Rotary Botanical Gardens

The following was presented February 24, 2010, to Univeristy of Illinois-Extension Master Gardeners, Rockford, IL. 

A very special thanks to UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Deb G., Jim H., Barb G., and Robin A. for helping co-present!  Job very well done!!!

It’s always fun to cross that “cheese curtain”.

[slideshare id=3275045&doc=rockcountycommunitygardenprogram2010-100225082310-phpapp01]

February 27, 2010, Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, WI

• 8:30am- Welcome and Introductions: Mike Maddox is a Horticulture Educator for Rock County UW-Extension and the Director of Education for Rotary Botanical Gardens.  Part of his education programming is the establishment and support of community gardens in the county, including a 1 ½ acre garden working with jail inmates at the county sheriff’s department.
• 9:00am-Soil Issues of Community Gardens: Dr. Doug Soldat, UW-Extension urban soils specialist, discusses soil contamination issues every urban gardener needs to know. Website
• 10:30am- Urban Agriculture in the 21st Century: Robert Pierce, South Madison Farm Market manager shares his thoughts on Urban Agriculture vs Community Gardens and his role in the new Madison area Program for Entrepreneurial Agricultural Training (P.E.A.T.) Website
• Noon- Lunch Break
• 1:00pm- Vegetable Garden Primer: Sauk County Master Gardener Phyllis Both grows an enormous amount of vegetables in her personal garden as well as the community gardens in the Baraboo area.  Phyllis will share her vegetable growing tips.
• 3:00pm- Community Garden Round Table: Form-swap: Seriously, do we need more paperwork in our lives?  Forms and instructions on garden management and gardener behavior can be a welcomed thing when managing folks in a community gardens.  Please submit YOUR forms prior to the event in order to share with others.
• 4:00pm- Adjourn

Registration: $25, includes lunch, coffee and tea (please consider bringing a treat to share at break) and all resource materials.

Registration materials here (PDF)