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Chicago Master Gardener

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

January 26, 2010

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Reminders


1. Great Opportunity! Enroll Now. Registration is Closing Soon.
The University of Illinois' College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are working in partnership to offer Introduction to Illinois Prairies for Teachers this semester. This course can be taken for three hours of graduate-level credit or as a non-credit course for those educators who want the information but not the graduate credit. If you enroll for credit to be applied to a degree or a pay scale increase, the cost is $354 per credit hour ($1,062 total cost). If you enroll for the non-credit option (just for the information), the cost is $300 flat rate.

For more information on how to register for this course please contact: Heather Miller, Program Director College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, hmiller1@illinois.edu<mailto:hmiller1@illinois.edu.

2. Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant – application deadline – January 31
Don't wait! Submit your application now for the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Division of Education and the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Teachers may apply for up to $500 to take students on a field trip to study some aspect of Illinois' biological or cultural diversity. The field trip destination must be in Illinois and can include state parks, museums, nature centers and forest preserves. Complete instructions and the application form can be found at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/grants.htm. Applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2010.

3. Register Now for Earth Day in the Parks – application deadline: February 28
Get your students involved with natural resources stewardship through the Earth Day in the Parks program from the IDNR! Participating state parks will offer students the opportunity to get their hands dirty and experience nature as they perform duties such as removing invasive exotic plants, planting native trees and wildflowers and building and installing bird nesting boxes. The list of participating parks and their associated projects is posted at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/EDITPinstruct.htm. Instructions and the application form are also available at that Web address. Applications must be received by February 28, 2010. For more information, contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126.

4. New Web Site on Sustainability
Governor Pat Quinn's office has launched a new Green Illinois Web site at green.illinois.gov. The page has sections on sustainable school programs and green project funding, including the Zero Waste Grant (http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Energy_Recycling/Recycling/).


Valerie A. Keener
Administrator, Division of Education
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271
217-785-0973
Cell 217-725-9620
FAX 217-782-9552
valerie.keener@illinois.gov
http://dnr.state.il.us

Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:43 AM | Permalink |

January 6, 2010

2010 Chicago Master Gardener Training Schedule

Wednesday - January 13 – BOTANY – Greg Stack, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Wednesday – January 20 –SOILS – Ellen Phillips, Extension Educator, Crop Systems

Wednesday – January 27 – VEGETABLES – Ron Wolford, Extension Educator, Urban Horticulture/Environment

Wednesday – February 3- WOODY PLANTS-Richard Hentschel, Green Industry Programming

Wednesday – February 10 – HERBACEOUS PLANTS – Greg Stack, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Wednesday – February 17 – FRUITS –Richard Hentschel, Green Industry Programming

Wednesday – February 24 – PLANT PATHOLOGY – Nancy Pollard, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Wednesday- March 3 – INSECTS – Susan Grupp, Extension Educator, Environmental Science

Wednesday – March 10 – TURF – Matt Kostelnick, Extension Educator, Horticulture

Wednesday- a.m. – March 17 – IPM – Russel Higgins, Extension Educator, Integrated Pest Management

Wednesday-p.m. How to be a Volunteer – Larry Wilson, Extension Educator, Community & Economic Development

Wednesday – March – 24 -PLANT CLINIC, DATABASE, ORGANIC BASICS – Kirsten Akre, Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, Sue Gasper, Chicago Master Gardener Organizer

Wednesday – March 31 – SNOW DAY

Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:44 PM | Permalink |

January 4, 2010

Groundbreaking news from All-America Selections!

All-America Selections announces a revolutionary change to the introduction schedule of AAS Winners. Based on your input, the AAS Board is proud to announce the immediate introduction and availability of AAS winning varieties.

Seed is now available from your favorite seed supplier. Plants will be available this spring. Make room in your garden for these exciting AAS Winners!

Posted by Ron Wolford at 9:38 PM | Permalink |

January 4, 2010

Short Courses on Organic Veggie Production

Windy City Harvest is offering a series of monthly short courses on organic vegetable production starting in January 2010.

Workshop Topics & Dates:
Crop Planning January 23
Seed Starting February 27
Season Extension March 27
Window-box or Container Gardens April 24
Building Healthy Soil May 22
Organic Pest Control June 26
Harvest Techniques July 24
Cover Cropping August 28
Seed-Starting: Cool-Season Crop Planning September 25
Season-Extension Techniques October 23
Troubleshooting Cool-Season Production November 27
Fruit Tree Pruning December 2010

All workshops are held Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the greenhouse classroom at the Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Avenue. The cost is $30 each or $25 for five or more courses. All materials and handouts are provided. Workshops are taught by Chicago Botanic Garden and Windy City Harvest staff.

You can download registration form: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/windycityharvest/courses.php

Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:03 PM | Permalink |