Organic Gardening Day in Urbana, IL

Organic gardening experts from around the country will present at the University of Illinois Extension 2007 Organic Gardening Day slated for Saturday, November 10, from 8:00 am through 4:30 pm, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 1001 Killarney St., Urbana, IL.

"If you don't want to spend the extra money on buying organic produce in the grocery store, this workshop will help you learn how to grow it yourself," said Chuck Voigt, U of I Extension horticultural specialist.

The speakers include:

Eliot Coleman, organic grower and author from Harborside, Maine, will speak twice: once about Field Culture of Organic Produce, and again about Greenhouse Culture to Stretch the Organic Growing Season. Eliot writes and speaks extensively around the country.

Dan Bussey, a successful fruit grower from Wisconsin, will talk about Organic Home Orchards. Dan is a long-time member of Seed Savers Exchange and works with the heritage apple collection there.

Ann Patterson, Living Earth Farm in Farmington, Illinois, is a grower of a wide diversity of organic crops and trainer in the culinary arts. Her topic, Organic Bounty, will relate how to harvest and utilize organic produce to maintain its flavor and high quality.

Jim Long, founder and owner of Long Creek Herbs in Blue Eye Missouri, will demonstrate how to plan and construct Rustic Bentwood Trellises.

Also, participants will be able to get a head start on the 2008 growing season by visiting a retail area associated with this event where a broad spectrum of organic garden-related products will be offered for sale.

Registrations will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. The capacity of the lecture room will be 250, so be sure to send your reservations in early to avoid disappointment.

The cost of registration, including lunch, is $49 per person and includes seating in the lectures, coffee and tea during morning registration, access to the retail area, and an organic theme lunch buffet, which includes vegetarian options.

Those interested in attending should mail $49 checks, payable to the University of Illinois, to: Organic Gardening Day 2007, Attn: Carol Preston, S-406 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801 (see enclosed return envelope). For more information, call (217) 333-7738 or e-mail preston1@uiuc.edu and mention Organic Gardening Day 2007. Sorry, credit card orders cannot be accepted, and cancellations will not be refunded.

Once the available 250 spaces are filled, registration checks will be returned. On-site registration, which does not include lunch, will only be available if all 250 seats are not filled by pre-registration. Notice of receipt of registration will not be sent, but you may confirm that your registration has been recorded by contacting Carol Preston, either by phone at (217) 333-7738 or e-mail: preston1@u

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:07 AM | Permalink |

Continuing Education Opportunity at Oak Park Conservatory

Date: Oct. 6, 2007

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Place: Oak Park Conservatory operations and outdoors, weather permitting (615 Garfield Avenue, Oak Park 60303)

Instructor: Tor Faegre

Class Description: Learn to make furniture, sculpture or garden ware from willow, buckthorn and other pliable earthy materials. This nationally recognized furniture maker will give a talk and a demonstration, and then assist students as they make their own beautiful rustic twig designs. The natural materials will be supplied for the class. Students should bring pruning shears, saw, hammer and cordless drill if you have them. Tor normally presents a 2 day workshop for $80+, so this is a great opportunity at a reasonable price. Please let friends and neighbors who are interested in wood-working, rustic sculpture, garden ornaments know about this class. It is also a great way to get rid of weed trees: buckthorn and willow switches make excellent materials. You can see samples of Tor's work at: www.cfdainfo.org/des/tor/tor.html

Ornamental Grass Class

Class Size: limited to 12 students

Class Fee: $49.00, members $47.

Registration: Call Jackie Paine, FOPCON executive director at 708-725-2460to register for this class. To reserve a space, please pay at the time of registration by cash or check.

Date: October 11, 2007

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Date: October 13, 2007

Time: 10 a.m. to noon

Place: Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield Avenue, Oak Park 60303

Instructor: Andrea Green, Landscape Designer

Ornamental grasses are rapidly becoming the indispensable companion in the landscape for perennials, in mixed borders and naturalized plantings. Learn about the major ornamental grasses and their characteristics and how grasses can be used to add texture, structural form and color to your garden. On day 2, the class will tour Ms. Green's garden in Oak Park to see different grasses and their uses in the garden. Please provide your own transportation by car and dress for the weather.

Class Fee: $26 for Oak Park residents/$39 for non-residents

Class #: 441070-03

Registration: Online: www.oakparkparks.com (you will need to setup a household ID) or call 708-725-2525

Thanks!

Jackie Paine

Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:05 PM | Permalink |

Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo

Master Gardeners,

Do you still need to meet your "Plant Clinic" requirement? Would you like be part of the exciting Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo?

What: Ask a Master Gardener Table

Where: Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo

Chicago Merchandise Mart

When: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.,Saturday, October 27.

Contact: Elizabeth ebruhns@uiuc.eduto volunteer.

I would like to have four Master Gardeners for this event, so that everyone has a chance to enjoy the Expo.

Thank you

Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:29 PM | Permalink |

Last Chance for Master Composter Training

This is a reminder that applications for the 2007 Master Composter training are due September 24.

Please note that we will need at least 20 participants in order to run the program. If we do not receive enough applications the class will be canceled. Please spread the word. You can apply online at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/county/survey.cfm?sID=333

Thank you

Nancy Kreith

What: University of Illinois Extension Master Composter Training

When: Saturdays, October 6, 13, 20, 2007

Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Chicago High School for Agricultural Science - 3807 W. 111th Street

Deadline: Applications must be received by Sept. 24, 2007

Cost: $50

Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:49 AM | Permalink |

Dates for Master School Gardeners

Three Master Gardeners attended our Master School Gardening training on Monday, Setpember 17 and will be joining our group. Welcome to John Hachtel, Ella Russell and Melanie Scott.

Everyone, please mark your calendars with these important dates:

Using Cool Weather Crops Class

Matt Kostelnick

Thursday, September 20,

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

UIUC Extension Office.

300 North Elizabeth

Master Gardener Monthly Meeting

Garfield Park Conservatory

Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 p.m.

Honoring the Master School Gardener Program,Carol Gittler and Bobby Jordan, speakers.

Quarterly Master School Gardener Meetings

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

300 North Elizabeth

Monday, October 22

Monday, January 14

Monday, April 21

Monday, June 30

You are also invited to participate in the Green Teacher Network Trainings sessions.

Please let Jamie know in advance if you are coming: jzaplatosch@openlands.org.

Saturday, October 20, 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Lincoln Park, Farm-in-the-Zoo

Wednesday, January 23, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Garfield Park Conservatory

Wednesday, March 12, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Gary Comer Youth Center

Saturday, April 26, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., Garfield Park Conservatory

Elizabeth

ebruhns@uiuc.edu

773-469-8037

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:51 PM | Permalink |

Naturally Healthy Children's Expo

Do you still need to earn some volunteer hours? Here is a great opportunity. Even if you have not had worm composting training, you will be supplied with enough background information to handle this information table easily.

Hello Master Gardeners,

We will be participating in the Naturally Healthy Children's Expo (NHCE) held at Navy Pier this year. Our topic of discussion will be Worm Composting. I am looking for Master Gardeners for each day, including the field trip day on Friday, October 5. I will be flexible with the schedule because I will be there two of the three days. I particularly need people for the day I will not be there, which is, Saturday October 6. Please see details below.

What: Worm Composting Table - NHCE

When: Friday, October 5 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Saturday, October 6 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sunday, October 7 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Navy Pier

Please contact me directlyif interested at nkreith@gmail.com or 773-233-0476.

Thank you

Nancy Kreith

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:56 PM | Permalink |

Class Reminder for Master School Gardeners

Hi Master School Gardeners,

I will be finishing up my instruction on Cool Season Cropson Thursday, September 20, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 pm at the UIUC Extension office, 3rd floor, 300 North Elizabeth Street.

For those of you unable to attend the first session on cool season crops, please plan to arrive by 6:00 p.m., so we can review the last presentation to get you up to speed.

Using Cool Season Crops is an important strategy for successful school gardens. It helps to eliminate the problems of summer care for a school garden.

We will not be serving a meal, so you probably want to grab something to eat before you arrive.

Again, for those of you that missed the first session, I will do a short review for newcomers starting at promptly at 6 p.m.

If you haven't already reserved a space, contact:

Elizabeth ebruhns@uiuc.edu

and/or

Matt Kostelnick mkosteln@uiuc.edu

See you tonight!

Matt Kostelnick

University of Illinois Extension

Horticulture Educator

Cook County, District Four

300 N. Elizabeth, Suite 310-C

Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 752-4692

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:35 PM | Permalink |

State Master Gardener Conference Report

Roger Swain, of the television show Victory Gardens fame, was the opening speaker for the 2007 Master Gardener State Conference held in Springfield on September 6-8. He set the tone for two days of excellent educational speakers and workshops enjoyed bysixteen Master Gardeners from our Cook County/Chicago Unit.

The conference began on Thursday, September 6 with garden and architectural tours around the historic Springfield area. Conferences participants had an array of topics from which to choose for each of the five educational sessions on Friday and Saturday. Session topics ranged from Power Point classes to weed identification, to orchids to Dendrology( Botanical symbolism in Victorian cemeteries.)

The highlight of the conference was the Honors Dinner on Friday evening. Our own Electronic Plant Clinic was named as one of the State Team Award winners. MaryAnne Spinner and Janice Byron, accepted the award on behalf of their other team members: Carol Stitzer, Chris Kelsey, Erica Granchalek, Erica Seltzer, Dianne Gilder, Peggy Coon, Bill Sahr, Kathleen Mullaney, Amara Rozgus Duhrand Mary Boldan.

A special thank you to all of you who sent items to Springfield for the Silent Auction. The Auction Committee was overwhelmed with the amount donated. They chose 168 items for the auction,and awarded the remaining items as door prizes. Almost every attendee went home with a prize.

Our attendees were Carla Burton, Heather Burton, Tom Janek, Karin Grear, Helen Charity, Sandra Bradley, Phyllis Johnson, Janice Bryon, Deloris Carter Williams, Linda Khalouf, Marilyn Witney, Jeanne Zasadil, MaryAnne Spinner, Bob Vear, Denise Smith and Elizabeth Bruhns.

The annual State Conference is an excellent way for Master Gardeners to earn Continuing Education credits in a concentrated two day period. It will be even more convenient in 2008 when the September conference will be held in near by Lombard, Illinois.

Elizabeth Bruhns

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:13 PM | Permalink |

Science in the City 2007

Please join us in encouraging students to become young scientists.This coming October, there will be four opportunities for you to volunteer your time and educate children. Extension will be providing it's infamous Insect Petting Zoo, as well as, an Informational Table. Please set some time aside and join us to show off these incredible creatures. If interested please contact Nancy Kreith at nkreith@gmail.com

The Insect Petting Zoo and Info Table will be included at each event below from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Kick-Off in Daley Plaza

October 2 - Daley Plaza - 50 West Washington Street

Official kick-off of Science in the City 2007. See the unveiling of the top ten scientific achievements in Chicago, chosen by a panel of scientists and educators; participate in hands-on science and technology activities; witness an interactive robotics competition; and listen to specialists in the fields of science and technology. All ages welcome and the event is free.

Neighborhood Science Carnivals

October 6 - North Park Village - 5801 North Pulaski Road

October 8 - Garfield Park Conservatory300 North Central Park

October 13 - Kennedy King College - 6800 South Wentworth Avenue

Participate in hands-on science and technology activities at the City's first neighborhood science carnivals. Witness an interactive robotics competition; learn about science activities that you can do at home; and listen to specialists in the fields of science and technology.

To learn more please visit the Science in the City website:

http://www.chicagoscienceinthecity.org/index.html


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 Ron Wolford at 9:57 AM | Permalink |

Community Garden Needs Assistance

Master Gardeners,

We received a request for Master Gardener assistance in a community garden. This is a fairly new garden we have been working with for the past year. The duties would be planting perennials. We are donating some perennial transplants and June will be picking up perennials from the Great Perennial Divide that day. If interested please contact June Bethely directly.

What: Community Garden Assistance

Where: 539 West 120th Street (120th and Wallace)

When: Saturday, September 29

Time: 1 - 4 p.m.

Contact: June Bethely, cell 773-991-7915 or junebethely@sbcglobal.net


Thank you

Nancy Kreith
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension
3807 West 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 Ron Wolford at 6:51 PM | Permalink |

Volunteer at the Chicago Center for Green Technology Green Roof

Volunteer at the Chicago Center for Green Technology!

Green Roof Planting and Maintenance Day

Saturday, September 29

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Learn about roof gardens, maintenance, and green roof initiatives in the City of Chicago!

Help us maintain our green roof by weeding volunteer plants and replanting with sedum varieties!

We will start the morning with a brief intro to green roofs, then we will move up to the roof for maintenance and planting.

Light breakfast refreshments will be provided.

Chicago Center for Green Technology

445 North Sacramento Boulevard

Chicago, Illinois60612

Contact: Katie Rehrauer

Phone: 312-746-9609

Email: katie.rehrauer@cityofchicago.org

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:45 PM | Permalink |

Master School Gardener Training

Good morning, new Master School Gardener applicants, Matt, Jamie and I look forward to working with you during the coming year.

Here are a few details for Monday evening, September 17. The Extension office is on the third floor of the converted loft office building at 300 North Elizabeth Street. In spite of what Mapquest might tell you, Elizabeth is not a through street. This segment of it runs north from Randolph to about 400 North. Turn North onto Elizabeth from either Randolph or Lake St.

The training will start at 6 p.m. and end at about 8:30 p.m.

Use street parking. The parking lot is usually closed after office hours.

I'll be in the lobby waiting for you, but if I'm not, get the attention of the security attendant and he will let you in. Just tell him that you are here for the meeting in the 3rd floor UIUC Extension office.

Sorry, this is not a dinner meeting. We will have coffee and cookies, but no meal.

We look forward to working with you.

See you Monday evening, September 17.

Elizabeth 773-469-8037

Master School Gardener Training

Potential Master School Gardeners,

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Master School Gardener Training Date set for Monday, September 17, 2007.

The training will start at 6 p.m. and end at about 8:30 p.m.

The location is of the training will be: 300 North Elizabeth Street, Chicago, IL 60607.

This location is the University of Illinois Extension office for the North Side of Chicago. We are located on the 3rd floor of the building. The building is six stories tall and has a large "Chicago Bancorp" sign on the top of it and a black "Fulton West" sign on the front. The building is at the intersection of Elizabeth ST and Fulton Market (the closest major intersection is Ogden Ave and Lake ST.

Parking: on the NORTH side of the building there is a parking lot (which has two large, red pillars at the entrance). Go into that lot and park in any of these remaining spots: 26-30, 34, 35. Be sure you park in one of these spots (Extension owns them). These spots are free to park in, as long as you park in the right number. Other spots belong to other tenants; hence you could be towed if you park in them. There might also be some street parking along Elizabeth Street.

CTA: This office is about 6 blocks east of the Ashland stop on the green el line. Also, we are about three blocks north of the Madison Street Bus #20 (Throop Stop).

What to bring: You can bring a notepad and a pen or pencil to take notes if you like. If you forget to bring a pen or pencil, we can loan you one.

What to expect: This training will cover all the basics of becoming a Master School Gardener, what a Master School Gardener is, what is expected of a MSG, what is not expected of a MSG, some basic school gardening information, where to get resources for school gardens, and much more. After this training, you should have a really good idea if this program is for you. Once you have received the training, we assign you to a school and the volunteer work begins. We have four quarterly meetings/continuing education throughout the year, as well as some additional continuing education along the way as needed and as requested (for example, the cool season training we are doing in September is one of those).

If you have further questions: Please email or call me.

We look forward to meeting all of you at the training!

Matt Kostelnick

University of Illinois Extension

Horticulture Educator

Cook County, District Four

300 N. Elizabeth, Suite 310-C

Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 752-4692

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/urbanhort.


Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:24 AM | Permalink |

The Great Perennial Divide

Hello Friends,

The Great Perennial Divide is coming up September 29th and we need your help in a big way. We are looking for volunteers to help sort and distribute plants to Chicago's community gardens for this year. The two days prior to Great Perennial Divide, September 27 th and 28th , volunteers are needed to help receive and group plants. The day of the Great Perennial Divide we will need lots of volunteers' hands to help move and load up cars of registered participants with their plant groupings.

Garfield Park Conservatory Market Place

Thursday September 27th and Friday 28th 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to sort and group plants as they arrive at the Conservatory

Saturday September 29th8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Move and load up perennials into cars of the registered community garden representatives

If you can help with the Perennial Divide September 27th, 28th or 29th , please contact me at hpicciuca@garfieldpark.org or phone 773-638-1766x24 with the day and time you can help.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Harmony Picciuca

Garden and Volunteer Programs Coordinator

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance

300 N. Central Park Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60624

773.638.1766 x 24

hpicciuca@garfieldpark.org

Posted by Ron Wolford at 9:27 AM | Permalink |

Volunteer at Today's Christian Women's Expo

Master Gardeners,

Still looking for volunteer hours as the growing season winds down? Still looking for a way to fulfill your "one Plant Clinic" obligation? Here is the opportunity for you.

What: 'Ask a Master Gardener Table"

Where: Today's Christian Women's Expo

Parrish Hall

Shiloh Church

7008 South Michigan Avenue

When: 11:00 .am. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, September 30

We need at least two people, but we will staff with up to four.

Extension will deliver, to the site by 10:30 a.m.,all the materials that you need: table clothes, Master Gardener Signs and various handouts. Master Gardeners should bring their own MG manuals for reference.

To volunteer contact Elizabeth, ebruhns@uiuc.edu

Cell phone # 773-469-8037

Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:03 PM | Permalink |

Volunteer at Lincoln Park Zoo Garden

Good morning, Master Gardeners,

We have a new partnership with Lincoln Park Zoo this year with their Edible Garden in the Farm in the Zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo Edible Garden is a high profile volunteer opportunity for us. They have high public traffic and they give us full credit for our participation with their signage. Those of you who attended our July meeting at the zoo know that this is a beautiful garden and a source of pride for us.

This is the deal. Schools are back in session and many field trips are scheduled for Wednesdays from now until the end of October. It is more than our LPZoo stalwarts, Gloria Needlman and Tom Janik can handle. Please come and help. I'm going to be volunteering there every Wednesday in October too. (I don't know so much about vegetables, but I know more than the average 4th grader!)

Where: Lincoln Park Edible Garden in the Farm at the Zoo

When: Wednesdays, especially, but Thursday, Friday and Saturdays too.

September 19

September 26

October 3

October 10

October 17

October 24

October 31

Time: 9:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Free parking

WE REALLY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE!

To sign up and for more information, contact: Elizabeth ebruhns@uiuc.edu

Cell # 773- 469-8037

This is a good way to get those hours that you need to remain an active Master Gardener in 2008.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bruhns
Master Gardener Program Organizer
Cook County/Chicago

ebruhns@uiuc.edu

3807 West 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655
773-233-0476 -Fax 773-233-0910
url http://cook.extension.uiuc.edu

MASTER GARDENER BLOG-
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/blogs./eb6/index.html

Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:17 AM | Permalink |

How to Remain an Active Master Gardener

Good morning, Master Gardeners. It is time for you to indicate your intentions with an Annual Agreement again. If your wish to stay on the rolls as an Active Cook/County Master Gardener, these are the three easy steps:

STEP ONE. Make sure that your name is entered on the NE Region Database by entering some/all of your current Volunteer Hours and Continuing Education hours by October 15, 2008. We will not be sending out Annual Agreement forms to anyone who does not have hours listed on 2008 Database list.

If you need instructions about using the database, or need to have a proxy enter your hours for you, make an appointment for help on one of three dates, contact: ebruhns@uiuc.edu or cell phone #773-469-8037.

Thursday, September 20, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.- Garfield Park Con.

Friday, September 21, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Ag High School

Sunday, Sept.23, 11:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. -Garfield Park Con.

STEP TWO. Indicate your intent to remain as an active Master Gardener by returning your Annual Agreement by

November 1. (Your Annual Agreement form will be mailed from the Ag School Extension office, with a return envelope, on October 15.)

STEP THREE. Submit your required hours onto the Database by December 14, 2008; Volunteer Hours, at least 30, and Continuing Education Hours, at least 10,

Thank you for your attention to this. We are going to have a record year in 2007. We have 5,000 Volunteer hours reported so far, and only about half of you have recorded your hours!

Elizabeth

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:40 PM | Permalink |

Enter Harvest Competition at Garfield Park County Fair

Attention All Gardeners!

You are invited to participate in this year's

New and Improved Harvest Competition at the Garfield Park Conservatory's County Fair

Saturday - September 15

Here are the categories this year:

1. Produce Patch

a. Special Specimen – single herb, fruit or vegetable (fresh)

b. Creative Harvest Display – any combination of herbs, fruits and or vegetables displayed creatively

c. Prettiest Pickle – Tastiest, Too! –any preserved fruit or vegetable

2. Flower Power

a. Special Specimen – single fresh flower stem (max 24")

b. Fresh Flower Arrangement (Max 14")

c. Fresh Flower Arrangment in Creative Container (Max 14")

3. Youth Corner – for students 18 years and younger

a. Special Specimen – single herb, fruit, vegetable or flower (fresh)

b. Creative Harvest Display – any combination of herbs, fruits, vegetables and/or flowers displayed creatively

c. Strangest looking Fruit or Vegetable

Here are the guidelines:

Entering this competition is FREE!

Both home and community gardeners are encouraged to enter

In order to enter, participants should bring their flowers and vegetables directly to the Garfield Marketplace on Saturday, September 15 between 9 a.m. and 10:30a.m.You will be asked to fill out a brief form for each entry you make.

Multiple entries can be made, but each entry competes in a single category

Judging will take place between 11a.m. and 1p.m. the same day, Saturday

Entries will remain on display throughout the day for the County Fair event and can be picked up between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Any entry that is not picked up by 5 p.m. will be considered a donation.

Ribbons and prizes can be claimed when you pick up your entry – between 4 p.m.and 5 p.m. on the 15th

Questions? Email: Julie Samuels

Community Outreach Coordinator

Openlands jsamuels@openlands.org

www.openlands.org

Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:18 AM | Permalink |

Designing Tomorrow's Landscape Today Symposium

What does sustainability mean to you?

How do you reflect sustainability in your landscape designs?How can we use the power of design to lead the green industry into greener installations and practices?With the current public focus on green issues, our clients are asking questions about sustainable landscapes. How are you responding?How do you see the issues and are you ahead of the curve?If designers create the future, what responsibility toward what future do we have?

If you want to learn more about improving the little slice of reality we generate, join us at:

TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY:
DESIGNING TOMORROW'S LANDSCAPE TODAY

A symposium sponsored by the Association ofProfessional Landscape Designers (APLD) and by the Midwest Ecological Landscape Association (MELA).


Conference date:
Friday, October 26, 2007, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location:
Northwest Community HospitalWellness Center
900 West Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847-618-3500

For the full lineup of speakers, click on Conference Program.

If you'd like to attend, click on Registration Form.

We'd love to see you there!

Garth Conrad, Environmental Chair, APLD
Julie Siegel, President, MELA

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:55 PM | Permalink |

Cook County Jail Garden Harvest Festival

All Master Gardeners are welcome to join us at the Cook County Jail Garden Harvest Fest.

What: Jail Harvest Fest - Visit the garden and meet the gentlemen behind the project.

When: Friday, Sept. 14, 2007

Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon

Where: Department of Community Supervision and Intervention of the County Jail - 3026 South California, Chicago

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:17 AM | Permalink |

McCormick Boys and Girls Club Garden Needs Help

Hello Master Gardeners,

We would like to request the help of one to two Master Gardeners. Myself and our summer help have been providing weekly programming at the McCormick Boys and Girls Club. With our summer help gone it is difficult for me to get upnorthonce per week. I am writing to check if there is a MG in the area that would like to work with the club after school twice per month. Please contact me if this interests you. Details below:

Where: McCormick Boys and Girls Club - 4835 North Sheridan Road

What: The Growing Connection - Watering and harvesting EarthBoxes and two planters.

When: School days (after school) 2:30 p.m.- 5:45 p.m.(Dates and times are flexible)

Who: School children from 7 - 15 years old

Duration: Cool season crops through October

I am willing to work on the schedule with you and alternate weeks. We need one person there at least once per week.

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 Ron Wolford at 2:05 AM | Permalink |