From the ground up: How to get a Master Gardener to speak at your event

Despite the colder weather outside, gardeners are still potting and planning. Some are using season extension methods while others are thinking about next gardening season. In fact, the Linn County Master Gardener Speakers Bureau receives more speaker requests during the fall and winter months than any other time, primarily because those who generally like to hear from Master Gardeners are busy in their own garden during the gardening season. Nearly every week someone is asking about the Speakers Bureau. This week, I will attempt to answer those questions.

Q: What is the Linn County Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau all about?

A: The Speakers Bureau was founded to educate groups and organizations on a variety of horticulture topics. Master Gardeners presentations are given free of charge, however, donations to the program are accepted. For events outside Linn County, Master Gardeners also will accept mileage reimbursement.

Linn County Master Gardeners are a dedicated group of volunteers, who have completed training from Iowa State University and are willing to share their horticulture knowledge with others in the community. There are more than 175 active Linn County Master Gardeners now. Linn County Extension Master Gardeners have received statewide recognition for their work to provide gardening education to the public.

In 2012, they spoke at more than 50 events held by community groups, gardening clubs, after school programs, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, economic development groups, home-schoolers, among others.

Q: How can you request that a Master Gardener come and speak to your organization?

A: To request a Master Gardener speak to your group, fill out the request form at www.extension.iastate.edu/linn and click on “Request a Master Gardener Speaker” located at the end of the middle section. You can also email me at Mkenyonb@iastate.edu or call (319) 3778-9839 Ext 309.

Q: What topics can Master Gardeners talk about?

A: You name it and there is probably a Linn County Master Gardener who can talk about it.

Body copy ragged right: A list of topics are available on the online request form. They include topics ranging from attracting hummingbirds to composting and vermiculture to curb appeal and house plants.

Events:

• Using Plants to Make Your Community More Vibrant, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Hiawatha Public Library, 150 W. Willman St., Hiawatha. Interested in helping to make your community a better place to live, work and play? Come and learn from other area communities about work they've been doing to enhance their roadways, entrances, recreational trails, and public spaces with programs sponsored by the Living Roadway Trust Fund - Community Visioning, Trails Visioning, and the ILR Projects as well as other sources. Successes and challenges will be discussed and be prepared for a short walking tour of a local Community Visioning-inspired project. Light refreshments will be provided. Contact: Dustin Hinrichs at (319) 440-7529 or dhinrichs@treesforever.org.
• The Lazy Gardener - Gardening in Comfort and Ease Class, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Cedar Rapids Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd., Cedar Rapids. Linn County Master Gardener Jean Murray will discuss ergonomic gardening, low maintenance plants, and ways to make those garden chores easier.
• Backyard Chicken Basics, 7 p.m. Thursday at the Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Participants will receive a certificate of completion enabling them to get a permit to legally keep chickens in Cedar Rapids. $7 to $10. Register by 4 p.m. Wednesday at www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org
• TreeKeepers, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Iowa City Public Library, Room D, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City. Cost is $30. Register at www.treesforever.org. Contact: Heath Hupke, hhupke@treesforever.org, (319) 373-0650.
• “Under the Glass” Holiday Arrangements Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Lowe Park Greenhouse, 4500 N. 10th St., Marion. Facilitated by the Linn County Master Gardeners, create beautiful holiday arrangements from an assortment of dried flowers and evergreens. $10. Register at (319) 377-9839 or vwims@iastate.edu.
• Iowa Organic Conference, Nov. 17 and 18 at the University of Iowa Memorial Union, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City. Sessions will include topics such as Local Food, Marketing Organic Crops, Transitioning to Organic, and Carbon Credits from Organic Practices.Info: http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag.

Questions on gardening, land use or local foods? Contact Michelle Kenyon Brown, community ag programs manager at Linn County Extension, mkenyonb@iastate.edu.