Although spring won’t be here for another month, it’s already gardening time for our Master Gardener program. The 2023 Winter Master Gardener training begins February 20 in 25 counties or extension regions. More than 175 people have applied for this new cohort of volunteer gardening enthusiasts. They will participate in online learning modules and attend at least four in-person training sessions organized by the county office. After they complete the 10-week training, they will put their research-based knowledge to work with a 40-hour internship in their training county. Statewide coordinator Alicia Herzog says Master Gardeners grow food for those in need, partner with area organizations to design green spaces, and present programs in their local communities. Did you know?
- Iowa State has offered Master Gardener training for over 40 years, engaging more than 15,000 people in learning about gardening best practices. The Fall 2023 training begins September 5. Applications will be available mid-July on the Master Gardener website.
- The Master Gardener Program sponsors the Home Gardening Webinar Series, which continues through March 8 with an average viewership of over 525 people per session. The series is for everyone, regardless of gardening experience. Each webinar is live and ends with a question-and-answer session. Participants can register for individual sessions on the website or join the livestream from the Iowa Master Gardener Facebook page. Previously recorded webinars also are available on the Iowa Master Gardener YouTube Channel.
- In 2022, 82% of the state had active Master Gardener groups who reached over 117,000 Iowans. These 1,754 volunteers completed over 100,000 volunteer hours in their local communities – valued at more than $2.24 million in service. View the full annual report on the Master Gardener website for more details.
In addition, the Master Gardener program is a partner in Growing Together Iowa, an ISU Extension and Outreach project supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture SNAP-Ed funds. The project combines extension expertise in horticulture, food safety, and nutrition education with a network of Master Gardener volunteers to develop community donation gardens throughout the state. In 2022, volunteers harvested and donated 114,793 pounds of fruits and vegetables to Iowa food pantries – providing fresh produce to people in need.
Rural broadband webinar is February 27
Broadband availability and access continue to be a problem in the United States, especially among rural and tribal communities. You can learn about Rural Broadband Tools and Resources in the North Central Region during a webinar on Monday, February 27, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central time. Registration is open until the webinar begins. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.
Researchers at Michigan State University created a tract-level web application of provision levels in Census tracts across the contiguous United States over several years. Researchers from the Purdue Center for Regional Development will explain the digital divide index (DDI), a descriptive tool at the Census tract level (and counties, too) to help community stakeholders better understand their digital divide landscape. Both resources can help users better understand local broadband data. The webinar is sponsored by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development.
More notes
- Hellos and handshakes: Our incoming Vice President for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson is planning a statewide tour, taking place in 13 locations throughout April and May, to get acquainted with all of you and learn more about ISU Extension and Outreach. Watch for more details to come.
- Goodbye … and welcome, January 2023: Please review this list of individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach in the past month, as well as those who have joined our organization.
- Please review the February program update for current examples of what is happening across our programs. Topics include the My Wellbeing program, Youth Pollinator Education and Action, the Municipal Professionals Institute 2023 Winter Session, a survey of Iowa wine consumers, and more.
- Any extension Outlook user can add the 4-H Statewide Events Calendar in Outlook without needing to contact Extension IT for permission. You can find the instructions on the 4-H Internal Communications page in MyExtension under “Email.” If you need assistance, call the EIT hotline at 515-294-1725 (available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:00–5 p.m.) and the team will be happy to help you.
- February 16 is the last day for early registration for our 2023 ISU Extension and Outreach Annual Conference, March 6-7 in Ames. Late registration closes February 24. Due to catering needs, we will not accept onsite registration. Please register now and plan to attend this year’s event. I look forward to seeing you.
- The final Memorandum of Understanding 2023-26 and Addendums for models 1, 2, and 3 are now posted on the County Services Memorandum of Understanding page. On this page, you will also find a link to the recording of our January 11 Town Hall, during which Andrea Nelson, Jennifer Vit, and I presented the MOU, discussed changes from the previous version, and answered questions.
- Finally, our extension family has experienced the loss of loved ones in recent days. It is important that we keep them in our thoughts and be supportive to help them through this difficult time. Such loss may affect some of us beyond the immediate family. Remember that the Employee Assistance Program provides timely and free access to confidential, professional services when you are facing a personal problem. The goal is to help you find solutions before the problem affects your health or job performance: EAP link for county-paid employees; EAP link for ISU-paid employees.
John D. Lawrence
Vice President for Extension and Outreach