n.e.w. master gardeners feb 2020...2020, 5 pm-7 pm, at the stem innovation center. it wiill include...
TRANSCRIPT
President’s Message
Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardener Association
February 2020
Inside this issue:
President’s Message 1
2020 NEWMG Board of Directors
2
NEWMG Board Meeting Minutes
2
In Memory of Dan Mitchell 4
Meet Our New Horticulture Educator
5
2020 Project Kick Off 6
2020 MG Plant Sale 6
2020 Robert Margin Garden Series
7
2020 MG Volunteer Opportunities
10
2020 Calendar of Events & Opportunities
11
In the News 12
Garden Clippings
Hello and welcome to a new year. I again have the honor of serving as your president. Trisha Linssen has taken a step back from her role as president for health reasons, but will continue in her role on the board and her management of the website. In January, the board approved my stepping back into the president’s role. A big welcome to our new Horticulture Educator – Andrea Ackerman who joined us on January 2nd. She comes to us with a lot of horticultural experience and will be a good fit. Andrea – we are very pleased to have you here. Please see her introduction on page 5. Our volunteer coordinator position has been announced, please see the opening announcement on page 12 if you are interested in applying. Please plan to attend our 2020 Project Kickoff on February 19th at the STEM Innovation Center starting at 5 PM. You should have all received a Punchbowl Invitation on January 13th. I highly encourage everyone to attend the remaining 2020 Robert Mongin Garden Series on the first Saturdays of March and April. We had a good turnout at Saturday’s “Landscaping Ideas” presented by David Haupt and “How To Continue Gardening When Your Body Has Limits, But Your Love For Gardening Does Not” by Bridget Kulick. On March 7th the class will be “Birdscaping In The Midwest” and “The Scoop On Nativars, The Cultivars Of Native Plants” by Mariette Novak. On April 4th Susan Carpenter will present “Native Plant Gardening For Pollinators”. Congratulations to the Children’s Edible Garden Team for being named Volunteer of The Week by the Green Bay Press Gazette (Sunday January 26th). The team received a nice write-up. Please check it out. At a recent meeting between the Green Bay School District, the Extension Brown County and myself, decisions were reached regarding the Master Gardener’s projects at the Head Start Learning Center (i.e. former UW Extension) on Bellevue Street. Briefly, the
Page 2 February 2020
President’s Message (continued)
Head Start Vegetable Garden/Raised Bed Garden/Trial Garden will continue. The Perennial Garden/former Mongin Garden will continue this season and will end this fall (2020). This garden will receive a spring cleaning and maintenance until fall. Master Gardeners will be able to remove plants for our plant sales and keep plants to transplant at the STEM Center/keep for future plant sales. The bench and memorial plaque/stone for Mongin will be relocated to the new Mongin Memorial Garden at the STEM Center. After a long and successful run, the Rose Trial Garden will no longer be a Master Gardener project. Thank you and I hope to see you at the upcoming events.
2020 NEWMG Board of Directors
Officers
Al Nass, President
Melinda Ward, Vice President
Nancy Fictum, Treasurer
Steve Herro, Secretary
Board Members
Steve Beernsten
Crystal Brown
Barbara Brumm
Dr. Tim Freeman
Kyle Gigot
Linda Gutske
Joanne Kondro
Trisha Linssen
Eileen Rueden
Melissa Schmitz
Mary Sprangers
Mindy Ward
Andrea Ackerman,
Advisor
Doris Magyar,
WIMGA Rep
NEWMG Board Meeting Minutes: 1/8/2020
Present: Trisha Linssen, Barb Brumm, Mary Sprangers, Nancy Whitfield, Tim Freeman, Steve
Herro, Paula King, Jill Miller, Crystal Brown, Steve Beernsten, Joanne Kondro, Melissa Schmitz,
Kyle Gigot, Nancy Fictum, Al Nass, Liz Katalinich, Mindy Ward, Linda Gustke
Absent: Eileen Rueden, Mary Mullins
Guest: Barbara Brown
President’s Welcome—Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Trisha Linssen. Andrea
Ackerman ([email protected]) was introduced and spoke briefly to the
group as the new Extension Horticulture Agent and advisor to the N.E.W. Master Gardeners
Association.
Project Report - 2020 Robert Mongin Garden Series, Barbara Brown. Project Chair
Barbara Brown needed to leaver early from the meeting so she presented her project update
and described the 2020 Robert Mangin Garden Series. The three Saturday presentations will
be held February 1, March 7, and April 4 at the STEM Center. Barbara asked for a master list
of all NEWMGV (name, email, phone number). If anyone would like extra flyers and/or
brochure, please stop at the Extension Office or see Steve Herro.
Page 3 February 2020
NEWMG Board Meeting Minutes (continued)
Secretary’s Report – Steve Herro. Steve asked if Board members were comfortable
receiving Board meeting materials in one packet one week before the meeting; this was
approved; bringing a few copies of the agenda to each meeting would be appreciated by the
group. If members have supplements to agenda items, they should submit to Steve one week
before the Board meeting.
Tim Freeman moved to approve the minutes from the November 13, 2020 meeting; Al Nass
seconded the motion. Minutes unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report - Nancy Fictum. In addition to her written report, she noted several
checks and bills received since her written report was originally distributed. The printing bill
from the Extension Office was significantly higher than last year, but this year’s bill included
printing for the 2019 and 2020 Garden Series’. Could we learn how printing costs are factored
and could we receive them more than once a year? Nancy also reported on checking account
and saving account sum totals.
Endowment Report - Kyle Gigot. Kyle reminded the group that our new President and the
new Advisor must both gain access to our Greater Green Bay Community Foundation (GGBCF)
account and proceeded to give an update on the endowment fund held at the GGBCF.
WI Master Gardeners’ Association Report. Steve referenced Doris Magyar’s written report
and reminded everyone to please agree to insurance, social behavior, permission to be
photographed etc. permissions. All volunteers should be reminded of agreeing to these before
volunteering in 2020. Log onto the volunteer hours report portal to approve these
documents.
Old Business:
• Gardening in a Changing World - Linda Gustke stated that the Green Bay Botanical
Gardens and Wild Ones are planning this late 2020 conference and NEWMGVs might be
asked to partner as the idea develops. Linda will keep us updated.
• Volunteer Coordinator Position - Trisha Linssen updated the Board on the volunteer
coordinator position. She has communicated with Judy Knudsen and Mike Maddox to move
this posting as soon as possible since the position is critical to our group. If people are
interested in applying, they should contact Judy Knudsen as soon as possible. Persons
might be able to see the job description on the County or State job portal.
New Business:
• 2020 Project Kickoff - Mindy Ward. The Project Kickoff has been moved to February 19,
2020, 5 pm-7 pm, at the STEM Innovation Center. It wiill include information tables on
projects, dinner, and keynote address by Andrea Ackerman. Mindy also solicited volunteers
to bring side dishes and committee members will once again bring desserts.
• Paula King asked that we clarify all gardens at the Head Start building due to some
confusion. Project listing and budgets will be revised.
• Melissa Schmitz volunteered to lead the Children’s Edible Garden in 2020.
• Plant Sale - Linda Gustke. The sale needs a new co-chair to serve with Eileen Rudke. The
Page 4 February 2020
NEWMG Board Meeting Minutes (continued)
Plant Sale Committee is considering partnering with University Wisconsin Green Bay
Heirloom Plant Sale held on May 9 and the Green Bay Botanical Garden on May 29-30.
• Projects that need new chairs/co-chairs: the ADRC Raised Bed Gardens, 2020 Plant Sale,
Tank Garden, the new Mongin Garden at the STEM Center. Trisha will follow up with ADRC
for more details on the ADRC Raised Bed Gardens.
Other Matters
• Al Nass promoted the January 25th Wild Ones conference held in Oshkosh.
• Steve Herro shared that Brown County Community Gardens Association is considering an
educational series. Steve wondered how this might relate to our Garden Series and one
shot lectures. Andrea will get further information from Margaret Franchino, Brown County
Community Gardens.
• Linda Gustke wondered if we could have a members only section on our Website. Trisha
said that she can look into it for our Website. Or, might we establish drop box account?
Andrea also noted that many of these kinds of files can be accessed through Extension
shared drive at the Plant Diagnostic Help Desk.
• Andrea Ackerman confirmed that she is working on Level I Master Gardener training for
spring 2020. She also asked about our interest in a grafting class as a local grafting expert
has offered to host a class. The board supported a local grafting class.
• Steve Beernsten asked if we could have Board meetings at the STEM Innovation Center.
Andrea will check to see how easy it would be for us to reschedule our meetings at the
STEM Center.
• Mary Sprangers reminded the Board that the WIMGA newsletter has a story on our St.
Mark’s Garden.
A motion was made and passed at 7:33 p.m. to adjourn the meeting.
Newsletter – any additional articles for the newsletter should be sent to Trisha Linssen,
[email protected]. The newsletter needs a new project leader so please
contact Trisha if you are interested in editing and producing the NEWMG newsletter!
Next Board Meeting – March 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Submitted by Steve Herro, Secretary
We Will Miss Dan Mitchell
NEWMGs have lost one of their own with the passing of Dan
Mitchell on January 13th. His family is planning a celebration of
his life this spring. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations are
encouraged toward the Ice Age Trail Alliance-Lakeshore Chapter,
the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or Unity Hospice.
Page 5 February 2020
Meet Our New Horticulture Educator
Hello Gardeners! My name is Andrea Ackerman, and I recently joined UW- Madison, Division of Extension Brown County as the new Horticulture Educator. I have met some of you in person already and am extremely excited to continue meeting all the NEW Master Gardeners as I settle into my role. You bring so many different experiences and knowledge to an awesome volunteer organization.
As for me, I come to you with over ten years in the horticulture industry doing anything from retail greenhouse and nursery production and sales, landscaping, conducting research as a plant pathology laboratory assistant on wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and corn, micro-propagating native deciduous azaleas through tissue culture, working in horticultural sales, meeting
international plant breeders, and assisting in evaluating garden trials. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis in Greenhouse and Nursery Management in 2015 from Auburn University. In 2019, I earned a Master of Science in Applied Leadership in Teaching and Learning from UW-Green Bay.
In addition to my horticulture background, I have been a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard for nearly 13 years. I have completed two tours overseas, one to Iraq in 2009-2010 and most recently to Afghanistan. In December 2019, I returned from Afghanistan where I served as the Logistics Officer for 2-127 Infantry Battalion headquartered in Appleton, WI.
Although I have only been in my position for a mere month, it has been a busy one! I have had the opportunity to meet the NEWMG executive committee, attend a board meeting and a few of the educational classes, and meet with several of NEWMG project partners. Most significantly, Al Nass and I met with Head Start Director, Sarah (Sally) Jansen, to discuss the future of the projects at the old UWEX location due to the expiration of the original use agreement.
Rose Trial Garden - Going forward we have agreed to discontinue the Rose Trial Garden at the Bellevue Street site. But have no fear, a Rose Trial Garden will continue as we have a donor for a new Rose Trial Garden through UWGB for our location at the STEM Center. Currently, details for the Rose Trial Garden are being discussed.
Mongin Garden Project - The original Robert Mongin Garden at the Bellevue Street site will be in transition this year. MGVs will conduct the spring clean-up, move the memorial stone and bench to the STEM Center, coordinate with Head Start facilities to identify plants for the annual sale and move plants to the new location, train and mentor staff on garden maintenance requirements. Head Start will assume all responsibilities in the fall and at that time, the Mongin Garden Project will be completely transitioned to the STEM Center location.
Head Start Garden - The Head Start Garden encompasses three previously separate projects; the UWEX Raised Garden Bed, UWEX Trial Garden, and the Head Start Vegetable Garden. The vision for this project is still being discussed and developed as Head Start wishes to continue and expand this project to include utilization of the greenhouse. There is also a potential to partner in order to not only educate through gardening but also promote healthy lifestyles with FoodWIse. I will certainly continue to keep you informed as information becomes available.
In other news, I am currently working on hosting the MGV Level 1 training this fall. We have a lengthy and rapidly growing waitlist for new MGVs! Additionally, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Project Kickoff on February 19th.
Please note, the MGV Coordinator position has posted (https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/en-us/job/504285/extension-coordinator) the application deadline is February 24, 2020.
ROMAINE Calm, spring is just around the corner!
Andrea Ackerman, Extension Brown County Horticulture Educator
Page 6 February 2020
2020 Project Kick Off & Registration
Time to volunteer! Yes, it's time to pick the community
project(s) that you would like to volunteer on this year.
Meet & greet our new advisor Andrea Ackerman. She will
share her volunteer & military experiences and vision for
2020.
Agenda:
5-5:45 pm: Project Investigation & Registration: Team
leaders will be available for questions.
5:45-6:30 pm: Welcome and Dinner: Make your own Taco
Bar, Desserts & Refreshments provided
6:35-7:15 pm: Keynote: Andrea Ackerman,
UWGB Horticulture Educator & NEW MG Advisor
7:15-7:30 pm: Meeting Wrap-Up
Note: Volunteers are needed for the registration table (2),
room set-up (4-6, arrive at 4 pm) & teardown/cleanup
(4). Please email Mindy Ward, [email protected] if
you can help.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
STEM Innovation Center
on the UWGB Campus
2019 Technology Way
Green Bay, WI 54311
MG Plant Sale
Save the dates for the spring MG plant sale -
Saturday, May 9 at the STEM Center on the UWGB
Campus and Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30
at the Green Bay Botanical Garden’s Garden Fair.
We will have more information to come!
We have more room at the STEM Innovation Center
on May 9 and we are looking for informational
seminars or displays that could be used for that
day.
If you have any questions, please call Eileen Rueden at (920) 470-5562 or email her at
Page 7 February 2020
2020
Robert Mongin
Garden Series
To learn, experience, & enjoy
all season gardening
February 1, March 7, & April 4
STEM Innovation Center
UWGB Campus
2019 Technology Way
Green Bay, WI
NEW Master Gardeners and Brown
County UW-Extension are hosting a
2020 Robert Mongin Garden Series.
Mr. Mongin was active in the community
through his involvement with the NEW
Master Gardeners, Gardeners Club of
Green Bay, Green Bay Botanical Garden,
Mayor’s Beautification Committee, and
many others. He designed and established
a perennial garden at the former UW-
Extension site at 1150 Bellevue Street,
Green Bay, which was dedicated to Mr.
Mongin during a formal ceremony.
This series is comprised of three different
sessions with renowned garden speakers
who will share their expertise to enhance
your gardening experience.
You may choose to attend one, two, or all
three of the featured sessions.
To register, visit
https://www.browncountywi.gov/form/
master-gardener-garden-series/
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and
programming, including Title IX and ADA.
Registration Form Page 9
Page 8 February 2020
Saturday, April 4
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
“Native Plant Gardening for
Pollinators”
Susan Carpenter
Susan Carpenter is the native plant
gardener at the University of Wisconsin–
Madison Arboretum. Since 2003, she
has worked with students and
community volunteers to maintain and
monitor a 4-acre garden representing
the plant communities of southern
Wisconsin. She also leads a
conservation project that involves
students and the public in documenting
and studying native bumble bees,
including the endangered rusty-patched
bumble bee, *Bombus affinis*.
Discover how your garden can provide
healthy habitat for diverse pollinators.
We will cover native plants and key
gardening practices that support bees,
butterflies, flies, wasps, and others. You
will also learn how to identify and
monitor pollinators in your garden and
beyond.
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and
programming, including Title IX and ADA.
Registration Form Page 9
Saturday, March 7
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
“Birdscaping in the Midwest” and “The
Scoop on Nativars, the Cultivars of
Native Plants”
Mariette Novak
Mariette is the author of the book,
“Birdscaping in the Midwest”. She is the
former director of the Wehr Nature Center in
Milwaukee County, where she served for 18
years. Mariette is also the Founder &
President of the Kettle Moraine Chapter of
the Wild Ones, and former vice-president of
the national Wild Ones organization.
Learn how to increase the variety of birds in
your yard by growing native plants that offer
natural habitat and a year long smorgasbord
of berries, nuts, seeds, and insects.
Restoring and preserving native plant
communities not only support birds, but also
other wildlife including butterflies, bees, and
bats. Also learn about nativars, the cultivars
of native plants. What makes them different
than true native plants? How do nativars
affect genetic diversity? Are there concerns
about nativars’ effects on pollinators and
other wildlife, invasiveness potential,
response to climate change, maintenance
costs, and the potential to increase allergies?
Page 9 February 2020
Choose the session(s) you will attend:
Individual sessions: $15 each
_____February 2 session Concluded
_____March 2 session
_____April 6 session
~ Please print ~
Name______________________________________________
Company___________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
City________________________________________________
Zip code____________________________________________
Phone_(____)________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________
Amount enclosed: $__________________
Payable to: NEW Master Gardeners
Send to: Extension Brown County
Horticulture - Room 113
2019 Technology Way
Green Bay, WI 54311
For more information, contact:
Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator
920-391-4615
Page 10 February 2020
2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Opportunities
Name of Project Team Coordinator Contact Info
Garden Series Barb Brown 920-336-6098, [email protected]
NEWMG Plant Sale Eileen Rueden 920-360-3891, [email protected]
Facebook Crystal Brown 715-292-0380, [email protected]
NEW Master Gardener website Trisha Linssen 920-819-7370, [email protected]
Small Space Garden at GBBG Shirley Maenner &
Jim Radey
Shirley: 920-434-0291, [email protected]
Jim: 920-360-3891, [email protected]
Square Foot Garden at St. Mark Church Mary Sprangers 920-680-2546, [email protected]
Square Foot Garden at YMCA (West) Jo Ann Holloway 920-336-7988, [email protected]
Native Garden at Locktender’s House Claudia Schultz 920-336-0030, [email protected]
Native Garden at Neville Museum Claudia Schultz 920-336-0030, [email protected]
UWEX Head Start Donna Trousil 920-336-3896, [email protected]
UWEX Mongin Perennial Garden Steve Beernsten 920-435-0549, [email protected]
Plant Diagnostic Help Doug Hartman 920-445-9530, [email protected]
Annual Banquet assistance Eileen Rueden 920-470-5562, [email protected]
BC Central Library Children’s Garden Melissa Schmitz 920-544-8052, [email protected]
Heritage Hill Tank Garden TBD
ADRC Raised Bed Gardens Lee Richardson 920-336-5331; [email protected]
WI Master Gardener & UWEX (State)
WI Farm Tech Days – MG Booth WIMGA http://wimastergardener.org/
WI Garden Expo – MG Booth WIMGA http://wimastergardener.org/
I would like to serve on the following project(s):
Name: Phone:
Email:
return to:
Brown County Extension, Horticulture Dept., 2019 Technology Way, Green Bay, WI 54311
Page 11 February 2020
2020 Calendar of Events & Opportunities
Watch for more information at www.browncountyextension.org
or at www.NEWMasterGardeners.org!
Classes, Workshops, Seminars Organization Date
2020 Garden Series
UWEX & MG – All
presentations will be at
the STEM Innovation
Center - UWGB
February 1, Landscaping Ideas & How to Continue
Gardening
March 7, Birdscaping in the Midwest & The Scoop on
Nativars, the cultivars of Native Plants
April 4, Native Plant Gardening
Level 2 MG Training STEM Center Dates to be determined
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners GBBG, UWEX & MG April 9, 2020
Composting 101 GBBG, UWEX & MG May 12, 2020
Small Space Gardening GBBG, UWEX & MG May 19, 2020
WildOnes Annual Conference WildOnes http://www.greenbaywildones.org
Baird Creek’s classes Friends of Baird Creek http://bairdcreek.org/
Larry Meiller’s Garden Talk WPR – Radio Show www.wpr.org/programs/larry-meiller-show
State UWEX & WI Master Gardener Opportunities
WI MGA – Annual & Regional Conferences WI MGA www.wimastergardener.org/
WI Garden Expo WI PBS www.wigardenexpo.com/
Wisconsin Public Television Programs
The Wisconsin Gardener http://wpt.org/Wisconsin-Gardener
P. Allen Smith’s Garden http://wptschedule.org/series/553/P-Allen-Smiths-Garden-Home/
The Victory Garden www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/
Page 12 February 2020
NEW Master Gardeners are Hiring! - Volunteer Coordinator The NEW Master Gardeners are hiring a Volunteer
Coordinator to assist in managing the Master Gardener Program in Brown County. The Master Gardener program
utilizes volunteers to extend Extension's horticulture programming. This position will be responsible for recruiting,
screening, developing, managing and coordinating volunteers as well as designing and delivering research-based
educational programming and services. To view the full job description, please visit Jobs at UW - Extension
Coordinator
Children’s Edible Garden Master Gardeners Chosen as Volunteers of the Week The
Volunteer Center of Brown County named the volunteers at the Children's Edible
Garden as their volunteers of the week. Members from N.E.W. Master Gardeners
Association volunteer their time and energy to creating a garden full of edibles
children and their families can enjoy. Staff from the library conduct food education
classes and other garden events for the children during the growing season. Any
extra produce that isn't picked by the children for their own use is donated to local
food pantries. Read more about the Children's Edible Garden and Master Gardeners
here.
Locktender’s Garden Master Gardeners Receive Award - Starting in
2015, Master Gardener volunteers selected, planted and maintained
native plants on the Riverwalk and Wildlife Viewing Pier near the
Locktender's House in Voyageur Park in De Pere. This project not only
helps beautify this recreation area, but provides education on the use
of native plants in our landscapes. Printed information on the use of
native plants is available at the garden for visitors. Annually the
Master Gardener volunteers have an open house event at the gardens
to give tours, provide more information, and answer questions about the native plants. Project in De Pere were
presented with an award by the De Pere Beautification Committee at the De Pere City Council meeting. The Master
Gardener project was certified as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation Habitat by Monarch Watch. Monarch Waystations
are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their
migration.
Given to the volunteers by the De Pere Beautification Committee, Mike Walsh, Mayor of De Pere, presented the award
to the Master Gardener volunteers during a De Pere City Council meeting.
In the News
Extension - Brown County STEM Innovation Center, Room 113, UWGB
Green Bay, WI 54313 Phone 920-391-4610;
Fax 920-391-4617; 711 (WI Relay) www.BrownCountyExtension.org
University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin
Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.