Volunteer Opportunities

For more detailed information regarding volunteer opportunities, please see the most current newsletter.

Carter Memorial Library, Omro
First Presbyterian Church Garden
Miravida Living—Butterfly Garden
Neenah Historical Society—Gardens of the Octagon House
Neenah Public Library
Oshkosh Area Humane Society Memorial Garden
Oshkosh Farmers Market
Paine Art Center Gardens and Arboretum
St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church Garden
UW Madison, Extension Winnebago County—Plant Health Advisors
Winnebago County Historical & Archeological Society--Morgan House
Winnebago County—Department of Facilities and Property Management (Coughlin Rain Garden)
Winnebago County Master Gardener Association
Winnebago County—Park View Health Center
   Park View Cutting Garden
   Park View Flower Arranging
   Park View Prairie Garden
   Park View Vegetable Garden
YMCA of the Fox Cities—Neenah-Menasha YMCA

 

Carter Memorial Library, Omro

This project includes working with the Library Director to enhance the landscaping around the library to make it more attractive to the users of the library. It includes pruning, planting annuals and perennials, and working with what they already have in the landscape.

First Presbyterian Church Garden

Miravida Living—Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden at Miravida Living includes the creation, development, and maintenance of a butterfly garden and entrance area garden on this campus, which houses over 500 residents. Master Gardeners determine/acquire plants (perennials, annuals, herbs), garden layout, arrangement of beds, containers and garden fixtures, as well as schedule maintenance and upkeep. Goals of the project include providing residents, staff and guests with information and enjoyment in an inviting and relaxing environment. Residents have opportunities to reminisce through visual, tactile and olfactory stimulation.

Neenah Historical Society—Gardens of the Octagon House

The Master Gardener volunteers designed and planted the Gardens of the Octagon House in 2008 and 2009. The project now involves that of maintenance. The Octagon House, a historic home built in the 1850s, is owned and operated by the Neenah Historical Society. The garden elements were designed to represent those that were typical of the late 19th Century. These historic elements are: Kitchen garden, Parlor garden, Rose garden, and Shrub border. The Kitchen garden consists of six raised beds. MGV’s have taken care of each bed, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and cleaning up. Though not mandatory, vegetable plantings have been primarily heirloom varieties. We practice crop rotation and companion planting. This has worked. We have been able to maintain organic gardening practices. The other gardens don't need replanting, except to replace a dead or dying plant, but the beds require pruning, weeding, and fall and spring clean-up. If you have a special interest in maintaining the look of a period garden, this is the place for you. Hope you can help.

Neenah Public Library

This project focuses on implementing sustainable gardens at the library grounds. The gardens will not only beautify the downtown area, but will serve as a catalyst to educate the community about the benefits and importance of sustainable landscapes and how they can incorporate the concepts into their own lives. Master Gardeners are responsible for two areas: a circle located in a roundabout area near the entrance of the library and a large butterfly/pollinator garden in front of the library along Wisconsin Avenue.

Oshkosh Area Humane Society Memorial Garden

This project focuses on revitalizing and beautifying the Oshkosh Area Humane Society's memorial and tribute garden that exists to remember pets and people in our community. Our focus was to work with the existing memorial structures and young plantings to create a serene, meditative garden space. We created a flow to the garden area and focal points so that the visitor is drawn from one garden room to the other. We improved the lawn conditions and made rock gardens that are not common to most public landscape spaces. We have made a lot of progress and hope to continue improving the beauty and serenity of the area. All members, especially animal lovers, are welcome to volunteer.

Oshkosh Farmers Market

Winnebago County Master Gardener Volunteers maintain a booth at the local farm market each week during the spring and summer to provide research based information and recommendations to individuals from the community related to the care, maintenance, and pest management in their yards and gardens.

Paine Art Center Gardens and Arboretum

Master Gardeners assist the Paine staff with the daily upkeep of the gardens and with larger projects. Our Master Gardeners also have a booth during the Paine's Festival of Spring. We field questions from the Festival attendees all the way from insect problems, plant identification, fertilization of vegetables, and many more.

St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church Garden

UW Madison, Extension Winnebago County—Plant Health Advisors

The Winnebago County Master Gardeners Association serves the needs of many different individuals throughout the County through education and outreach. Plant Health Advisors are individuals within the Association who volunteer their time and knowledge to assist people from the community with questions or problems they are having in their landscape. Plant Health Advisors have the option of working in the UW-Extension office or from home answering messages left on the Master Gardeners Help Line.

Winnebago County Historical & Archeological Society--Morgan House

The Morgan House is a house in the historical district from the 1880's period. The Winnebago County Historical Society asked the Master Gardeners to help restore the yard to typify a Victorian era home. We have created a formal walkway to the front entrance, added plants to the front of the home, as well as restored a garden area with peony, roses, and other perennials. Hollyhocks, asters, and lily plants add to the old fashioned feel. We plan to add an herb or kitchen garden, a rose garden area and possibly a circular tropical garden. We will also be adding educational signs and information for the Morgan House tours, identifying the plantings and the reasons they were chosen. Creation of the new garden areas as well as creating the educational materials and upkeep on the existing areas will be our focus.

Winnebago County--Department of Facilities and Property Management (Coughlin Rain Garden)

In the spring of 2016, rain garden demonstration gardens were constructed in front of the Coughlin Building with the help of many partners including Master Gardeners. The goal of the project is horticulture education through the design and implementation of materials that will be displayed at the entrance to the Coughlin Building and throughout the rain gardens. Members will work with the UWEX office to educate residents and users of the building on the goals of the project helping to spread environmental stewardship into the community.

Winnebago County Master Gardener Association

The Winnebago County Master Gardener Association has opportunities to serve on the Advisory Board, Treasuer, Secretary, communications team, meetings teams, etc.

Winnebago County—Park View Health Center

Park View Cutting Gardens

In the southern part of the Park View grounds are the cutting gardens. These gardens provide beauty and enjoyment to the residents of the facility. Many volunteers are needed to assist in planting and maintaining these beds. Residents visit weekly to receive bouquets from the garden.

Park View Flower Arranging

This part of the Park View project is very special. We make bouquets with the residents to have in their rooms, some for the dining room tables and other areas of the facility. In summer, flowers are picked from our gardens and supplemented by a few purchased ones. In the winter months, flowers are chosen and purchased. A mock County Fair is held in July and residents may enter an arrangement. The residents are always eager for our visits.

Park View Prairie Garden

The Park View Prairie has been in existence since 1984 as part of the Zboray Nature Center on the Park View Health Center grounds. Carlton and Marion Schneider developed the prairie as a prairie plant identification area. The majority of the plants in the Prairie are donated, a few have been purchased and some started by seed gathered from the Prairie. The Prairie Garden provides continuous color throughout the growing season and is a favorite spot for the Park View residents. We work by identifying plants, removing invasive species and maintaining the Prairie with spring and fall cleanups. If you have an interest in prairie plants, this project can always use more help.

Park View Vegetable Garden

The vegetable gardens are located adjacent to the cutting gardens. Numerous vegetables are planted each spring, watered and weeded through the growing season. They are accessible to the residents who always enjoy monitoring the vegetables as they grow. They also enjoy a meal of fresh veggies when harvested.

YMCA of the Fox Cities—Neenah-Menasha YMCA

Work with the YMCA on gardens.