Join us on September 6-8
2012 Illinois Master Gardener Conference
Holiday Inn Crystal Lake Conference Center, Crystal Lake IL

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners from McHenry and Lake Counties invite you to join us at the 2012 Illinois Master Gardener Conference. These volunteers have chosen "Our Common Ground" as a theme- so join fellow Master Gardeners as we explore our common interests in promoting good environmental practices, using sustainable practices in our home gardens and promoting healthy local foods.

You will have a chance to choose from several all day tours which will offer a glimpse into commercial composting and organic farming; vegetable production and heritage farming and historically significant Lake Michigan estates. Four half day tours will feature well known gardens, wholesale nurseries, the Volo bog, Master Gardener projects, and restoration projects. There will be a tour for every gardening taste!

Our keynote speaker is the nationally recognized leader of organic gardening- Eliot Coleman. Eliot has more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of organic farming, including field vegetables, greenhouse vegetables, rotational grazing of cattle and sheep, and range poultry. He is the author of The New Organic Grower, Four Season Harvest and the Winter Harvest Handbook.

A wide range of class topics include four season harvest, fairy gardens, rose pests and diseases; herbs; hostas, beekeeping, lawn care, shrubs, community gardening, pest ID, bonsai, fruits, vermicomposting, native trees and much more.

Registration will open May 1^st for Illinois Master Gardeners and 1 adult guest.

Register here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/mg/conference2012/default.cfm