June 28, 2008
Flower Show Returns to Navy Pier in 2009
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Mayor Richard M. Daley was pleased to join officials with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), the Mayor's Office of Special Events (MOSE) and Special Events Management, owner of the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, in announcing a truly "green initiative". In 2009, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show will blossom along Chicago's lakefront. After a two-year absence from the city, the show is expected to cultivate new excitement in urban and suburban gardening when it returns to Navy Piers Festival Hall A and B, near the east end of the Pier, from Sat., March 7, through Sun., March 15, 2009. |
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"We look forward to welcoming Special Events Management to Navy Pier, as it creates a dynamic show of the highest quality," said Juan A. Ochoa, Chief Executive Officer of the MPEA. "This show will be the kind of event that's perfect for a global city already receiving worldwide credit for its "green" initiatives under the stewardship of Mayor Richard M. Daley." |
Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:57 PM | Permalink |
June 24, 2008
Volunteer at Taste of Chicago
Master Gardeners and Master Composters:
Great Volunteer Opportunity - Short Notice!
So many of you have asked about being at the Taste of Chicago this year so I'm happy to announce that Extension is going to be there, if only for a limited time.
Horticulture Educator Matt Kostelnek will be engaging the public about various horticulture and composting activities. He needs a total of 8 Volunteers: two for each of two shifts per day on June 29 and June 30.
June 29, Shift One --11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Shift Two---3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
June 30, Shift One --11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Shift Two-- 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Contact Matt directly to volunteer at mkosteln@uiuc.edu.
Volunteer Duties:
Volunteers will be assisting with the demonstration of the worm composting bins (from the Ag High School) and 2 city rain barrels and 2 city compost bins. Volunteers with experience and/or knowledge of composting will definitely have an advantage over volunteers. Of course, we will also have some promotional material and demonstration material on composting.
The Perks:
Volunteers will get food tickets. However, please use public transportation. We need to use our few parking passes for those who will be transporting materials. (Remember we are still in a big budget crunch.)
Other Extension Staff:
Just an FYI to you and the volunteers: There will be other Extension staff in our tent during the Taste of Chicago. The health, food nutrition, and STEM team will all be there doing some Extension demonstrations in the same tent with us. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet other Extension staff.
Matt Kostelnick
University of Illinois Extension
Horticulture Educator
Cook County
1699 Wall Street, Suite 500
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 437-6449
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/urbanhort.html
Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:35 PM | Permalink |
June 24, 2008
Mount Greenwood Garden Walk
See nine inspiring gardens on the Mount Greenwood Garden Walk on July 13, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The walk begins at 3442 West 108th Street. Tickets are $7.00. For more information, email lillypratt@msn.com.
Elizabeth Bruhns
Master Gardener Program Organizer
Cook County/Chicago
ebruhns@uiuc.edu
UIUC Extension Office
3807 W. 111th St
Chicago, IL 60655
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:37 AM | Permalink |
June 23, 2008
Volunteer at Brookfield Zoo
Please contact the Zoo directly to volunteer. eb
Brookfield Zoo Volunteer Program; Master Gardener Recruitment for Hamill Family Play Zoo
Are you passionate about nature and animals? Are you playful, fun-loving, and young at heart? Do you enjoy being outdoors? If so, we have a fantastic volunteer opportunity for you at Brookfield Zoo's Hamill Family Play Zoo. The Play Zoo is a special exhibit where children and their families play and interact with domestic animals, plants, and people to help them develop caring attitudes toward the natural world.
Brookfield Zoo is currently seeking certified active Master Gardeners to join our volunteer team at the Hamill Family Play Zoo. Master Gardeners facilitate garden-related activities in the Family Gardens and the Greenhouse (please note: Master Gardeners are not involved in any garden maintenance.)
Facilitated activities and related tasks include:
Planting seeds in yogurt cups
Planting/watering in the Family Gardens
Making seed people out of nylons, grass seed & soil
Drawing plant pictures for identification signs
Drilling holes in the bottom of yogurt cups
Cutting nylons for seed people
Cutting contact paper to cover ID-signs
Available volunteer shift/days
Shift: 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Weekdays: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – volunteer once a week from May through October
Weekends: Saturday or Sunday – volunteer every other Saturday or Sunday November through April
Next Steps
As you are thinking about your decision to join the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) Volunteer Program at Brookfield Zoo, please consider the following thinking points and note that all Master Gardeners become part of the CZS Volunteer Family and follow the structure of our volunteer program:
Why are CZS volunteers special?
We involve people in our volunteer program who understand they are making an extremely important commitment as the staff and volunteers work together closely. Your consistent attendance and commitment to our zoo and to the volunteer program is of utmost importance;
We involve people who have a genuine interest in animals, nature, and conservation;
We love people who are friendly and outgoing, with the ability to talk with guests of all ages and backgrounds;
We engage people who are committed to providing our guests the highest standards of customer service;
We expect that all new volunteers will attend a required one-day Volunteer Orientation Program and a required half-day Hospitality Training Program; upcoming orientation and training program dates will be provided at the time of your interview
We count on you to make a minimum contribution of 48-100 hours of service to the zoo each calendar year;
During our busiest season, the summer months, we need people who love being outdoors and can tolerate, at times, typical hot and humid Chicago summers;
You need the ability to stand and walk throughout a four-hour shift. (However, we are happy to accommodate persons who use electronic convenience vehicles or wheelchairs)
Financial Commitments
We ask that you are already a zoo member or be willing to purchase a zoo membership plan at a 50% discount upon becoming a volunteer (membership plans range from $25 to $197.50 for new volunteers)
We ask you to submit a materials fee of $15
If either of these financial commitments poses an economic hardship for you, our Volunteer Manager can make other arrangements.
Also note that a background check will be conducted at no cost to you as part of our volunteer orientation
What do you receive as a CZS volunteer?
The satisfaction of a meaningful contribution of service to one of the world's leading conservation centers;
A 20% discount at zoo restaurants and gift shops;
Discounted refills on soft drinks and coffee when you present your official zoo drink cup;
Earned Membership Reward Program: Volunteers who contribute 300+ hours in any calendar year are rewarded with a Supporting Membership for the following year; 100-299 hours, a Family Plus Membership; 48-99 hours, a Family Membership.
Members' discount for zoo lectures, classes, and other events;
Continuing education programs designed to enhance your skills and knowledge;
Subscriptions to the zoo's quarterly magazine for members, Zoo Views, and other volunteer publications;
Exclusive invitations to preview new exhibits before the general public;
An annual appreciation dinner and presentation of service awards;
Use of the zoo library;
Tax deductions as allowed by law (for details, contact the IRS for publications, 525- Charitable Contributions."
Opportunity to make new friends and have a wonderful time!
Ready to Sign Up?
Visit our website at www.czs.org to fill out an on-line application or call Hina Patel, Volunteer Coordinator at 708-688-8852 to receive an application in the mail. Hope to see you at the zoo!
Hina Patel
Volunteer Coordinator
Conservation, Education and Training Department
Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo
3300 S. Golf Road
Brookfield, IL 60513
708-688-8852
hina.patel@czs.org
Caring! It's Our Nature! Come Volunteer With Us!
Visit our volunteer page at www.brookfieldzoo.org
Elizabeth Bruhns
Master Gardener Program Organizer
Cook County/Chicago
ebruhns@uiuc.edu
UIUC Extension Office
3807 W. 111th St
Chicago, IL 60655
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:55 PM | Permalink |
June 19, 2008
Master Gardeners on WCPT AM 820
Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know that Chris Kelsey and I will be on Mike Nowak's radio show again this Sunday, June 22nd. We will be answering call-in gardening questions from noon to 1 p.m. or maybe even longer.
Mike recently moved his show from WGN radio to WCPT AM 820. WGN had been pre-empting his show for Cubs games, which meant most of the summer (and thus the gardening season!). His new gig started as a one-hour show, is going up permanently to two hours this weekend.
Be sure to tune in--Mike plugs the "University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners' Electronic Plant Clinic" about a dozen times per show!
Chicago Master Gardener
MaryAnne Spinner
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:32 AM | Permalink |
June 19, 2008
June Monthly Meeting: Gary Comer Youth Center
Don't miss this special treat!!
We have arranged a real treat for you for our June meeting, a tour of the new premiere roof garden at the new Gary Comer Youth Center. You have read about it in all the papers and now you will have you own tour conducted by Marji Hess, Comer's lead gardener!
June Monthly Meeting
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24
Cafeteria of Gary Comer Youth Center
(See below for directions to secured parking)
6:00 - Pot luck dinner
6:30 -Announcements
7:00 - Tour of the facility and ROOF TOP GARDEN.
Please note the earlier starting time. Comer is very busy serving their community and this dinner and tour is scheduled during one of their rare 'down times'.
(While you in the neighborhood, you should drive by another Master Gardener Project, GRANDMA'S GARDEN at 73rd and Cottage Grove.)
Marji Hess, our host, sends along this information on parking.
We would like to invite Master Gardeners to park in the Gary Comer Center' secure parking lot located at 7151 South Chicago Avenue. If you enter this address on Internet Map sites such as Mapquest.com you will receive directions to the parking lot.
Once you enter the driveway, please press the red intercom button. Our security staff will be expecting Master Gardeners on the 24th.
Here is a link to a map showing the location of the parking lot on South Chicago Avenue:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/7151+S+South+Chicago+Ave+Chicago+IL+60619-1230/
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:58 AM | Permalink |
June 16, 2008
Help Needed at Extension Ag School Demo Gardens
Master Gardeners, We are falling way behind on our gardening at the Ag. School Extension garden. We have many duties to complete. The first thing we need to do is pull weeds. Please stop by sometime this week if you can help with pulling weeds. If Ron and I are in the field, then our secretary, Julie can assist you with getting tools on Tues. or Fri. this week. I will be here on Thursday to help. The office is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is supposed to be nice this week so please consider helping us out. Even if no one is in the office you are welcome to pick a spot and weed (in this case bring your own tools). Pulled weeds can go into the compost bins.
We are hosting a garden workday on Monday, June 23 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Ag. School/Extension gardens at 3807 W. 111th St. We will provide pizza for lunch. Duties will include: planting EarthBoxes, sifting and moving compost, laying mulch, planting annuals and veggies.
Thank you for your consideration.
--
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 8:39 PM | Permalink |
June 14, 2008
Attend Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference
The Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners are hosting the Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Conference Center on July 16-19.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:00 PM | Permalink |
June 13, 2008
Elizabeth's New Email
Master Gardeners,
Thank you for the warm welcome back. It is nice to be here. Thanks to Nancy's wonderful work there is not much catching up to do. You will be getting notices soon on the Monthly Meetings for June, July and August.
I'm having terrible problems with my personal email account so please send any messages to me at my UIUC account: ebruhns@uiuc.edu
Thanks, it is going to be great working with you again.
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 10:42 AM | Permalink |
June 13, 2008
Piet Oudolf Lecture at Art Institute
Master Gardeners,
Melanie Scott reminds us that there is a free lecture by Piet Oudolf, who designed Lurie Garden.
Piet Oudolf Lecture
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18
Fullerton Room
Art Institute
Please use my UIUC account for any emails concerning the Master Gardener Program. ebruhns@uiuc.edu
Thanks, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bruhns
Master Gardener Program Organizer
Cook County/Chicago
ebruhns@uiuc.edu
Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:29 AM | Permalink |
June 12, 2008
Free Plants for Community Gardens
Please let Master Gardeners know about these free plants: The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory have limited supplies of the following herbs and vegetables that we would like to donate to community gardens that Master Gardeners are volunteering at:
Red Leaf Amaranthus Lettuce
'Bulls Blood'Beets
Golden Chard
Rhubarb Chard
Red Giant Mustard
Red Komasuma Asian Greens (great for a border)
Delicias Pepper – HOT
Hungarian Wax Pepper – HOT
Hungarian Paprika Pepper – MILD
Black Pearl Pepper - HOT
Chilly Chili Pepper – MILD
Poblano/Ancho Pepper
German Chamomile
Roman Chamomile
Tenderheart Cardoon
Porto Cardoon
Florence Fennel
Bronze Fennel
Lovage
Elfin Tomato (cherry tomato)
Sprite Tomato (grape tomato)
Thai Basil
Marjoram
Summer Savory
Salad Burnet
Laurel Trees (bay)
Sour gherkin (Melothria scabra)
Please contact Jackie Paine at 708-725-2460 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday to make an appointment to pick up these plants. Master Gardens can pick up these plants at the Oak Park Conservatory at 615 Garfield Street in Oak Park. For directions, check out our website at: www.fopcon.org. The plants are in flats and will be given away on a first come, first served basis and quantities vary. All plants must be picked up by Thursday, June 19.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:17 AM | Permalink |
June 11, 2008
Biodiversity Project Job Openings
Hello!
The Biodiversity Project, now located in Chicago Illinois, is hiring. Please find attached the three job postings. The job titles and job descriptions are:
Director of Communications
Mississippi River Campaign Program Manager
Jennifer Browning
Executive Director
Biodiversity Project
4507 N. Ravenswood
Suite 106
Chicago IL 60640
Phone: 773-496-4020
Cell: 773-592-5002
www.biodiversityproject.org
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:03 PM | Permalink |
June 9, 2008
Welcome Back! Elizabeth and Julie
Hello Master Gardeners,
I'm happy to announce that Elizabeth Bruhns, our Master Gardener Program Organizer, and Julie Perteet, our office secretary, are returning to their duties today, Monday, June 9.
We all owe a special thank you to Nancy Kreith, who has kept the Chicago Master Gardener program running for the past two months. She has done an outstanding job.
Master Gardeners, thank you for your lobbying efforts, support and patience. We ask some further patience. It will take us some time to get all caught up. Keep gardening and reporting those volunteer hours.
Ron Wolford
Urban Gardening Educator
Nancy Kreith
Horticulture Coordinator
Posted by Ron Wolford at 9:18 PM | Permalink |
June 7, 2008
Historic Pullman Garden Walk
The Historic Pullman Garden Club, in participation with the Pullman State Historic Site, invite you back to the Victorian era of the 1880's during the 14th Annual Garden Walk on Saturday June 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The theme this year is "Art in the Garden and Joe in the Kitchen." Many of the private residences will be displaying art of local artists in their garden. In addition we are very pleased to entice your taste buds with the tantalizing treats of Joe Dietz, one of Pullman's resident chef. Joe will present two cooking demonstrations, showing how fresh ingredients can make all the difference when cooking.
The Walk features private gardens of Pullman residents, in addition to the Greenstone Church Herb Garden, two of Mayor Daley's Landscape Award winners, the Gateway Garden and Rose Garden and the newly transformed North Allee. The Gateway Garden and North Allee were funded through various grants and donations, transforming empty spaces, which had fallen victim to urban blight over the years, into beautiful landscapes for all to enjoy. This year we have the pleasure of a special landscape tour of the grounds of the Pullman Factory as well as touring the Hotel Florence. We look forward to your presence.
Tour starts at the Hotel Florence, 11111 Forrestville, Chicago
Tickets are $12, if reserved ahead at 773-568-2441, $15 at the door
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:45 PM | Permalink |
June 2, 2008
Free Annuals for Community Groups
More than 300 community groups across the City of Chicago take advantage of the FREE materials offered by Greencorps Chicago: seeds, annuals and vegetables, perennials and bulbs. The distribution of perennials, the "Great Perennial Divide," is conducted in partnership with GreenNet.
The 2008 give-away dates are:
- Seeds - Saturday, March 15
- Vegetables – Saturday, May 17
- Annuals - Saturday, June 28
- Great Perennial Divide - Saturday, September 27
- Bulbs - Saturday, October 25
Registration forms are available approximately six weeks prior to the event, and will appear as a PDF file below. The distribution locations for seeds, annuals, and bulbs are:
- North -- North Park Village Nature Center: 5801 N. Pulaski (4000 West)
- Central -- Chicago Center for Green Technology: 445 N. Sacramento (3000 West)
- South -- St. Ailbe's Church: 9100 S. Stoney Island (1600 East)
The distribution locations for the Great Perennial Divide are:
- North -- North Park Village Nature Center: 5801 N. Pulaski (4000 West)
- Central -- Garfield Park Conservatory: 300 N. Central Park (3600 West)
- South -- St. Ailbe's Church: 9100 S. Stoney Island (1600 East)
The vegetable distribution day takes place at only one location:
- Chicago Center for Green Technology: 445 N. Sacramento (3000 West)
To be eligible for these give-away events, a community group must (a) plant all Greencorps-donated materials in a public space (b) complete a registration form (separate for each event) and (c) have a completed certification form and attachments on file with Greencorps Chicago. Planting on residential property is not permitted (exception: individual gardeners may participate in the Great Perennial Divide if they donate plants).
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Annual Registration Form 2008 | (168.67 KB) |
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:06 AM | Permalink |
June 1, 2008
Extension Budget Update
Just a note to let you know that a bill to fund Extension for 2008/09 passed both the House and Senate Saturday. The Bill is now on the Governor's desk. Amendment 2 of this Bill contains appropriations for County Board Match, Cook County Initiative and 4-H Youth Development.
The numbers for these three lines are $14.3 million-County Board Match, $5.365 million-Cook County Initiative and $1.87 million-4-H Youth Development.
The bill still requires the Governor's signature before becoming law. Also remember that he has line-item veto power. So, stay tuned.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:43 PM | Permalink |
