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Chicago Master Gardener

A blog for Chicago Master Gardeners providing information on volunteer opportunities, training, workshops and resources.

January 28, 2009

Spring After-School & Summer Camp Garden Teacher Needed

Attention 'GREEN' Teachers! Do you love children, gardening, vegetables, and the sun?

Common Threads is a non-profit organization that educates children about nutrition, physical well-being, and cultural diversity. We are seeking a seasonal, part-time instructor to teach hands-on classes to 8-12 year olds during our spring after-school session and summer camp.

Classes are held in our vegetable garden in Kenwood Community Park. Our six-week spring after-school classes run Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 28-June 4, 3:30-5:30pm. Summer camp gardening classes run from June 22-July 30th, Mondays-Thursdays, 12-4 pm.

Classes will be held Tuesdays & Thursdays, from 3:30-5:30 during Spring session (May-June) and on weekday afternoons during Summer camp (June 23-Aug 1). Gardening Instructor(s) will teach gardening and craft activities to classes of 16-20 students. Curriculum is prepared for you, and no garden maintenance outside of in-class gardening activities is required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Teaching experience; 8-12 year old age range preferred

Organization, leadership, and communication skills

Basic knowledge of plants, vegetables, gardening, &/or agriculture

Comfort leading arts & crafts activities, games, experiments with children

Other Minimum Requirements:

Commitment to complete spring & summer session class schedule

Interview & reference check; background check required before class begins

Learn more about Common Threads at www.commonthreads.org

For more information or to apply, please email questions or resumes to Courtney Truetelaar at courtney@commonthreads.org

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:02 PM | Permalink |

January 28, 2009

Last Chance-Macy's Spring Flower Show

Master Gardeners, if you want to be part of this year's "Dreaming in Color" Spring Flower Show at Macy's, contact Sue Gasper by Saturday, January 31. You can volunteer as a researcher, or as a docent. Please indicate your preference. The show begins April 4 and continues through April 19.

No need to reply a second time if you have already done so.

Sue Gasper: smgasper@illinois.edu

Master Gardener Program Organizer
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W 111th Street
Chicago IL 60655
(773)233-0476
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mg

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:49 PM | Permalink |

January 28, 2009

Cont. Ed. Op.-Spring Gardening Classes-Oak Park

For more details or to register online, visit www.oakparkparks.com. To register in-person visit 218 Madison or 415 Lake Street in Oak Park. Confused about pricing? First price is for residents, second for non-residents: $Oak Park Residents/$Non-residents.

NOTE: All the classes listed below are approved for Continuing Education credit for University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners/Cook County - http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/

Water Wise Gardening

Study examples of xeriscaping (plants for dry areas) and planting schemes for efficient watering

Sat, Mar 28 & Apr 4 $30/$45

7-9pm

Waterfalls and Water Features

This class will give an overview of what to consider and what to purchase for your very own water feature.

Tues, Apr 21 $20/$35

7-9pm

Gardening with Native Plants

Learn how to help your yard "go native" and then watch the hummingbirds and butterflies flock to your back yard

Wed, Mar 18 $20/$30

7-9pm

Ikebana

Uplift your spirit and your environment – learn the basic steps in Ikebana or the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging.

Sat, Mar 14, 21 $25/$35

10-12 noon

Container Workshop

Back by popular demand – Deborah Cullen, Container Nanny will offer creative design and plant combinations to spark up your containers.

Sat, May 16 $38/$55

10-12 noon

Hanging Basket Workshop

Create your own moss-lined, 14 inch, wire hanging basket using annuals and tender perennials grown at the conservatory.

Sat, May 23 $38/$55

10-12 noon

Flower Arranging for Spring

Create a beautifully arranged basket full of spring flowers and bulbs just in time for the spring holidays. There will be a $15 materials fee collected from each participant.

Tues, Apr 7 $20/$29

7-9 pm

Butterfly Gardening

Select the right annuals, perennials and shrubs to attract butterflies and hummingbirds and add a new dimension to your gardening experience.

Sat, Apr 25 $20/$30

9-11am

Animal Resistant Gardening

Are you tired of critters munching your back yard? Rabbits, deer and squirrels enjoy our gardens more than we do and they are constantly adapting to our defensive strategies.

Sat, Apr 11 $20/$30

9-11 am

Gardening 101: Basic Plant Care

Are you new to the neighborhood and don't know where to begin with that beautiful garden that came with your new home? This two session class will cover information on preparation of your garden areas as well as maintenance tips throughout the growing season.

Mon, Apr 13, 20 $35/$45

7-9 pm

Garden Design Workshop

Choose an area of your garden, perhaps the space around your patio or deck, a side yard or a backyard border and learn the steps to create an exciting design that is all yours.

Tues, Mar 17, 24, 31 $35/$45

7-9 pm

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:12 PM | Permalink |

January 27, 2009

2009 Chicago GreenNet Mini-Grant

Just a note to let you know that the GreenNet mini-grant application is available.

What is needed to qualify for a grant?

Projects must be located in Chicago in a schoolyard, community garden, or other community greening project. Applicants:

• must own or have permission to use the land

• must represent a group such as a block club, garden club, faith-based group, school or other youth group.

Applications will only be considered for existing (rather than proposed) gardens or greening projects that need additional materials, programming, or other support.

Applications should indicate that gardens demonstrate sustained and regular use. Tell us how important your garden is to your group and surrounding community!!

Download the updated application at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/downloads/15495.pdf

Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:49 AM | Permalink |

January 26, 2009

Continuing Ed Op: Drawing from Nature Class: Matteson

Good evening Chicago Master Gardeners and Interns,

Just a note about a class being offered by Nancy Pollard. Sounds like a great class that will bring out your hidden artistic abilities.

Greetings:

Please send this GREAT continuing education class on to your Master Gardeners. Thanks, Nancy Pollard

WHAT: Drawing from Nature 1 series for MG's

WHEN: Wednesday mornings: Feb 11, 18, 25 and March 4, 2009. All classes: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: University of Illinois Extension, 5527 Miller Circle Drive, Matteson, IL 60443

INFO: Using nature this four session drawing class will help you see things the way an artist and a scientist does. Combining drawing skills and observation, you will learn how to draw what you see. If you haven't drawn a line, this is a great time to begin. If you love to draw, join us. There is always more to learn.

Instructors:

Nancy Pollard, Horticulture and Environment Educator believes if you can draw it you can identify it!

Bernadine Basile spent many years teaching as a professor of Fine Arts at Towson University, Maryland. She is a certified University of Illinois Extension Master Garden. Her garden is now her passion, and she loves drawing and relaxing in it.

This class is for Master Gardeners (trainees, interns, or certified) only. Check with your local coordinator or project organizer if you need more information to register.

MG continuing education: Each class earns you 1.5 hours of MG continuing education in Cook County. If you are in another county, check with your coordinator.

Fee: $25.00 total for four classes.

Materials to bring to the first and each class:

Spiral drawing pad, smooth texture, medium or heavy weight. 9" x 12" or 11" x 14"

Drawing pencils: 6B (very soft), 4B, 2B, and HB (hard)

White Plastic Eraser leaves minimal smudging

Kneaded Eraser for erasing and toning

Pencil sharpener or Exacto knife to give points to pencils

Optional: Paper Stomp or Tortillion for blending graphite in drawings

To register, YOU WILL NEED to enter DISCOUNT CODE: CE9 since only Master Gardeners may register for the class.

Go to our Cook County website

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/index.html UPCOMING EVENTS ON RIGHT SIDE. Click on full calendar of events and scroll to Feb. 11 or

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/county/eventdetail.cfm?id=46960&OfficeID=318&InterestAreaID=&ProgramArea=

Nancy Pollard
Horticulture and Environment Educator

University of Illinois Extension
Cook County / South Suburban (District 1)
5527 Miller Circle Drive, Suite A, Matteson, Illinois 60443

phone (708) 720-7500. fax (708) 720-7509email

pollard@illinois.edu

http://cook.extension.uiuc.edu

Posted by Ron Wolford at 9:57 PM | Permalink |

January 23, 2009

New U of I Web Site: Food Fun from Apples to Zucchini

We are pleased to launch today -- Food Fun from Apples to Zucchini. This website is designed to teach elementary students about fresh produce -- many they may not know.

It can serve as an excellent resource to encourage healthy eating and to the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for schools as well as other childhood obesity programs. The site includes information about 37 different produce items, a variety of online activities and coloring sheets.

You can visit the site at:

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/foodfun/

Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:23 AM | Permalink |

January 17, 2009

NYT Article: How Green is Your Garden?

Just a note about an article I recently saw in the New York Times about an effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices. This project is called the Sustainable Sites Initiative at http://sustainablesites.org/.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:15 PM | Permalink |

January 15, 2009

New Extension Hort Web Sites

Good evening Chicago Master Gardeners,

Just a note to let you know about two new Hort web sites on this very cold winter night!

Successful Container Gardens - How to Select, Plant and Maintain.

This extensive website discusses choosing a container, selecting soil mixes, choosing and combining plants, fertilizing, watering and grooming basics. It also includes special containers including water gardens, hanging baskets, topiaries as well as creating whimsical containers.

A special section, Blueprints for Building Containers, shows plans for creating specific containers.

The website includes several videos to demonstrate the various techniques and concepts.

The site was developed by Barbara Bates, Kane County Unit Educator, Horticulture; Maurice Ogutu, Extension Educator, Horticulture; Nancy Pollard, Cook County Unit Educator, Horticulture; Jeff Rugg, Kendall County Unit Educator, Horticulture/IPM; Jim Schuster, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Safety Educator - Plant Pathology; and Greg Stack, Extension Educator, Horticulture.

Several of the videos will be posted on the new U of I Extension YouTube site (at http://www.youtube.com/UIExtension)

Take time to visit the site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/containergardening/


Illinois Vegetable Garden Guide

We are also pleased to launch the new Illinois Vegetable Garden Guide website that has been revised by James Schmidt, Extension Specialist, Home Horticulture/4-H. The site includes information about growing and caring for a successful garden, insect and disease problems, a directory on growing specific vegetables, and how to exhibit vegetables at a fair or show. The site will be an excellent resource for 4-Hers and Master Gardeners.

Go to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/vegguide/


Posted by Ron Wolford at 9:25 PM | Permalink |

January 14, 2009

Cont. Ed. Op.-Hot Frame Workshop-January 24

Good evening Chicago Master Gardeners,

Just a note to let you know about a workshop on building a hot frame.

If you are serious about growing food here in Chicago, season extension is a requirement to prolong how long you can harvest fresh vegetables. With some material (plastic or something that light can penetrate through) covering in-ground crops, greens can often be grown through the end of November or early December. These are typically called row covers.

To extend the growing season even further, many people tinker with cold frames - a simply constructed wood frame with either soft or hard plastic in between. This solid barrier can be placed directly over spinach or lettuce that has already been growing (or to start early crops in March!) in the fall and provide real, additional protection to allow them to grow.

A hot frame, however, is a cold frame heated in some way to make it warm enough for the plants to grow. This workshop focuses on using natural materials (think decomposing manure!) to create the heat needed to warm up the ambient air within the cold frame. Ingenious, right?

The folks at the Drew Williams Science Society (who is hosting this and other events) will be sure to tell you all about their spinach growing experiments in cold versus hot frames. You will easily be motivated to go the extra step if you really want to produce more food.

At this workshop at the University of Chicago, be prepared to go outside to construct and learn how to maintain this wonderful addition to your edible garden.

Please note: You must register by Saturday, January 17th if you would like to attend!

Hot Frame Workshop details:

Saturday January 24, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the 61st Garden: Dorchester and 61st: Chicago
Cost: $20.00 per participant

To register call Laurie Thrasher at 773-702-0421.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 6:24 PM | Permalink |

January 11, 2009

Cont. Ed. Op.- Outdoor Living Extravaganza- Barrington, IL

Good evening Chicago Master Gardeners,

Just a note to let you know about the upcoming Outdoor Living Extravaganza (http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/downloads/15340.pdf) in Barrington, IL on March 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Makray Memorial Golf Club (www.makraygolf.com), 1010 S. Northwest Highway. You can phone 1-877-865-5818 to register or for more information. Cost is $45.00.

Join us for a one-day getaway unlike anything you've experienced, and bring out your inner exterior designer. You'll enjoy the fresh colors and wonderful scents of hundreds of flowering plants; a goody bag of exciting gifts worth over $100 – including a plant; delicious continental breakfast, lunch, beverages, and snacks; and plenty of chances to win great prizes. Even your non-gardening friends will enjoy this relaxed and entertaining look at what's new in outdoor decor, Proven Winners style.

You'll learn from our experts about creative new ways to use color, the easiest way to grow plant varieties, how to put together to-die-for containers, and much more. P. Allen Smith, The Today Show's gardening expert(http://www.pallensmith.com/index.php?id=15), will be there with fun and practical advice, and later you can join him for book signings and photo ops. His books will also be available for purchase, along with our Plant Foods, WaterWise Easy Container Watering Kits, and All-Natural Garden Goods. Since there are a limited number of seats, registration is on a first-come basis.

Happy New Year,

Ron

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:13 PM | Permalink |