Our seminars are facilitated by fellow gardeners, guest speakers, and/or specialists including the University of Wisconsin-Extension.instructors who have considerable experience within their chosen fields of expertise. All of our seminars are open to the public. Seminars are posted in the local media, on the Gardens Facebook page and our website.
The seminars are based on six major themes:
Diagnosis, prevention, and control of diseases and pests on plants
Production techniques of fruit and vegetable crops appropriate for the small garden
Soil health, development, management, and cropping alternatives
Organic and sustainable agricultural techniques as related to garden care and crops.
Landscaping techniques and practices related to perennials, shrubs, and trees
Anything related to fruit and vegetable gardening such as cooking and preserving
Requests from Gardeners
2024 Program
Do you have an idea on what the RVACG's educational programs for 2024? We are just starting to plan our workshops / seminars. Send all comments via email at[email protected]
May 11 - Garden Basics - Designed to introduce gardeners to various techniques and hints prepping and tilling soil, planting seeds and seedlings, fertilizing, irrigating and watering plants, composting and mulching for a weed free garden.
2023 Program
Aug. 2 - Garden Planning Workshop Results / Open House Participants in the March Garden Planning Workshop have requested a follow-up time to tour the participants gardens. More information will follow during the summer July /August - Pest and Disease Walk Date to be determined. Doug Rouse willl lead a pest and disease walk of the RVACG. He will discuss prevention and treatment
March 18: Garden Planning Workshop Emily Martorano will lead a Garden Planning Workshop from 1 - 3 pm on Saturday March 18 at the Spring Green Community LIbrary. The workshop is open to all gardeners and aspiring gardeners. Topics covered include the basics of pre-season planning, including deciding what to grow, bed layout and plant spacing; starting seeds and transplanting; weed management and mulching; water management, and more.
2021 Program
May 2021 Garden Basics were limited to orienting beginning gardeners to prepping the soil, tilling soil, planting seeds and seedlings, fertilizing, irrigating and watering plants, and mulching for a weed free garden. Wid also demonstrated using a template for square foot gardening.
July and Aug 2020 Pests in the Garden Doug Rouse took participants on a garden walk. He identified insects and diseases attacking plants. He also told participants how to treat the diseases or eliminate the insects .
April 13, 2019 Mulching in the Garden Saturday Presenter: Doug Rouse, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Pathology (UW-Madison) Introduction to the how and why mulching in the garden is an important tool for maintaining moisture and weed control
Saturday April 7, 2018 Rots, Wilts and Spots in the Community Garden Plot: Why & Why Not? Presenter: Doug Rouse, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Pathology (UW-Madison) Introduction to plant pathology; the most common causes of vegetable diseases in Wisconsin; the biology, identification and control of plant pathogens common to a community garden
May 12, 2017 Organic Vegetable Production Friday, Speaker: Erin Silva, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems (UW-Madison) Location and Time: 6:00 p.m. River Valley High School Little Theater Program Description: A seminar over the principles and practices inherent to organic vegetable production, especially as they relate to the home gardener. Crop/cultivar selection, effective stand establishment, and integrative pest and weed management will be discussed.