Every two years, the Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference is hosted by WI, IL, IA, or MN. In 2012, it's our turn here in Minnesota, and we are excited and proud to be hosting the conference at the world-renowned Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The conference will also feature a vendor fair, a silent auction with proceeds going toward the Jr. Master Gardener program in Minnesota, book signings, Minnesota Wine Opening Reception and a Minnesota Buffet Banquet featuring speaker Dr. Ed Schneider, Arboretum director.

The class sessions are diverse and exciting and focused around research in the Midwest! Some are classroom-based, some hands-on, some a little of both. Registration is now open. We hope you'll join us!

Late last year the MG statewide staff and MG Advisory Committee agreed to increase the number of volunteer hours required to maintain active status in the Iowa MG program. Therefore, starting in 2013, the MG Volunteer Hours requirement will increase from 6 hours per year to 12 hours per year. Some counties are already above the 6 hours currently required. By the end of 2013 all active MGs must complete at least 12 hours of volunteer service. The MG Educational Hours will not change from the current 6 hours required annually. This should not be a change for most Iowa MGs as the average number of hours volunteered by MGs in 2011 was 25 hours.  

Brunnier In Bloom is an annual spring event presented at the ISU Brunnier Art Museum. Floral designers, professional to amateur to enthusiasts, pre-visit current art exhibitions and select a singular work of art that inspires them to create their own floral creation for submittal to Brunnier in Bloom. Your floral art will be exhibited with its inspiration work of art from March 23-25.

Your creative floral creation to Brunnier in Bloom will be greatly appreciated. A jury will judge all entries on Friday, March 23, 6-8 pm. Brunnier in Bloom is organized by the University Museums and coordinated by Nancy Girard, Educator of Visual Literacy and Learning. Please contact Nancy with your floral submission or with any questions.

The People's Garden Project is interested in involving MGs as helpers, educators, and most of all, garden mentors to the children as they help them learn a life-long skill.  

The schools would appreciate volunteer help laying out the beds and assembling the raised bed kits in early March and with summer maintenance. The children will plan their gardens, but may need help on planting days. If MGs are interested in working directly with children in school garden projects, they should complete the Child Protection and Safety Policy (CPSP) Process that 4-H uses for its volunteer leaders. You can get more information on this process at your county ISU Extension office. Also, a summer garden youth project can easily become a 4-H club.  

Each participating school has at least two 2nd grade and two 4th grade classes each planting a 4 x 8 foot raised bed and an EarthBox container garden. The schools participating in the Peoples' Garden Project this year are:

• Hunt Elementary School, Sioux City, IA (Woodbury Co.)
• Rue Elementary School, Council Bluffs, IA (Pottawattamie Co.)
• Sunset Heights Elementary School, Webster City, IA (Hamilton Co.)
• Lowell Elementary School, Waterloo, IA (Black Hawk Co.)
• West Liberty Elementary School, West Liberty, IA (Muscatine Co.)
• Dunkerton Community School, Dunkerton, IA (Black Hawk)
• Hiawatha Elementary School, Hiawatha, IA (Linn Co.)
• Mt. Ayr Elementary School, Mt. Ayr, IA (Ringgold Co.)