2011 Volunteers in Horticulture Annual Accomplishment Report of the University of Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program 1 The Wisconsin Master Gardener Program is administered from: The Master Gardener Program Offi ce Department of Horticulture, Room 481 University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 Program Coordinator — Susan Mahr (608) 265-4504, [email protected] Interim Program Assistant — Mike Maddox (608) 265-4536, [email protected] A full copy of this report is available on the WIMGA website at wimastergardener.org 2 Table of Contents Program Highlights for 2011 . .5 Executive Summary . .6 Community Impacts in 2011 . .8 Special Report: Educating the Next Generation of Gardeners . 11 Statistical Report . .15 Local Association Narrative Reports . .17 Adams County Master Gardeners . 18 Ashland-Bayfi eld County Master Gardeners . 19 Barron County Master Gardeners . 20 Bluff Country Master Gardeners (La Crosse Co.) . 21 Calumet County Master Gardeners . 22 Chippewa Valley Master Gardeners . 23 Clark County Master Gardeners . 24 Columbia County Master Gardeners . 25 Crawford Co. Master Gardeners . 26 Dodge County Master Gardeners . 27 Door County Master Gardeners . 28 Dunn County Master Gardeners . 29 Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners (Eau Claire Co.) . 30 Fond du Lac County Master Gardeners . 31 Glacial Gardeners (Florence Co.) . 32 Grant County Master Gardeners . 33 Iowa County Master Gardeners . 34 Jackson County Master Gardeners . 35 Jefferson County Master Gardeners . 36 Juneau County Master Gardeners . 37 Lafayette County Master Gardeners . 38 Lake Superior Master Gardeners . 39 Madison Area Master Gardeners (Dane Co.) . 40 Manitowoc County Master Gardeners . 41 Master Gardeners of the North (Oneida Co.) . 42 North Central Wisconsin Master Gardeners (Marathon & Lincoln Cos.) . 43 North Country Master Gardeners (Burnett, Sawyer & Washburn Cos.) . 44 Northeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners (Brown Co. & surrounding area) . 45 Northern Lights Master Gardeners (Marinette Co.) . 46 3 Northwoods Master Gardeners (Forest Co.) . 47 Outagamie County Master Gardeners . 48 Polk County Master Gardeners . 49 Portage County Master Gardeners . 50 Racine-Kenosha Master Gardeners . 51 Range Master Gardeners (Iron Co.) . 52 Rock Prairie Master Gardeners (Rock Co.) . 53 St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners (Pierce & St. Croix Cos.) . 54 Sauk County Master Gardeners . 55 Shar-a-Gardeners (Waushara Co.) . 56 Sheboygan County Master Gardeners . 57 South Central Wisconsin Master Gardeners (Green Co.) . 58 Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners (Milwaukee & Waukesha Cos.) . 59 Thyme Shares Master Gardeners & Friends (Marquette Co.) . 60 Vilas County Master Gardeners . 61 Walworth County Master Gardeners . 62 Washington County Master Gardeners . 63 Waupaca County Master Gardeners . 64 Winnebago County Master Gardeners . 65 Wolf River Master Gardeners (Shawano & Menominee Cos.) . 66 Wood County Master Gardeners . 67 Local associations that did not submit narrative reports for 2011: Coulee Region (Buffalo, Jackson & Trempealeau Cos.) . A Ozaukee Master Gardeners . B Rusk County Master Gardeners . .C Taylor County Master Gardeners . .D 4 Master Gardener Volunteers Make a Difference Program Highlights - 2011 • There are over 3025 trained MGVs who have certifi ed or recertifi ed for 2012. • Approximately 775 MGVs were trained in 2011 through the MG Program Offi ce and are now working to complete their initial volunteer and certifi cation requirements. Master Gardener Volunteers in Wisconsin contributed 199,500 hours to UW-Extension and their communities in 2011. The value of their volunteer service is worth more than $4.27 million* throughout the state. (* using an estimated dollar value of volunteer time of $21.36 per hour as calculated by Independent Sector) 11,589 hours in Youth Education 35,979 hours in Community Education 151,932 hours in Support Services • This represents an average of approximately 62 hours of service per volunteer annually. • MGVs also participated in 70,978 hours of continuing education hours to keep them actively learning and updated. • Outstanding accomplishments in cumulative volunteer efforts through 2011 include: 3,193 with 150 hours of service (267 new this year) 2,022 with 250 hours of service (201) 941 with 500 hours of service (119) 542 with 750 hours of service (63) 347 with 1000 hours of service (46) 63 with 2500 hours of service (4) 15 with 5000 hours of service (0) 2 with 10000 hours of service (0) 1 with 15000 hours of service (0) 5 Executive Summary The seed for the Master Gardener (MG) program was planted in 1972 by Washington State Cooperative Extension. MG Volunteers (MGVs) were trained to extend Extension’s outreach to community residents in educating people about horticulture. The MG program began in Wisconsin through the UW- Extension in the late 1970’s. Local MG groups banded together in 1992 to form the Wisconsin Master Gardener Association (WIMGA). The mission of the WIMGA is to support and provide leadership to individual MGVs and local organizations in their mission to assist UW-Extension in community horticultural programs through volunteerism, education and environmental stewardship. The WIMGA is the communication link between MGVs throughout the state and a voice for ideas and issues relating to the MG program. Several members of the WIMGA Board of Directors sit on the WI MG Advisory Committee with UW- Extension Horticulture Specialists and Agents to recommend policy for the MG program. The WIMGA is a statewide organization that supports 53 local MG associations and individual MGVs. WIMGA’s Board of Directors is made up of 15 dedicated MGVs, with two Directors 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 2011 include: • Published the WIMGA Annual Accomplishment Report for 2011. • Conducted the 2011 Annual Meeting in Madison, with approximately 230 MGVs attending. • Worked with the WI MG Coordinator on website, bimonthly newsletter and more. • Awarded a total of $3,400 in Education Grants to local MG associations: Three $100 grants: Calumet Co. MGA, Shar-a-Gardeners MGA (Waushara Co.), and Vilas Co. MGA. Six $250 grants: Door Co. MGA, Fond du Lac Co. MGA, Grant Co. MGA, Jefferson Co. MGA Vilas Co. MGA, and Washington Co. MGA. Four $400 grants: Dunn Co. MGA (pop-up canopy with MGA name for events); Lake Superior MGA (Permanent labels and markers for garden projects); North Central WI MGA (teaching vegetable garden supplies); Shar-a-Gardeners MGA (laptop computer). • Contributed $1,000 to the WI Junior Horticulture Association to help defray the costs of WI youth attending the National Conference and $750 to.