General Master Gardener Training

Specialized Master Gardener Training

• Watch this area for upcoming sessions

Master Gardener Newsletters

Extension Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities that count towards the requirement of 4 volunteer hours to Dane County Extension:

• Dane County Extension Office - Staff the hort phone line on gardening questions. Help with filing, computer work or 4-H opportunities. Resources are available to assist you. Contact Ann Munson, UW Extension, 1 Fen Oak Ct., Madison 224-3721

• Dane County Extension Office Master Gardener Teaching Garden - The teaching garden is used to give master gardener trainees hands-on experience in planting, pruning, dividing, etc. The garden is also an opportunity for graduated master gardeners to see, evaluate and teach about new plants. Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs are all part of the garden. Help is needed in planting, pruning, dividing, mulching, fertilizing and especially watering and weeding. Plans for a rock garden and paths are awaiting funding -- we hope to add them to the garden in the future

• Children's Garden: This garden mostly consists of vegetables and fruits. It is used by our Nutrition teaching team and their school-age students, for our master gardeners as hands-on demonstration, and for other children's programs. We hope to use it in 4-H and Junior Master Gardener programs in the future. Help in planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, etc. is needed. A composting demonstration and some accessible bed design is also planned for the future

• Lyman Anderson Woodland Restoration Project: The late Lyman Anderson, an Oregon farmer, served on the Dane County Board of Supervisors for 27 years before his retirement in 2004. He was a also dedicated to the sustainable management of farmland and forestland. When the Fen Oak Resource Center was renamed in 2004 to honor Lyman's public service, the woodland behind the building was renamed "Lyman's Woods" and master gardeners under the supervision of the Dane County Horticulture Educator began the major task of restoring the woodland. Once the invasive species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle and garlic mustard are removed, as well as various other weed species, appropriate wildflowers, trees and shrubs will be planted. There are plans for trails, a few benches, and a sign as well. The woodland will be open to the public and also used for master gardener and possibly master naturalist training in the future

• Newsletter - submit articles for the Dane Co Master Gardener Newsletter, Contact Ann Munson, 1 Fen Oak Ct., Madison, 53718
  
• Public speaking on gardening related subjects. Contact Judy Hoffmeister or Kristin Lyerly, Master Gardener Coordinators
  
• Grounds Maintenance at the Extension Office Building, 1 Fen Oak Ct., Madison. Contact Ann Munson, 224-3721
  
• Madison Area Master Gardeners - Preparation, production and distribution of annual Garden Journal as a fundraiser, join the Board of Directors. Contact Suzanne Christoffersen, President, PO Box 259318, Madison, 53725 email: mamga2008@yahoo.com
• WHA TV - Assist with the fundraising telethon to support The Wisconsin Gardener TV show, usually in March. Contact WHA Volunteer Coordinator Don Sanford, (608) 265-4436.
  
• WHA Garden Expo - Volunteer at Master Gardener Booth or other booths, Contact Ann Munson in January at 224-3721. Tthe Garden Expo is usually held in February.
  
• West Madison Agricultural Station - Work with researchers on trial garden plots. Help with the annual Field Day in August. Contact Judy Reith Rozelle at 262-2257

Local Agencies with Volunteer Opportunities:

• Aldo Leopold Nature Center - Educating children in Aldo Leopold's land ethic. Naturalists, restoration, outreach, special events. Contact, 300 Femrite Dr., Madison 53716, 221-0404
  
• City/County Building Flower Beds - Flower bed planting and maintenance, Contact Master Gardener Sally Averkamp, 236-9680
  
• Citiarts Program Caretakers for gardens adjacent to outdoor art(sculptures, etc) Contact, 261-9134
  
• Community Action Coalition's Garden Program - For more information contact: Beth Holtzman, Americorps VISTA, Madison, WI, Phone: 608-246-4730 ext.238
  
• Dane County Parks - Adult Conservation Team - Preserve and protect open spaces and natural resources through propagation, seed collecting, restoration, and trail building. Contact Rhea Stangel-Maier, Lussier Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison WI 53711, 224-3601, email: stangel-maier@co.dane.wi.us
  
• DNR Bureau of Parks & Recreation - Governor Nelson State Park - Interpreters, restoration, grounds maintenance, Adopt-A-Trail. Contact Penny Klein, 831-3005
  
• Garden clubs and plant societies - volunteering on boards, fundraisers, newsletters, membership recruitment, etc.
  
• Henry Vilas Zoo - Flower beds, grounds beautification, Contact Jeff Stafford, 266-4733, 702 S. Randall Ave. Madison 53715
  
• Ice Age Trail - Build, maintain, promote national trail through restoration, conservation and outreach Contact Don Ferber, 4700 Allis Ave, Madison 53716, 222-9376
  
• Madison City Parks - Beautification of city properties (parks, road medians, landscaping) Contact Laura Prindle, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, 266-4711
  
• Nature Conservancy - Preservation of natural communities by protection of land stewardship, and outreach. Contact Katie King, 251-8140.
  
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Garden maintenance, children's programs, docents, gift shop, library staffing, plant sale, home garden tour and other fundraisers. Contact, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison 53704. Marty Petillo, 246-5807, mpetillo@ci.madison.wi.us
  
• U.W. Arboretum - Assist staff with pruning, restoration, seed collecting, propagating, naturalists, etc. Contact Arboretum at 263-7888.

DANE COUNTY - Madison Area Master Gardeners Association

Madison Area Master Gardeners Association - providing south central Wisconsin with horticultural information, volunteer assistance, and financial support for horticulture projects since 1986.

Bylaws Of Madison Area Master Gardeners Association, Inc. (12 pages, 52 KB)

STATE OF WISCONSIN - Master Gardener Association

Wisconsin Master Gardener Association

Return to Horticulture home