April 21, 2008
Getting Ready to Plant the Garden
Today was supposed to be the day to map out our garden plan in preparation for planting on Earth Day, April 22, but things don't always work out as you plan.
Our Smart Home Garden team, Susan Grupp, Extension Educator, Environmental Sciences, Nancy Pollard, Cook County Horticulture Educator, Nancy Kreith, Cook County Horticulture Program Coordinator, Ron Wolford, Cook County Horticulture Educator and Greg Pierceall, Landscape architect and director of the University of Illinois horticulture degree completion arrived at the Smart Home garden site to find it was not really ready for planting. The large plot needed to be tilled and our other plot had a mountain of soil on top of it and we had two shifts of 20 Cook County Master Gardeners scheduled for planting on Tuesday. We decided to cancel our Tuesday afternoon shift of Master Gardeners, since we didn't think both garden plots would be ready.
We did unload over 6,000 plants that were grown off for us by Regan Cronin who owns the Good Earth Greenhouse and Garden Center in River Forest and a nursery in Lockport. We want to thank Regan and her staff for all their time and effort growing plants for the project.
Greg Pierceall was able to line out sections of the garden plan in the large plot including the area where we will be planting over 4,000 Lettuce 'Red Sails' and Lettuce 'Black Seeded Simpson' plants.
The media have been invited to the garden tomorrow, so we are hoping for good weather and that the garden will be ready for planting.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:47 PM | Permalink |
March 30, 2008
MSI Smart Home Garden Docent Training
Hello MSI Master Gardeners,
We would like to extend an invitation to all of you who will be docents during the MSI - Smart Home Garden venture. This training will focus on the docent position. You will be given a guideline/script handout and we will have a role play session during this training. Please consider attending in order to get a step ahead as a docent.
When: Wednesday, April 9 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Chicago High School for Ag. Sciences (CHAS) - 3857 W. 111th St., Chicago 60655
Room: Music Demonstration Room
Contact Person: Nancy Kreith, cell 708-567-6101
Please reply to this email if you plan on attending.
Every docent will receive the handout whether they can attend this training or not. We will also take the time to briefly train you during your first docent shifts in May and June and on initial planting days.
FYI: All of the plants will be labeled for your reference.
Thank you.
Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL. 60655
office: 773.233.0476
fax: 773.233.0910
cell: 708.567.6101
url: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/
Posted by Nancy Kreith at 3:05 PM | Permalink |
March 27, 2008
Michelle Kaufmann's Weekly Green Tips
Smart Home designer, Michelle Kaufmann offers weekly green tips. Michelle has designed the Smart Home: Green and Wired that will open on May 8, 2008 at the Museum of Science and Industry.
Posted by Nancy Kreith at 12:46 AM | Permalink |
March 27, 2008
Smart Home Set at MSI
The Smart Home was set at the Museum of Science and Industry on March 5. Watch the setting on this video.
We are planning to start planting the vegetable garden on April 22.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:18 AM | Permalink |
March 26, 2008
Smart Home Veggie Garden Team Meeting
The University of Illinois Extension Smart Home Sustainable Vegetable Garden team met today at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.
Susan Grupp, Extension Educator, Environmental Sciences, Nancy Pollard, Cook County Horticulture Educator, Nancy Kreith, Cook County Horticulture Program Coordinator, Ron Wolford, Cook County Horticulture Educator and Greg Pierceall, Landscape architect and director of the University of Illinois horticulture degree completion program make up the team.
The team discussed plans for the upcoming planting and media day at the garden on April 22, our education message for the Smart Home tour booklet and Master Gardener training: our education message and talking points.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:53 PM | Permalink |
March 26, 2008
Smart Home Veggie Garden Planting Day
Congratulations! You all responded in time to be a part of the MSI Initial Planting Day on Tuesday, April 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please plan on bringing a lunch. We will provide water, gloves and tools. If you have special tools you would like to use please feel free to bring them. We will break a half-hour for lunch. There is a Subway near by and the Museum Food Court as well.
This day will be a media day for the Smart Home exhibit. If possible, please wear any Master Gardener apparel that you may have. The names listed below are the Master Gardeners who will be present that day. If you were scheduled to come to the Museum on a day before April 22 please consider those dates CANCELLED! We will not start the garden until April 22.
Chris Meier
Kitty Giblin
Susan Davenport
Arielle Corbett
Louisea Story
Tom Janik
Denise Smith
Ellen Caffrey-Garza
Margaret Moore
Sue Rancak
Marilyn Klein
Karen McCray
Martha Bresnahan
Dot Kluzek
John Sweeney
Marjorie Simmerling
Sue Gasper
Rebecca Lian
Joan Jones
Thanks again for working this day into your schedule.
Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL. 60655
office: 773.233.0476
fax: 773.233.0910
Posted by Nancy Kreith at 4:51 AM | Permalink |
March 6, 2008
Smart Home Volunteer Sessions at MSI
Dear Master Gardeners,
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Smart Home: Green and Wired exhibition. Due to the amazing number of applicants I have decided to hold three new volunteer orientations. These orientations will be designed specifically for Master Gardeners. The March 8th session is no longer available. You will need to attend an orientation before beginning your volunteer service. The three new session dates include:
Thursday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 from 10:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Monday, March 24 from 10:00 – 2:30 p.m.
At orientation you will learn about the volunteer program, the mission of the Museum and take a tour of the facility. We will also cover the specific logistics of the Master Gardener position and address any questions or concerns. Refreshments will be served.
Space to each orientation is limited (approximately 32 people) so please RSVP to one of the above dates as soon as possible. You may RSVP by sending an email (preferred) to matt.porth@msichicago.org or by calling 773.753.1382. Please specify the date of the session you would like to attend. I will notify you if that session is already full. Registration for each session will close at noon two days prior with priority given to those signed up to assist with the initial plantings in April. I cannot accommodate volunteers that do not RSVP.
Please park in the Museum's east parking lot (outside of the Henry Crown Space Center), which has a turnoff on Lake Shore and Science Drive. Please enter the building through the Henry Crown Space Center and let the security officer know you are attending The Smart Home orientation session. I will arrive at 10:00 a.m. to begin the session. If you walk to the Museum or take public transportation (www.transitchicago.com) please walk to the east lot and enter through the Henry Crown Space Center.
All volunteers must submit a completed volunteer application before they can officially start the program. If you have not yet mailed or faxed in yours, please download the attached version and bring it to the orientation you attend.
Cordially,
Matt Porth, Volunteer Programs Manager
Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:43 AM | Permalink |
February 27, 2008
Slots Open for Smart Home Garden
Hello Master Gardeners,
These are the slots we still have available for April, May and June at the Museum of Science and Industry. We are scheduling 2 Docents for each shift, 2 Groomers daily, and one historian on Saturdays and Thursdays. We are more concerned with filling these earlier dates, but there are many openings in July - Oct. General information and all job descriptions can be viewed in the forms and downloads section of the Chicago Master Gardener Web site.
Each MG must sign up for at least four shifts. Please send me your top six picks/dates and I will do my best to get you scheduled (first come-first served basis). Please let me know if you have questions.
Saturday, April 5 10am-4pm Planter
Saturday, May 10 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 13 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 13 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 13 9:15am-12:15 Groomer
Thursday, May 15 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Saturday, May 17 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Saturday, May 17 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Saturday, May 17 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 20 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 20 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Thursday, May 22 Time Flex Historian
Saturday, May 24 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday, May 27 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Tuesday, May 27 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Thursday May 29 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Saturday May 31 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday June 3 9:30-12:30 Docent 1
Thursday, June 5 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Saturday, June 7 9:45am-12:45 Groomer
Saturday, June 7 Time Flex Historian
Tuesday, June 10 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Tuesday, June 10 12pm-3pmDocent 2
Saturday, June 14 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Saturday, June 14 9:45am-12:45 Groomer
Tuesday, June 17 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Tuesday, June 17 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Tuesday, June 17 12pm-3pmDocent 2
Tuesday, June 17 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Thursday June 19 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Tuesday June 24 9:30am-12:30 Docent 1
Tuesday, June 24 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Thursday, June 26 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Saturday, June 28 12pm-3pm Docent 2
Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 W. 111th Street
Chicago, IL. 60655
office: 773.233.0476
fax: 773.233.0910
Posted by Nancy Kreith at 9:52 PM | Permalink |
February 13, 2008
Smart Home Garden Volunteer Orientation
The University of Illinois Extension is partnering with the Museum of Science and Industry to design, plant and maintain a sustainable vegetable garden as a part of the 2,500 square-foot sustainable "green" home exhibit: Smart Home: Green + Wired. Smart Home is scheduled to open on May 8, 2008 and run through January of 2009.
On February 7 and 9 over 100 Cook, Dupage, Will and McHenry County Master Gardeners attended meet-and–greet sessions at the Museum of Science and Industry to learn details of the Smart Home Garden project, including the volunteer positions needed and to sign-up for the April-October volunteer schedule.
Anne Rashford, Director of Temporary Exhibits and Events for the Museum of Science and Industry spoke to the Master Gardeners about the details and features of the Smart Home. Matt Porth, Volunteer Resources Coordinator and Penny Aulston, Volunteer Resource Manager for the Museum of Science and Industry talked about procedures to become a MSI Volunteer. Susan Grupp, Extension Educator, Environmental Science described plans for the vegetable garden and Nancy Kreith, Extension Horticulture Coordinator and Ron Wolford, Extension Educator, Urban Garden/Environment reviewed volunteer job descriptions and general volunteer guidelines for the project.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:52 AM | Permalink |
February 12, 2008
Smart Home at Museum of Science and Industry
The University of Illinois Extension is partnering with the Museum of Science and Industry to design, plant and maintain a sustainable vegetable garden as a part of the 2,500 square-foot sustainable "green" home exhibit: Smart Home: Green + Wired.
Guests will be able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.
The exhibit will run from May 8 through January 4, 2009. The home was conceived by Michelle Kaufmann Designs. The garden will be planted and maintained by Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners will also be on-site throughout the growing season to answer questions.
Photo: Museum of Science and Industry
Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:14 PM | Permalink |
