Behind the scenes at many of the Fox Valley parks, gardens, nature centers, and wetland reserves you will find Master Gardeners at work.  The Outagamie County Master Gardener Association is one of 53 chapters throughout Wisconsin.  We are dedicated horticultural volunteers, providing education and service to our community.  Not only do we dig, plant and weed, we also give presentations, sponsor a garden walk and spring garden conference, and host one of the finest spring plant sales around.

OCMGA Display Garden for the Community

The OCMGA UW Extension Gardens are located on the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Bluemound Rd, Appleton. It consists of ten gardens: the Herb Garden, the Hosta Garden, the Impact Garden, the Memory Garden, The Picnic Garden, the Pollinator Garden, the Rain Garden, the Rose Garden, the Sharing Garden and the Welcome Garden.  

The gardens at UW Extension are examples of several types of perennial gardens with appropriate signage and plant tagging. These gardens were designed to provide horticultural knowledge to the general public. Also, the gardens aid in the beautification of Outagamie County. The gardens were designed and are maintained expressly to provide horticultural interest and scenic beauty throughout the year. Finally, there is one garden whose purpose is the cultivation of a variety of fruits. This produce is donated to appropriate food-sharing organizations each year.

 

This project is accomplished by the Grounds Committee of OCMGA.  Every aspect of this project is conducted by members of the Grounds Committee who are MGVs.  Each garden is planned and maintained by a group of volunteers responsible for a particular garden.  There is continual individual work done throughout the growing season by the various garden groups.  In addition, the Grounds Committee holds monthly planning meetings and organizes several workdays throughout the growing season. 

Contact for the UW Extension Gardens is Donna Nett-Heus at donna.nett-heus@ocmga.net.  The Outagamie County Master Gardeners are responsible for the development of these gardens.

Beautification of Outagamie County

• Habitat for Humanity –  Master Gardeners are needed to help plan, plant, and teach homeowners how to care for their landscapes through Rock the Block. 
• Hortonville Memorial Square –  Landscape and maintain the Hortonville Memorial Square.
• The Marigold Mile – Plant and maintain the curbside marigold edging along South Oneida Street curb and other areas of Appleton.
• Scheig Center Gardens –  Assist with maintenance and development of new and established landscape gardens at the Scheig Center Gardens at Appleton Memorial Park.
• Thousand Islands –  Utilize MG knowledge to help keep gardens healthy and free of invasives in Kaukauna. 
• Wild Ones Center –  The Center consists of rain gardens, native flower beds, a prairie/pollinator garden, and a woodland restoration, marsh and lakeshore areas located at 2285 W Butte Des Morts Beach Rd, Neenah. 

Education of the Community

• Appleton Farm Market – The MGVs staff a booth to meet the community and help people. Information provided to the public at the booth is based largely on UW Ext guidelines.
• Columbus School Garden – Columbus Gardens are a place where students can grow a garden, harvest, and use vegetables. It is located at 913 N Oneida St, Appleton.
• Conservation Field Days –  Volunteers escort students around the course to 9 different stations including Water, Conservation Technology, Woods, Pond & Wildlife, Food Production, Soils, Gardens & Pollinators, Recycling and Composting. 
• Gardener SOS – Answer gardening questions submitted through e-mail by the public and Master Gardeners.
• Kaleidoscope Academy Learning Garden – The garden at Kaleidoscope Academy was designed to work with middle schoolers to teach them and assist them in planting. It is located at 318 E Brewster, Appleton.
• Master Gardener Presents – A series of horticulturally related presentations open to the public and presented virtually through the Kimberly Library. 
• OCMGA Garden Conference – Every spring the Outagamie County Master Gardeners Association hosts an educational day for the membership and the public.
• OCMGA Garden Walk – The focus of the Garden Walk is education for the public and showcases interesting area gardens.
• OCMGA Garden Plant Sale & Expo – The Garden Plant Sale & Expo is our largest fund-raising event each year, and it requires hours of work from our volunteers.

Increasing Community Food Security

• Harvest for Hunger – Individual OCMGA volunteers raise and donate produce for local food pantries serving the homeless and hungry.   
• Riverview Gardens –  Help with teaching of basic gardening skills for a non-profit job training program for people in need. It is located at 1101 S Oneida St, Appleton.