Community Garden education is a priority area in my 2018 program plan. Here are just a few of the exciting initiatives already in the works. Please let us know if you are interested in helping with any of these projects.

• I worked with colleagues across Illinois to create a new community garden leader training series on YouTube. Available soon, it contains educational modules on various topics, from organizing a garden to harvesting a crop. Community Garden leaders can mix-n-match the modules to fit their garden needs in a timely manner.
• The Peoria MGs started a new task force that is exploring how to better support community gardens in the Peoria area. Their goal is to provide trusted resources, develop networks, and answer gardening questions that arise throughout the growing season to assure that groups can have successful and sustainable gardens.
• We received special funding to support two MG projects through a new Illinois SNAP-Ed and Illinois MG Program Collaboration. Seventeen MG projects were selected in Illinois that expand healthy food access to limited resource individuals and families by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to local food pantries. The two gardens funded in our Unit include Common Place in Peoria and Junior Master Gardeners in Havana. Common Place gardens began in 2016 with a hoop house. Led by MG Martha Willi, Common Place has youth and adult gardens and their own food pantry. Junior Master Gardeners in Havana began in 2008 as a place to teach youth and their families how to grow their own flowers and vegetables. New MG leaders Krista and Jeff Wilcoxen are transitioning the project to a new 4-H club, with gardens supporting Havana-based food pantries.
• We have several established Master Gardener projects serving as gift and learning gardens that grow produce to support food pantries and other community centers. Examples are found in Morton, Washington, Canton, Peoria, Havana, and beyond. MGs also assist with learning gardens that show homeowners how to grow their own produce at Illinois Central College, Luthy Botanical Garden, Wildlife Prairie Park, and more.

Again this year, a personal copy of our 2017 Impact Report is available for you in your local office to pick up at your convenience. This report highlights some of our Extension stories from 2017 in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell Counties, with special attention given to our horticulture efforts and three other program areas. I encourage you to read your copy and then share it with others. A 2 ½ minute YouTube video of our 2017 Extension Highlights can be found at http://go.illinois.edu/FMPT2017Highlights.  

Many exciting programs are planned for 2018, including Gardeners’ Big Day, Tazewell MG Plant Bingo, Peoria MGs at the Peoria Home Show, Four Seasons Gardening webinars, and much more. Several dates are listed below. More information is available for these events and more on our MV Google calendar at bit.ly/fmpt-mvevents.

Please let Ian, Paula, or me know if we can help you in anyway as you “Help Others Learn to Grow” in your local communities.  

Rhonda J. Ferree

Jason Haupt presenting JoAnn Ray and Cathie J. Maguire with their active MN Certificates at the January 16 MN Volunteer fair.

The Master Naturalist Volunteer Fair on January 16 at the Tazewell County Extension office was very well attended, despite the cold weather. Fourteen exhibitors shared information about volunteer opportunities going on in the four county area. Plans are already underway for the next MN Volunteer Fair in the winter of 2019.  

April Master Naturalist Quarterly Meeting

The next Master Naturalist quarterly meeting is April 17, 1-3 p.m. at the Washington Library. Master Gardener Ella Maxwell will be presenting on Pocket Pollinator Gardens from 2-3 p.m. More details to come.

Summer Master Naturalist Training

The next Master Naturalist training is scheduled for June 11-22. Registration is online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/fmpt/ . Educators completing training will be eligible to receive 60 professional development hours.

Clean Water Celebration

Master Volunteers are needed to present at Clean Water Celebration on April 23 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Sun Foundation is enlisting the help of the University of Illinois Master Volunteers to present at the 5 watershed stations to middle school age children. Volunteers will be sharing with children about the water shed using the EnviroScape model. In the past we have had a practice date for volunteers to practice using the EnviroScape before the CWC event. This year I am asking for past volunteers to lead the practice with the EnviroScape. Please email Christine or call 309-547-3711 if you would like to volunteer during Clean Water Celebration and/or lead the EnviroScape practice. 

To learn more about the Sun Foundation and the 26^th annual Clean Water Celebration visit  http://sunfoundation.org/sun2/?page_id=371

Christine Belless

Chicago Flower Show Bus Trip, March 14

Peoria Park District Vagabond Tours are offering a bus trip to the Chicago Flower Show on March 14. The bus will depart Peoria at 6:30 a.m. and return from Chicago’s Navy Pier at 3:00 p.m. A Dutch treat dinner stop will be made on the way home. Marilyn Hoag is escort for this trip, and Chris Grafelmann is the MG organizer. The 50 passenger bus will fill quickly, so register early by calling Vagabond Tours at 309-681-2863. They are providing a $4.00 discount to Master Gardeners, indicate that you are a MG to receive the $70 discounted rate (regularly $74). You can pay by credit card over the phone or mail a check. Join them for a fun filled day and a guaranteed way to chase those winter blues away!

Four Seasons Gardening Program Series

Register for live home viewing or watch the taped version later at https://go.illinois.edu/4seasons_webinars.

Winter

• Feb 27 at 1:30 and March 1 at 6:30 The Green Pathway to Invasion: Ornamental Invasive Plants (Chris Evans)
• March 13 at 1:30 pm and March 15 at 6:30 pm Tree Care in Urban Soils (Ryan Pankau)
• March 27 at 1:30 pm and March 29 at 6:30 pm Keep on Growing: Tips for Extending the Gardening Season (Chris Enroth)

Spring

• April 17 at 1:30 and April 19 at 6:30 A Garden Calendar (Ron Wolford)
• May 1 at 1:30 and May 3 at 6:30 Living with Japanese Beetles (Ken Johnson)
• May 15 at 1:30 and May 17 at 6:30 Preserving Flowers (Alicia Kallal)

Summer

• July 10 at 1:30 and July 12 at 6:30 Beneficial Insects: Garden Warriors (Kelly Allsup)
• July 31 at 1:30 and Aug 2 at 6:30 Urban Soil Safety (Gemini Bhalsod)
• August 14 at 1:30 and August 16 at 6:30 At-Home Micropropagation: In Vitro Plants (Bruce Black)

Fall

• September 11 at 1:30 and September 13 at 6:30 Spring Flowering Bulbs (Jennifer Fishburn)
• September 25 at 1:30 and September 27 at 6:30 Making your Compost Cook- Fixing the Right Recipe (Duane Friend)
• October 9 at 1:30 and October 11 at 6:30 Plant Pathogenic Viruses (Diane Plewa)

Garden Days 2018

• February 17 - Nursery School at Augustana College in Rock Island
• February 17 - SPRIG –Spring into Gardening at the Lifespan Center in Mattoon, IL
• February 17 - Joys of Gardening in Freeport
• March 3 – Weekend Gardener (Home Gardener), Belleville, Our Lady of the Snow
• March 3 - Gardener’s Palette at John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL.
• March 3 - Home, Lawn and Garden Day at Central Catholic High School, Bloomington
• March 10 - Tri-state forest Stewardship Conference in Sinsinawa, WI
• March 17 - Ready…Set…Grow… in Dixon
• March 23-25 - Quad Cities Flower & Garden Show at the QC Expo center
• March 24 - Gardener’s Day in Jacksonville
• April 7 - A Day in the Garden Patch at U of I Extension- Livingston County office, Pontiac
• April 14 – Gardeners' BIG Day – Dickson Mounds
• April 21 - Gardeners’ Gathering at Great Oaks Community Church, Germantown Hills

2018 Small Farms Winter Webinar Series
Choose any number of the following webinars to attend when you register.  If you missed one, you can go HERE to find the recorded version.

• January 18  Less Common Fruit Bearing Plants-Elizabeth Wahle
• January 25  Updated High Tunnel Concepts-Zack Grant
• February 1  Introduction to Certified Organic Production-Grant McCarty
• February 8  Christmas Tree Production and Business Considerations-David Shiley
• February 15  An Update on the Grand Prairie Grain Guild: Developing Staple Crop Varieties and Associated Regional Food Grade Markets-Bill Davison
• February 22  Creating Community Food Production Systems
• March 1  Heavy metals in soils: identifying and acting on contamination-Dr. Andrew Margenot
• March 8  Native Pollinators on your Farm-Doug Gucker
• March 15  Small Acres Pastured Poultry-James Theuri
• March 22  Growing Ginger, Turmeric, and Other Unique Crops-Chris Enroth
• March 29  Tips for Modifying and Building Sprayers for Specialty Crops-Nathan Johanning

Local Events

Regular County MG meetings

Peoria – 3^rd Wed at noon (Board 2^nd Wed at 9:30) in Peoria office (February through November)

Tazewell – 4^th Monday at 6 pm in Pekin office (March through November)

Fulton & Mason – 3^rd Tuesday at 6 pm (January through November)

• February 20 - Fulton/Mason MG meeting hosted by Janice and Brenda
• February 21 – Peoria MG meeting and Bill Johnson on drip irrigation
• February 23, 24, 25 - Peoria Home Show at Peoria Civic Center
• March 14 – Chicago Flower Show bus trip with Peoria Park District Vagabond tours. See information above.
• March 20 - Fulton/Mason MG meeting, TBD
• March 21 – Peoria MG meeting, TBD
• March 26 – Tazewell MG meeting, featuring Ian Goslin

For details call 309-543-3308 or see events listing at bit.ly/fmpt-mvevents.