By Andi Anderson
The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a series of regional events called Golden Garden Days. These events aim to help people of all ages grow their gardening knowledge and learn about sustainable practices that benefit communities and the environment.
Golden Garden Days are set to take place in five different regions across Illinois. Each event will offer unique hands-on learning experiences, including demonstrations on aquaponics, sustainable landscape management, native plant gardening, and increasing food access through community gardens.
These events are open to the public and encourage both beginners and experienced gardeners to explore new skills and connect with local experts.
The celebration begins on May 7 with the Southern Celebration at the Jackie Joyner Kersee FAN Center in St. Clair County. For details, contact Sarah Ruth.
On May 14, the East Central Celebration will take place at the 4-H Memorial Camp in Champaign. Ryan Pankau is the point of contact for this event.
The Quad Cities Celebration will be held on June 25 at Riverside Gardens in Rock Island, coordinated by Tracy Jo Mulliken.
June 29 marks the Northwest Celebration at the Henry United Methodist Church in Marshall. Contact Bettyann Harrison for more information.
The final event, the West Central Celebration, will take place on July 22 at OSF St. Ann's Garden of Hope in Peoria. Rachel Driver is the contact person for this event.
For general questions, attendees can contact individual event coordinators. Media inquiries or interview requests should be directed to Dolan Klein at dolank@illinois.edu or 217-333-7958.
This milestone is a great opportunity to celebrate gardening while learning practical ways to care for plants, the planet, and community spaces.
Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman
Categories: Illinois, Rural Lifestyle