Garden enthusiasts in Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn counties who are interested in learning more about horticulture and who have an interest in volunteering in their local communities can now register for the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training program.  This program is a gateway to learning for personal growth, and a mission to volunteer through community events, school projects, outreach, and UW-Extension activities. 
 
The first session is scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station and continue each Tuesday evening through June 18, 2019.   ​Application deadline is March 1, 2019. 

Late winter and early spring are the time to check out catalogs, place seed orders and start seeds.  Learn more about several seed starting techniques from Sue Reinardy, UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in an upcoming webinar.  Sue has volunteered her time to create and deliver this webinar that will feature:  deciphering catalog and seed package jargon, proper planting conditions and several techniques including the winter sown planted method that you can start now.  

This webinar can be attended from any home computer or device with an internet connection, microphone and camera.  Instructions to access the course will be provided a few days before the start of the class.   Registration is required through WITC at courses.witc.edu   Enter "Early Seed Starting" in the search box.   The registration fee is $13.50, and for those 62+ it is $9.00 . 

​Extension Week – Connecting the U to YOU
Published on September 13, 2018 by amy.tromberg

Join us for any of our Extension Week Programs: October 7-13, 2018!
We want to highlight some of the great things UW-Extension does in our community and bring awareness to the wide range of educational and informative programs by hosting Extension Week!  Connecting the University of Wisconsin to You! To learn more about upcoming programs see details at this link.

Connecting the U to YOU!  Presented by: UW-Extension Educators in Ashland & Bayfield Counties

Roseann Meixelsperger, MGV, along with Russ Parker, Vicki Gee-Treft, and Mark Fox developed a summer program for children that would span five sessions, repeated twice weekly, resulting in fifty (50) kids attending the very first year.

Topics that were covered:

• Planting our Garden and Construction of a Bug Condo
• Composting We Go and Magical Hummingbirds
• Looking Down the Wiggly Worms Hole
• Marvelous Monarchs and Pollinators
• Apples, Apples, Apples and Painting Friendship Rocks

Speakers for each of the presentations were found within the Spooner North Country Master Gardener Volunteers, one of our Summer Interns, and our UW-Extension Ag Development Agent.

A story walk was taken by the children prior to each lesson that was topic related.  One of our MGV’s is a teacher by profession, and she provided the reading and interactive conversations with the children on those topics.

Nutritious snacks were provided that were companions to the lessons, along with cold water.  The cold water was appreciated, as many of the sessions saw +90 degree temperatures, and the raised bed area where the children’s garden is located doesn’t have any shade.  Vegetables and fruits from the garden were provided as they became available. One surprising note was that the kids were ready and willing to try anything we put forward - such as cherry tomatoes, rattlesnake beans, mild radishes, and grapes.

The children not only planted their garden, they refilled the hummingbird feeders and weeded the beds at every session after the initial planting.

After almost every lesson, the children went home with something to reinforce their learning of that subject.  For instance, the bug hotels were placed in their home gardens.  A repurposed 2-liter bottle was used to plant basil in compost mixed dirt, watered by a wick that was placed in the lower portion of the bottle filled with water.  The hand painted friendship rocks also went back to the child’s home.

A program like this needs supplies - hummingbird feeders, shepherd’s crooks, watering cans, child sized hand tools, etc.  The MGV’s generously donated to make this first year work, taking minimal dollars from our budget - mostly to pay for the books and snacks.

Lessons learned were that we need to network closer with home school parents, traditional school teachers, libraries, and publicize our offering in all three Counties that we support - Burnett, Sawyer, and Washburn.  Our story walk posts didn’t make it thru the entire summer - so we need to convert from wood to something sturdier. Would also like to be able to move the story posts around the garden to be more topic related.

The kids who attended were eager to learn, and several of them came to multiple sessions.  Their parents were supportive and engaged in the lessons with the kids. A survey sent out after the sessions drew positive remarks from the parents, and most indicated they would like to attend next year.  All in all, I think we can modestly say “the Children’s Program was a hit!”



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Seed Saving, Harvest, and Fall Clean-up
 
August, 2018 Spooner, Wisconsin.    On Saturday morning at 10:00, September 8, gardeners will be meeting in the award-winning Teaching and Display Garden at the Spooner Agriculture Research Station and all are invited to discuss late season gardening.  The program will focus on harvesting, seed saving and clean-up.  Learn tips and resources on storing and preserving fresh produce.  Several types of seed saving techniques will be demonstrated and there will be checklists for fall clean-up.  The garden will still be at its peak to enjoy.  University of Wisconsin-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will share their tips gathered through experience and university-based research.

This year’s theme is “Get Social in the Garden”, a part of the All American Selections #AASWinners.  The Garden is one of eight in Wisconsin that display vegetable and flower varieties who have been awarded this designation as an outstanding cultivar.   
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Remember to bring your own lawn chair for the Meet Me in the Garden Seminar.  The session is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine – please dress accordingly.  In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Station Building at W6646 Highway 70, Spooner.    The garden is located on Orchard Lane, 1.5 miles east of Spooner on Highway 70 or 1/2 mile west of the Hwy 70/53 interchange.  Watch for garden meeting signs.
 
For more information and a map visit the station’s web site at: http://spooner.ars.wisc.edu/ or contact Kevin Schoessow or Lorraine Toman at the Spooner Area UW-Extension Office at 715-635-3506 or 1-800-528-1914. 

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow"
Audrey Hepburn

Come to the Twilight Garden Tour August 14th to learn more about planting your own cutting garden and how to create bouquets with your flowers. We will share planting tips, what works best in a cutting garden and how to improve vase life for the bouquet you create with your flowers.

Assembling a bouquet of flowers from your own garden gives great pleasure. We get to appreciate the plants in a new way as we put together a seasonal bouquet. A perfect way to share your joy of gardening to anyone who needs a lift.

Some suggestions for adapting tools to avoid issues with arthritis might be : using ergonomically correct hand tools such as those with ratcheting ability; focus on your grip making sure the handle diameter is  as large as the opening when you make the “ok” sign with your thumb and forefinger and that your thumb and knuckles do not overlap when gripping the handle;  “stabbing” at the soil rather than pushing it away from you when using a hand digger (this will help you use your bigger arm muscles rather than the wrist and hand so much); making sure the handle length of longer tools allows you to stand upright; and using sprayers with button to turn on and off rather than squeezing the grip when handwatering.    ​