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Horticulture & Environment
Master Gardeners in Winnebago County provide volunteer services to Winnebago County through a telephone hot-line from March-November to answer horticulture questions. They provide volunteer and educational advice to 22 sites throughout Rockford and Winnebago County. Dial-A-Garden is available year round and can be accessed by calling 815-986-4736 for the garden tip of the day. The Plant A Row Program sponsored by Master Gardeners in Winnebago County assists food pantries and homeless shelters with fresh produce from donations collected throughout the County. Plant clinics are available throughout the summer at two locations.

Featured Websites
Composting in the Home Garden Backyard Fruits Common Vegetable Problems Focus on Plant Problems Gypsy Moth Reporting Site Herb Gardening
Additional Websites
  • Hort Corner
    An extensive website about plants, home gardening, insects, trees and shrubs.
  • Hort Corner Video
    Watch the Extension experts.
  • Houseplants
    Find out what houseplant is best for your growing conditions.
  • Illinois Master Gardeners
    Master Gardeners are a group of volunteers trained by University of Illinois Extension educators to provide a network of gardening programs and horticultural activities to educate the public and enhance life in their communities.
  • Lawn FAQs
    Here's answers to our most frequently asked questions.
  • Lawn Talk
    Learn what grass varieties are best for your lawn, how to deal with shady areas, when to fertilize your lawn & more!
  • University of Illinois Plant Clinic
    The University of Illinois Plant Clinic has served as a clearinghouse for plant problems since 1976.
  • Bug Review
    Pests bugging you? Check out The Bug Review.
Local Programs
Master Composter Program

Master Composter Program
Learn the art and science of urban home composting and techniques for teaching others. This hands-on 15 hour training program will be held at the Winnebago County Extension Office and will include the essentials of basic composting and worm composting, educational methods of practice and other related topics.

Plant-A-Row

Plant-A-Row
Plant-a-Row for the hungry! Gardeners and members of the Community are encouraged to participate by growing a row of extra produce with the intention of donating those vegetables and fruits to local food pantries. Those of us who grow vegetables typically have more than we can eat - consider donating your abundance to those who are hungry.

Winnebago County Master Naturalist Program

Winnebago County Master Naturalist Program
University of Illinois Extension, Winnebago County is pleased to offer the Illinois Master Naturalist Program to local residents. The program's vision is to develop a corps of well-educated "Master Volunteers" to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated toward the beneficial management of natural resources within their communities. A majority of Winnebago County residents are located in urban areas which creates a general disconnect between people and the natural environment. The Master Naturalist program will strive to improve public understanding of the natural world through natural resource education and outreach activities. Potential Master Naturalist volunteer projects are limitless, and could include such items as: restoring prairie habitat, building trails, controlling invasive exotic species, scientific monitoring, giving interpretive talks/tours, planting oak seedlings, and teaching children how to fish. For more information about the Illinois Master Naturalist Program, contact the Winnebago County Extension Master Naturalist Coordinator Jackie Batista at the University of illinois Extension-Winnebago County office at (815) 986-4357 or via email at jbatista@illinois.edu

Horticulture & Environment Resources
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One Year & 100 Miles of Eating Locally with Lenae Weichel and Kevin Holdmann
Register by November 18, 2009

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Contact Us
For more information about these programs, please contact:

Meghan Bowe
Programming Specialist, Horticulture and Natural Resources
Winnebago County Unit
1925 S. Meridian Road
Rockford, IL 61102
Phone: 815-986-4357
FAX: 815-986-4329
mbowe@illinois.edu

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