Frequently Updated Park News

Candlelight Hike Sunday, January 19, 5-8 pm

Join Friends of Silverwood Park for a candlelight hike and savor the beauty of the fields, prairie, and woods! Celebrate the joys of winter with warming fires, music at the farmstead, and refreshments for sale. Sunday, January 19, 5-8 pm.  See details at Events.

Memory Book

Friends of Silverwood Park are looking to make a memory book of stories about Irene and Russell Silverwood. We have had stories shared with us about being her student in Edgerton HS, friends and neighbors' stories, memories from family members, or how the farm used to look. We appreciate having this Park today and would like to capture those memories from stories you write, record, or tell to our volunteers. We will figure out a way to get the memory to last.

Mail a copy of your written story (include photos if you have any) to FoSP at P. O. Box 304 Edgerton, WI 53534. Or email your story to info@silverwoodpark.org

Another way to get your stories would be to contact us and we’ll meet with you and take notes and type up your story or record what you have to say and use an app to type it...we’ll figure out some way to make it work! Contact Linda Schumacher at 608-774-8847 or Rita Fox at 715-623-7277.

Silverwood Park Land for Sublease

Land for Sublease!

The Friends of Silverwood (FoSP) has uncertified but functionally organic land to sublease for produce or flower production. The lease requires a minimal commitment to public education efforts at the park of 8 hours annually.

For details go to:

https://www.silverwoodpark.org/cultivation/grower-partners/ or for more information: www.growersatsilverwood771@gmail.com

Silverwood Needs You!

Silverwood Park needs you!

 Volunteers are needed for specific events including a volunteer to organize the Barn Dance in June (secure the band and caller and organize the homemade pie sales).  Another volunteer is needed for organizing the Harvest Festival in September (arrange for entertainment, art/crafts booths, educational exhibits, and food), as well as a rental manager for the Stonehouse and North Shed (serve as contact person for potential renters, meet with renters, and coordinate arrangements for set up and clean up).
Have a skid steer?  Silverwood growers are seeking an individual or business with a skid-steer (and a trailer to haul) to turn the growers compost pile four times during the growing season (May to September).

 

Check out the informational signs at the park!

Come see our latest addition for park visitors--signs explaining the Stonehouse history and the Agroforestry Demo Farm! Here's a blog post about the signs. Thanks, everyone who helped get this done!

 

Announcements for Park Volunteers

Contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@silverwoodpark.org 

Woods Conservation Work: What's New?

Rita Fox is our woodland restoration manager. Volunteer to work with her team, which often meets on Friday and Saturday mornings, starting at 9 am.

We need certified volunteers to chainsaw brush and trees for removal. This is done from late summer until we get at least an inch of snow on the ground to burn the piles.

We prepare for the Controlled burn in the spring, and follow up with seeding in areas that don't need lots of spraying for invasives. We have also created piles to the South of the burn unit until spraying time arrives. We do apply chemicals using Backpack Sprayers (Garlon mixed with a little Escort is our usual formula). We are investigating an Organic Spray for possible use. We hand pull some invasives like garlic mustard and cut hedge parsley and yellow clover. Mike is our guide for spray applications as he knows about prairie plants (has his own prairie at his residence) and Savanna needs.

We started thinning trees on the steep slopes north of the area we worked to clear a year ago. More sunlight will help the sown Savannah seeds grow! And the trees are too crowded together in the areas where we will  be cutting trees.

Call Rita at 715-623-7277 to find out more.  If you come out to the park to work with the restoration team, be sure to bring water, and snacks, dress appropriately for the day's weather; and wear your work gloves.

Read a blog post about the woodland restoration work done in Fall 2022 here.

Volunteer with the Friends of Silverwood Park

Did you know that volunteering feels good--and is good for you? One of the best ways to get an idea about volunteering with the Friends of Silverwood Park is to visit the park and do a “walk and talk” with a Board member.  You can contact us at info@silverwoodpark.org to set that up.

Of Interest to our Grower Partners....

 

Marbleseed, formerly known as MOSES

Marbleseed has announced the launch of its brand new website, to support its new name and branding. Marbleseed is the organization formerly known as the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). For over thirty years, Marbleseed/MOSES has been working in community with the Midwest’s regenerative and organic farmers. Now they are continuing that work and leveraging their social capital to grow the region’s organic farming movement. The name has changed, but the work remains the same: farmer-led and rooted in organic. Visit the website to find resources, programs, events, news, and more.

Building Community Online Marbleseed is collaborating with partners to create the Ag Solidarity Network, a platform of knowledge exchange, advancement, and sharing of practices that work for farmers to succeed. The platform will be free for farmers to use: post pictures, ask questions, and receive notifications. The platform will centralize conversation threads between the various groups and facilitate networking.

Marbleseed Podcasts Dive into the most relevant topics of sustainable and organic farming through interviews with farmers and ag professionals with Marbleseed Podcasts which include MOSES Organic Farming, In Her Boots, and coming in 2023: a new show to build awareness around the 2023 Farm Bill and amplify the stories of farmers of color, beginning farmers, and veteran farmers.

Watch "Introduction to Agroforestry Technical Assistance" with the Savanna Institute

 

Savanna Institute January Newsletter

Selected highlights

January 2024

2024 Apprenticeship Applications Now Open! 
Each season, we pair apprentices with mentor farms for 10 weeks of on-farm agroforestry learning. Apply now through May for the 2024 season.

Apprenticeship Program Q&A
Wednesday, January 24th
5pm - 6pm Central Time
Virtual event, register for link

Perennial AF: An agroforestry podcast and blog by the Savanna Institute

About Savanna Institute

Our partner, the Savanna Institute, is laying the groundwork for widespread agroforestry in the Midwest. Just take a look at the demonstration plantings on the right as you drive into Silverwood Park to see their work in action.

 

If you know of upcoming events of interest to growers, gardeners, and fans of regenerative agriculture, please let us know!

Cool and Relevant Reading, Watching, Listening...

Click here.