Volunteer Trainings - Native Plant Grower Training
Native Plant Grower Training
Help grow native plants for your community! This training is required to become a Native Plant Grower. Read the full description before signing up. The sign-up button is at the bottom. If you don't see it, you will need to either log in or create an account (buttons at right) →
Dane County runs a volunteer native plant growing program to be able to provide free native plants to local school and community projects.
Volunteers must attend a training that will teach you how to become a volunteer plant grower for this program. The training will provide an overview of native plants and teach you everything you need to know to grow the plants - no prior experience is needed. Attendees are expected to grow plants for the free plants program after attending the training.
Dane County will provide all of the supplies except the potting mix which the volunteers are asked to purchase themselves. The entire growing system is outdoors so no indoor space or grow lights are needed. Volunteers need a sunny, outdoor space to grow the plants. After the workshop, volunteers will take home seeds to sow in milk jug greenhouses over the winter. In the spring, volunteers will transplant seedlings and water them over the summer as they grow. They will bring them back to be distributed in August.
Commitment:
Volunteers can grow as many or as few plants as they would like, but they must commit to:
- Must have a sunny location for growing. A location on a table off the ground (and away from bunnies) is ideal.
- Finding a plant sitter to water the plants during vacations/absences.
- Picking up trays in the spring when an email is sent with info.
- Purchasing potting mix (we can help with this if it causes a financial burden). It is important that only potting mix is used, not potting soil or soil dug from the ground.
- Growing location is free of jumping worm.
- Responding to emails from the program staff.
- Must bring back their plants on Wed, Aug 10, 2026 or have a friend bring them.
How to Prepare:
What to Bring:
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All tools and materials required for the training event will be supplied.
What to Wear:
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The training will be indoors so no specific clothing requirements are needed.
Accessibility:
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Training will be seated in an indoor space with air conditioning and heat.
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Single stall, gender neutral bathrooms are available on the lower level.
Location:
Lussier Family Heritage Center - 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison, WI 53711
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Car parking is readily available.
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Bike parking is available. The LFHC is directly off of the Capital City Bike Trail.
Questions?
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Susan Sandford, Strategic Engagement Coordinator
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- (608) 669-1816/ sandford.susan@danecounty.gov
