History of Master Gardeners in the Chippewa Valley

– Gardening Corner –

In the spring of 1999, Chippewa County held its first UWExtension Master Gardener training. By May 2000, these class members, as well as some former West Central Master Gardener members, decided to establish the Chippewa Valley Master Gardener Association (CVMGA).

The CVMGA’S primary mission promoted environmental and horticultural practices throughout the Chippewa Valley. Chippewa County’s UW-Extension crops and soil agent, Jerry Clark, served as the first local Master Gardener (MG) coordinator.

MG volunteers staffed their very first Northern Wisconsin State Fair (NWSF) booth that July. During the event, MGs answered questions and distributed informational flyers for fairgoers to pick up, and learn.

Those first early years, the CVMGA maintained various flower beds for beautifications and exhibits; assisted in 4-H plant propagation workshops; donated grown foods to a local food pantry; conducted spring and fall harvest plant sales, as well as senior workshop presentations; landscaped the outdoor areas of the Chippewa Falls Visitor Center, and the Wissota Health & Regional Vent Center; and co-hosted the statewide Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association Conference, with four MG groups in River Falls.

By 2004, the Chippewa MGs decided to hold their first public educational seminar THINK SPRING. Presentations included the Bluebird Association of Wisconsin, Water Gardening, Lawn Care, Growing Fruits & Vegetables, plus many local businesses offering products for sale. THINK SPRING became a very popular seasonal highlight.

In 2005, the CVMGA developed a prairie demonstration site along the Old Abe Bike Trail. In conjunction with Irvine Park’s 100th anniversary, the MGs, along with the Chippewa Falls Parks & Recreation Department, developed a walking trail plan, identifying and planting all of Wisconsin’s 52 native trees within the park.

For the first time, in 2006, MGs serviced an Earth Day booth, as well as evening seminars, educating the public at the Chippewa Falls Library, about invasive species. Also that year, MGs helped the River Source Family Center develop some raised gardens.

Two workshops never before held in Chippewa County, were by MGs in 2007: apple grafting, and how to measure and help update the Wisconsin DNR champion tree records. MGs also helped with a GOT DIRT? gardening workshop and an Arbor Day program for youth.

MGs continued to present diverse seminars on migratory birds, bluebird boxes, Earth Day, rain barrels, growing succulents and pruning workshops. The local library also presented the Green Series, explaining various horticultural topics, with the MGs assistance.

In 2009, two community gardens were developed at New Auburn and Chippewa Falls. The CVMGA mentored and donated seeds to families invested in these summer project. THINK SPRING, the fair and Farm Technology Days continued to be annual avenues of success.

As interest in more natural landscapes and reclamation grew, Chippewa MGs presented classes to identify native pollinators and control invasive plantings. By 2013, a beginner vegetable gardener series was offered to school children; MG volunteers also helped area Boy Scouts develop a Merit Badge for gardening.

During that time, adults learned the basics on healthy tree selection, as well as how to care for garden perennials. Over 200 attended the annual THINK SPRING. Another applegrafting workshop was held, with the MGs also staffing a booth at Cornell’s Outdoor Edventure day.

Bloomer’s MG volunteers offered a hands-on beginner gardener series, while one CVMGA member organized and planted a large native garden, on her church’s property. By 2015, MGs completed the first phase of a pollinator demonstration garden and butterfly way station at the NWSF grounds. Over 150 identified native plantings grew there in 2017.

School Conservation Days and a monarch butterfly garden at Lake Wissota State Park, also afforded opportunities to educate others about protecting native pollinators’ habitat. Over 1,000 fifth graders learned how to identify buckthorn, the Emerald Ash Borer, gypsy moths and Japanese beetles. MG volunteers again monitored bluebird nesting boxes along the Old Abe State Trail.

A variety of horticultural projects continued in 2018 and 2019, with an Otter Lake beautification, Amazing Mazie (a monarch butterfly) and What’s Buzzing (bumble bees) programs. Another highlight, was the Jim Falls Elementary School garden, where children and their families learned about vegetable gardening.

Horticulture program specialist Margaret Murphy became the newly named coordinator for MGs in Chippewa County, as well as Eau Claire and Dunn counties. The St. Joseph’s Hospital community garden produced over 4 1/2 tons of fresh food to homes and food banks, from 2013-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CVMGA helped fund horticultural projects throughout Chippewa County.

This year, Wisconsin celebrates Master Gardener Volunteer Week, April 5-9. For more information about the CVMGA, contact the UWExtension office.