Ask a Master Gardener at the Farmer’s Market

This event takes place at the Farmer’s Market located at Phoenix Park, on Saturday mornings. The Farmer’s Market is open from 8 am to noon between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Shoppers ask Master Gardeners gardening related questions, and if an answer is unknown, the Master Gardener will follow-up with the shopper.  It's a fun time as lots of garden stories are shared! For more information, contact Andy at Rcktnut007@aol.com

 

Beaver Creek Reserve  

Volunteer opportunities are available from February-Mother’s Day to prepare for the annual Native Plant Sale. There may also be limited opportunities throughout the spring/summer to help plant or maintain the plantings on the reserve.  More information can be found on Beaver Creek’s website at bcr@beavercreekreserve.org, or by contacting Sherry Sprague at 715-835-6705 (landline) or 715-559-3517 (text or call) or  Kristin Giefer at outreach@beavercreekreserve.org.

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There are also volunteer opportunities to work in Butterfly House from June through August. There are needs for: Butterfly guides (greeting guests, answering questions about butterflies and plants) working in the caterpillar lab (feeding caterpillars and cleaning containers), and gardening. Training is provided. For more information, contact megan@beavercreek.org.

 

Communications & Committees and the Board

Communications:  Volunteers can assist with writing articles for newsletter, updating the Facebook page, or updating the website. All activities can be done from home and take place throughout the year.  Contact the Vice President listed our website for more information.

 

Committees and the Board  

If you would like to earn volunteer hours, consider serving on the Association Board or a committee such as Education or Membership. Not only will you get to know fellow gardeners, but you will also be involved in planning various activities for the Association.  The Board meets monthly.   Committees meet monthly, or as needed.  To be a Board member, Master Gardener certification is required.  Contact any current board member listed on our website for more information.

 

Earth Stewardship Volunteer

The JONAH Environmental Task Force (ETF) is a grass roots volunteer organization that collaborates with other community groups to advocate for environmental policy and educate the public on what they can do to protect and preserve the planet.  The two areas of focus for 2024 include waste diversion and biodiversity.  

 

Waste diversion includes education programs focused on composting, recycling, and single use plastic alternatives.  

 

Programs that support Biodiversity include No Mow May and the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership which was created as a result of  Doug Tallamy’s book, “Nature’s Best Hope” and focuses on the preservation and restoration of native habitat in Eau Claire.  

 

As a volunteer you can get involved with current programs under either goal:  Waste Diversion or Biodiversity.  In the area of waste diversion, you may be asked to help with community education about composting or volunteer at one of the many community outreach programs scheduled for 2024.   If you would like to get involved in the Biodiversity goal, you may be asked to help establish and plant a pollinator garden in the community, work with area nurseries on native plant education or lead various community outreach programs. 

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For additional information, contact Sue Waits at waitsr@charter.net or call 715-829-5762.

 

Eau Claire Children’s Museum Pollinator Garden

Eau Claire Master Gardeners, as part of the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership, will plant a pollinator garden in front of the Children’s Museum along Barstow Street. The long, narrow garden will be comprised of native plants and used as an educational tool for museum visitors and our community. Volunteer opportunities include site improvement, planting natives and maintenance. We look forward to providing educational workshops for all age groups to learn about native plants and pollinators. We are excited for the possibilities of community engagement and learning opportunities the pollinator habitat will offer.  For more information, contact Kris Meyer at gkmeyer@charter.net.

 

Forest Street/Edible Landscape Gardens

The Forest Street shared garden is a community vegetable garden that’s different in that members all work together in one large area. Members join at the beginning of the season and have regular workdays. We have monthly potluck meetings to discuss and plan. At the end of every workday, gardeners can take home a share of the harvest. All extra produce is given to Community Table, Sojourner House, and Hope kitchen. This has been a very productive garden. 

 

The Edible Landscape at the corner of Madison and Forest Street is open to the public and is very visible. It’s planted with fruit trees and shrubs to be available for all who would like to come and harvest.  This project needs a leader to coordinate volunteers and maintenance of the garden. The leader could recruit other volunteers/organizations for ongoing maintenance.  Annually, there are two community workdays scheduled.  There also could be an opportunity to plant natives in this garden. 

 

For more information, contact Mari Jackson at mandtoutpost@gmail.com.

 

Lakeshore Elementary

Lakeshore Elementary School has a summer teaching garden. Volunteers teach and work with students in the garden and do garden maintenance.  Master Gardeners collaborate with Lakeshore staff and the Food Wise program. The Food Wise curriculum is used to teach healthy eating.  For more information, contact Ellen Terwilliger at terwilset@gmail.com.

 

 

Plant Sale

The semi-annual plant sale is the Association’s major fundraiser.  The funds raised are used for projects, scholarships, and materials needed by the group.  It is a huge operation and requires many hands and plants for success.   For more information, contact Louise White-Roach at white1roach@gmail.com.

 

 

Menomonie Street Project

Master Gardeners have replaced invasive plants with a combination of native and non-native plants on city property. The project is used for group education of all ages to show what can be done to replace lawns and invasive plants. For more information, contact Ellen Terwilliger at terwilset@gmail.com.

 

Newsletter for the Eau Claire Area Master

Gardeners Volunteer Association

Volunteers can submit garden photos “eye candy”, poems, quotes, stories, or articles for the newsletter. These are especially helpful outside of gardening season from November to February. Newsletter items are due near the end of each month. For more information, contact Andy Heren at  Rcktnut007@aol.com.

 

Schlegelmilch House Historic Garden

Schlegelmilch House, located at 517 South Farwell, is owned, and operated by the Chippewa Valley Museum. Its gardens are representative of the early 1900s. Volunteers plan and manage the gardens throughout the season.  For more information, contact Jill Barland at jbarland@charter.net.

 

Teaching Gardens at UW Extension Office

Garden beds can be “adopted” and cared for throughout the growing season. Community events are held for people to tour and harvest from the gardens. In 2024, the gardens will host a tomato theme with different varieties available and various ways to cage and trellis a tomato. A tomato tasting event will be held in late summer. For more information, contact Andy Heren at  Rcktnut007@aol.com.

 

 

Youth Garden at North River Fronts Park

This is a teaching program for grade school children. The Master Gardeners volunteer for the City Parks department and partner with the Boys & Girls Club and Foodwise to teach kids about plants and healthy eating. Volunteers can choose their schedule and can choose to help by teaching or by working with other volunteers to plant and maintain the garden.  For more information, contact Judi Mitchell at jmitchell@pobox.com.