Using Gardening to Make a Difference

Volunteers are important to Extension. They help reach into communities and address the needs that matter most to people.  Master Gardener Volunteers specifically focus on the topic of gardening. They help answer gardening questions, help people grow food, battle invasive plants and protect pollinators, and get people– of all ages and abilities– active in the garden!  You’ll get to help fulfill the Extension mission in your area of the state using gardening and education.  If you want to make a difference in your community and also want to learn more about gardening, think about joining our team.

Level 1 training is a blended classroom of in-class lecture, discussion, and activities; plus out of class reading and video lectures.  Topics covered include an introduction to the plant sciences, soils, and integrated pest management. Participants should be able to answer most gardening questions using the appropriate resources at the end of the training.

In addition to training, requirements include:

• Completing and reporting a minimum of 24 hours of volunteerism on locally approved projects
• Passing a required criminal background check
• Completing UW-Extension’s mandated reporter training of child abuse and neglect
• And signing the UW-Extension volunteer agreement form

Watch an Orientation to the Master Gardener Program

Winter/Spring 2020

County	Contact	Phone Number	Class Starts	Registration Deadline
Columbia	George Koepp	608-742-9682	February 4, 2020	January 10, 2020
Crawford	Karen Snitker	608-326-0223	February 4, 2020	January 2, 2020
Dane	Lisa Johnson	608-224-3715	February 26, 2020	February 18, 2020
Dodge	Laure Dei	920-386-3790	February 4, 2020	January 17, 2020
Door	Annie Deutsch	920-746-2260	January 8, 2020	open until maximum class size of 12 is reached
Jefferson	LaVern Georgson	920-675-7295	March 23, 2020	March 16, 2020
Eau Claire	Margaret Murphy	715-726-7957	March 28, 2020	March 20, 2020
Grant	Amanda Cauffman	608-723-2125	January 6, 2020	December 10, 2019
Green	Jackie McCarville	608-328-9440	January 14, 2020	December 18, 2019
Juneau	Alana Voss	608-847-9329	February 3, 2020
Oneida	Merry Lehner	715-365-2753	January 23, 2020	January 30, 2020
Ozaukee	Stephanie Plaster	262-284-8288	March 10, 2020	January 5, 2020
Portage	Ken Schroeder	715-346-1316	January 28, 2020	January 14, 2020
Shawano	Kara Skarlupka	715-526-6136	January 14, 2020	January 2, 2020
Walworth	Julie Hill	262-741-4958	February 6, 2020	January 15, 2020
Wood	Janell Wehr	715-421-8440	January 13, 2020	Dec 30, 2019

 

Summer/Fall 2020 (coming soon)

County	Contact	Phone Number	Class Starts	Registration Deadline