained by the Eau Claire Area MGA, demonstrates recommended plants and advanced landscaping practices.
In The Spotlight: Gardening For All Ages|
Enabling Gardening Tables |
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Columbia Co. MGVs created their own design for a raised tabletop garden in response to a request from the Columbia Health Care Center. Full size and scale models were used at various events — along with special tools and helpful devices — including a Horticulture Therapy workshop at Rotary Gardens. They completed their “Lifelong Gardening” brochure that includes plans for a wheel chair accessible raised bed garden, and related information such as plant selection and using the accessible bed. The brochure has been distributed at local nursing homes, garden talks, and health fairs. Madison Area MGVs built two enabling gardening tables that were displayed at the Dane Co. Extension’s Teaching Garden and West Madison Agricultural Research Station. They later developed a program to teach others about these wheelchair accessible planting tables. |
Gardeners come in all ages, abilities and lifestyles. Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) address the needs of everyone interested in horticulture and gardening activities through a variety of programs focused on improving the lives of people with varying degrees of physical and cognitive abilities, children, the elderly, and those living in assisted living and nursing homes or other facilities.
Most MG associations work with youth through 4-H, schools, county fairs, or their own special programs developed to teach children about plants, food, gardening and other aspects of horticulture. 4-H members, CBAA-Special Olympics and persons with disabilities of all ages are involved in the gardens at the Green Thumb Community Gardens in Ashland, coordinated by an Ashland-Bayfield MGV. The North Central WI MGA awarded grants to the HUG (Help Us Grow) program at four local elementary schools. Thyme Shares & Friends MGA of Marquette Co. held a presentation about container gardens for the Russell Flats 4-H Group, and helped kids make and take their containers to the county Fair. Sauk Co. MGVs teach children at “Kids’ Ranch” in Rock Springs, a site for underprivileged children and children with difficulties, about gardening and help each with their own garden.
MGVs offer opportunities to those with disabilities through garden accessibility. Millions of people have physical limitations due to aging, injuries, or diseases. Madison Area MGVs have been working on wheelchair accessible planting tables for the past two years. In 2007 they began a new accessible demonstration garden (ADG), which will be located at the Dane Co. UW-Extension property. In early 2008, it will be designed by the UW Dept of Landscape Architecture class of Professor Sam Dennis—under the watchful eye of the Madison MGVs. Members of MAMGA’s ADG working group are researching the physical, mental and emotional challenges that may be diminished by gardening activities. From state-of-the-art hardscape material to using recycled materials, this garden will demonstrate how anyone can adapt their location.
MGVs participate in Horticulture Therapy. Therapeutic gardens are spaces that enable everyone to work, learn, and relax. Horticultural therapists create garden spaces that accommodate people with a wide range of abilities. People with physical or mental disabilities benefit from gardening experiences as part of HT programs, and they learn skills, adaptations, and gardening methods that allow for continued participation at home. Therapeutic gardens and horticulture therapy programs can be found at hospitals, Psychiatric and mental health clinics, public and private schools, nursing homes and senior centers, community and botanic gardens, and in facilities that offer rehabilitation programs or vocational and occupational training.
To assist seniors, the Northeast Wisconsin MGA sponsored a horticulture therapy class for people working at assisted living and nursing homes to help them with gardening programs at their facilities. In Wood Co., the horticultural therapy gardens at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home have been an inspiration to other Wisconsin nursing homes. MGVs were instrumental in the design and installation of the therapy garden for residents. The garden was the subject of a feature article in the September issue of Nursing Homes; a national trade journal for nursing home staff.
In Ozaukee Co., the horticultural therapy project at Lasata Care Center helps elderly residents participate in gardening activities or enjoy the gardens. Raised garden beds and a gazebo enable residents to participate in gardening or be outdoors in a lovely place. MGV’s learned alternative gardening techniques and shared information about enabled gardening. MGVs from Racine-Kenosha MGA work with Green Works Horticulture Therapy, which trains developmentally disabled adults to create job skills for work in the green industry.
MGVs brighten the lives of institutional residents and others. Residents at the Ashland Rehabilitation Center benefit from the gardens created and maintained by Ashland Bayfield Co. MGVs. Adams Co. MGVs plant and help maintain the perennial gardens at Villa Pines Nursing Center. Polk Co. MGVs established a 10' x 35' garden Golden Age Manor Nursing Home in Amery. In Green Co., members of the South Central Wisconsin MGA maintain several gardens at the Pleasant View Complex. The Nursing Home “spring blooming garden” brought spring colors into view for nursing home residence and employees. An ornamental herb garden is now in the third season and the vegetable garden was again planted this spring to give residents a crop to watch during the growing season. Many residents and their families are outside during the summer months to enjoy the changing flowers. Rock Prairie MGVs work with residents at the county operated assisted living center, Rock Haven, in Rock Co. on growing plants and garden crafts.
Christian Community Home, a local skilled nursing facility, has two large partially enclosed garden areas, including three raised beds. With some assistance, the residents enjoy planting and watering the raised beds. St. Croix Valley MGVs maintain the rest of the garden where summer ice cream socials are held monthly.
Free SPIRIT (Special People in Riding Therapy) Riders, Inc. provides therapy to disabled children and adults by having them ride horses with the assistance of horse handlers. The Fond du Lac MGA have developed an outdoor garden area to provide disabled persons and their families areas to stimulate each of the senses including touch, taste, smell, sound, sight, and humor.
MGVs improve the lives of senior citizens. At a local senior citizen center, raised beds were installed to accommodate the planting of vegetables. Wood Co. MGVs maintain the beds by planting, watering and weeding while the members of the center pick the produce. The fresh produce is greatly appreciated by those unable to garden at home anymore. A Columbia Co. MGV has designed and sewn many sets of “sleeve protectors” for wheelchair residents. Many older adults bruise or scratch easily, and these nylon protectors with soft elastic cuffs are perfect to protect their skin or clothing.
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Lifelong Gardening Exhibit at the WI State Fair |
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This exhibit was developed by a committed group of Southeast Wisconsin (SEW) MGVs and staff in an unused, formerly buckthorn-ridden portion of the Department of Natural Resources Area at State Fair Park adjacent to the existing SEW MGA’s Model Backyard. The area was designed to demonstrate several aspects of enabling gardening including a hands-on tools display, a wheelchair accessible garden cart, a planting table, raised beds and several displays of planters and planting techniques which provide greater access to gardening for people with limitations. SEWMG staffing was increased during the State Fair to accommodate visitors to this new area, which numbered about 45,000 during the 11 day run. Comments from the public were highly favorable and enhancements are planned for 2008. |
MGVs educate others about enabled gardening. MGs of the North, in Oneida Co., built demonstration gardens in Phoenix Garden designed for the handicapped and elderly. Classes were taught later in the summer showing the feasibility of these different gardens. The Garden Door includes an accessible garden area built by Door Co. MGVs. The four raised beds are about two feet tall and are wide enough to sit on and work or to lean on and work if in a wheelchair. The Chippewa Valley MGA had a booth featuring ergonomic and adaptive gardening tools and sources to purchase them. The display also showed means of accessible gardening such as placement of hoses, raised beds, gardening vertically, and more.
These are just some examples of the many ways MGVs throughout
Wisconsin contribute to quality of life of people off all ages and enable
individuals of all abilities to participate in gardening. In addition to these activities, MGs around the state
participate in many other horticultural projects in the general areas of
youth education, community education and support services. Youth
education is any project working with young people. Community
education involves answering questions and providing information, whether at
local gardening events, special workshops, or on UW-Extension supported garden
lines. Support Services includes many beautification projects as well as a
diversity of other projects. Detailed documentation of participation in these
activities from 46 local MG associations as well as the total volunteer hours
from 61 counties are included in the full 60-page WIMGA 2007 Accomplishment Report.
Previous year's annual accomplishment reports (as pdf files):
WIMGA Information
| MG Conferences
