Date: Wednesday, February 17
Time: Coffee: 9:45 am " Meeting: 10:00-11:00 am
Place: Peoria Extension Office
Topic: Following the meeting for 30 minutes, Katie Schneider will talk about ancient farming techniques & organic soil improvement by having the right organisms in the soil.

Our initial meeting of 2005 was kicked off by Roger A. Larson. He discussed the impact of Master Gardeners in Peoria County. The Memorial Funds for Bill Sullivan will be used for books to enlarge the Master Gardener library at the Extension office. I'm sure that would please him and his family. As always, wonderful to see you at the January meeting and looking forward to a larger gathering on February 16, with coffee at 9:45 a.m. and the meeting starting at 10:00 a.m. Time will tell. Please get a good night's sleep so you will be alert and sharp.

– As Always,
Katie Grady

Educational & Radio Programs, Meetings & Classes

February
5 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Terrariums, with Larry Stratton & Michael Wilkins
12 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Spring pruning with Michael Wilkins & Lee Hammond
16 Wed.	Peoria County MG monthly meeting, 10-11a.m.
19 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Orchids, you can grow them-basics and trouble shooting with Larry Stratton & friend
26 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Ferns - hardy, native with Cindy Holloway & Bob Coppernoll
March
5 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Spring-waking your landscape with Pat Middleton & Larry Stratton
12 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Summer blooming bulbs with Sunita Shastry & Cindy Holloway
16 Wed.	Peoria County MG monthly meeting, 10-11 a.m.
19 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Dividing perennials with Nancy Crawford & Tracy Heuermann
26 Sat.	In the Garden Radio - 6-8 a.m.	Topic: Early vegetables in your garden with Nancy Callan & Cindy Holloway
April
20 Wed.	Peoria County MG monthly meeting, 6-9 p.m.	Potluck, Seed Exchange & Guest Speaker: Nancy Crawford, Peoria MG, Guests/spouses invited
May
14 Sat.	Peoria MG Plant Sale - Metro Center
July
24-27	International MG Conference Saskatoon, Canada (info to come)
September
14 Wed.	Peoria County MG monthly meeting, 6-9 p.m.	Potluck, Plant Exchange & Guest Speaker, Guests/spouses invited
22-24	MG State Conference, Collinsville, IL

The January meeting was called to order by Katie Grady, at 10 a.m. One correction to the minutes from November 17, 2004, was made. Joe Lumi became Joe Lunini. The minutes were approved as corrected.

Project Reports:

• Membership by Lynn Webb and Patrice Swanson – Reported 3855.5 volunteer hours and 765.5 education hours in 2004 with 59 MG's reporting.
• Alpha Park – report by Betty Raker – Volunteers varied in numbers from 12 to 4 regularly meeting as needed approximately three times a month, usually on Thurs. afternoons.
• Bel-Wood – Barb Loar needs more people; 15 total would be real nice. There will be a luncheon at the Olive Garden after the March MG meeting for all who would take part in 2005, followed by an orientation. Contact Barb for details.
• Help Line had no report. It becomes very active in April.
• ICC Demo Garden – a Peoria representative is needed for the tricounty effort.
• Luthy – Holli Cook reported that a $2 fee is being charged for the Conservatory but outside gardens remain free.
• Newsletter – Currently all material for the newsletter must be submitted by e-mail to Melanie Martin by the third Wednesday of the month.
• PARC – no report
• Plant-A-Row – The garden is resting; it was plowed in the fall; a dozen straw bales have been donated for the 2005 mulch; we will need six to eight people for the season with the biggest need in late April , May and early June.
• In the Garden – Lee Hammond reported that the scheduling for January, February, and March is set. The next staff meeting will be on February 24, 2005, at the Extension Office. New members are always welcome, contact Lee.
• Speaker Bureau – Judy Ziemba reported three recent requests; the two from today were relating to composting for a program.
• Youth Farm – More volunteers are needed to work with the young men on Friday mornings from 7:30 a.m. until about 9:00 a.m. They always have regular staff members available and right there, so we can concentrate on helping the guys with the real gardening matters.
• Whittier School – Theresa Smith reported that she will need volunteers to cover grades K-3 on Wednesdays in March from 10 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m. Theresa can be reached at 637-3647.
• OLD BUSINESS – The memorial for Bill Sullivan will be an addition of pertinent books for the library in the Master Gardner Office at Extension . Special stickers will be placed inside each specially selected book.
• NEW BUSINESS – We are actively seeking advertising for our telenet classes in local papers, flyers, and radio. We plan to have a couple of hosts for the sessions...sign up sheets were passed around. The Spring Plant Sale will be held on May 14, 2005. This is a week later than usual because Race for the Cure is on the first weekend in May. See Phyllis Baylor to lend a helping hand to this worthwhile money raiser!
• The meeting spontaneously adjourned at 11:20 a.m. with the agenda completed.

– Bonnie Williams