Master Gardener Program
The Master Gardener program is an all-volunteer organization sanctioned by Land Grant institutions in each state and functions as an extension of the college or university. In Wisconsin, the program is sponsored by the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained volunteers who aid Extension staff by helping people in the community better understand horticulture and their environment.
The seed for the Master Gardener (MG) program was planted in 1972 by Washington State cooperative Extension. MG volunteers were trained to extend Extension’s outreach to community residents in educating people about horticulture. The MG program begin in the late 1970’s. Local MG groups banded together in 1992 to form the Wisconsin Master Gardener Association (WIMGA).
The goal of the Master Gardener program is to train enthusiastic volunteers so they can, in turn, provide research-based information on a wide variety of horticulture topics to the general public in their communities.
For more information on the state Wisconsin Master Gardener program, please visit Wisconsin Master Gardener Volunteer Program website.
For more information on the local Dunn County Master Gardener Association, please email the Dunn County Master Gardener Association at dunncomga@gmail.com or visit their website at http://dunnmastergardeners.weebly.com/.
Dunn County Master Gardener Association
President: Laura Cragin
Vice-President: Martha Wallen
Treasurer: Kathie Metzger
Secretary: Howard Lee
WIMGA Rep: Diane Klemme
The Dunn County Master Gardeners meet 6 times a year (January, March, May, July, September, and November) at 6:30pm, beginning with a speaker program and followed by a business meeting. Meetings are held at the Menomonie Area Senior Center, 1412 6th St., Menomonie, WI 54751. For more information, email President Laura Cragin at cragin@wwt.net
2022 Meetings
January 18th, 2022 – Arthur Kneeland, Topic: Entomology
February 15th, 2022 – Mike Racette – Owner of Spring Hill Community Farm, Topic: Positive Aspects of Mulching in the Garden.
April 19th, 2022 – Arthur Kneeland, Topic: Integrated Pest Management
June 21st, 2022 – No Speaker
August 16th, 2022 – Tammy and Jim Giljoann, Topic: Bucket Gardening
October 18th, 2022 – Bob & Claudia Manning, Topic: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Dunn County Jail Garden
2021 Meetings
January 19th, 2021 – Chris Goetzke, Topic: Lower Chippewa Invasives Partnership – LCIP Presentation – MG Minutes January 2021
February 16th, 2021 – Growing Together Planning – MG Minutes February 2021
March 16th, 2021 – No Speaker – MG Minutes March 2021
April 20th, 2021 – Andy Heren, Topic: Heirloom Tomatoes – Favorite Heirlooms Handout, MG Minutes April 2021
May 18th, 2021 – Sue Crisp, Topic: Pollinators – MG Minutes May 2021
June 15th, 2021 – Diana Alfuth, Topic: Flowers
No meeting in July
August 17th, 2021 – Martha Wallen, Topic: Gardens in France and Switzerland – MG Minutes August 2021
September 21st, 2021 – Field trip to Maple Leaf Orchard, W3901 750th Ave, Spring Valley
October 19th, 2021 – Field Trip to Jeremiah’s Bullfrog Fish Farm, N1409 566th St, Menomonie
November 16th, 2021
No meeting in December
2020 Meetings
Dunn County Master Gardener’s Program Schedule 2020
January 21st, 2020 – Martha Wallen, Topic: Monarch Butterflies – MG Minutes January 2020
February 18th, 2020 – No Program… finalize plans for Spring Begins! – MG Minutes February 2020
March 7th, 2020 – Spring Begins! Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Outreach Specialist for University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will conduct sessions on Native Plants Handout and Small Space Gardening Handout.
March 17th, 2020 – Cancelled
June 16th, 2020 – No Program – MG Minutes June 2020
August 18th, 2020 – Cindy Walkus, Topic: CBD Oil, a product of Hemp – MG Minutes August 2020
September 15th, 2020 – No Program – MG Minutes September 2020
October 20th, 2020 – No Program – MG Minutes October 2020
November 17th, 2020 – Conklin Tree Farm, Topic: Porch Pots – MG Minutes November 2020
No meeting in December
2019 Meetings
Dunn County Master Gardener’s Program Schedule 2019
January 15th, 2019 – Brian & Laura Knitter – Topic: Bee pollination, honey, beeswax & related products
February 19th, 2019 – No program…finalize plans for Spring Begins! – MG minutes February 2019
March 2nd, 2019 – SPRING BEGINS! Mike Maddox, Director of the U.W.-Extension Master Gardener Program will conduct sessions on “Hydrangeas for Wisconsin” and “Tips, Tricks and Tools for Adaptive Gardening Techniques.”
March 19th, 2019 – Chris Gaetzke – Topic: Invasive plant species common in Dunn County and best management practices. – MG minutes March 2019
April 16th, 2019 – May’s Floral Gardens in Eau Claire. Easter Tour! – MG minutes April 2019
May 21st, 2019 – Becky Behrens, Physical Therapist – Topic: Body Mechanics for Gardeners – MG Minutes May 2019
June 18th, 2019 – Hive & Hollow – Topic: Floral Arranging –
No meeting in July
August 20th, 2019 – Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Educator, Pierce County – Topic: Pesticides and Their Safe Use – MG Minutes August 2019
September 17th, 2019 – Down to Earth Garden Center in Eau Claire. – Tour and Topic: Fall Porch Pots – MG Minutes September 2019
October 15th, 2019 – Diane Klemme – Topic: Fairy Gardens
November 12th, 2019 – Jeanne Walsh – Topic: Food Preservation Techniques
No meeting in December
Annual Reports
Advisor to the Dunn County Master Gardeners:
Margaret Murphy, Horticulture Program Coordinator
Extension Dunn County
3001 U.S. Hwy 12 East, Suite 216
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 382-3253
margaret.murphy@wisc.edu
