University of Wisconsin-Madison
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our local (and national/global) food system, it revealed and amplified weaknesses and inequities in our food system. It was clear that there was a critical need to strengthen our local and regional food system against future disruptions. In 2021 the Dane County Food Council with Dane County Extension’s Community Food […]
Since 2005 Dane County UW Extension has been involved in the free tax preparation initiative known as the Richard Dilley Tax Center. This collaborative effort is possible through a partnership with many incredible volunteers, the UW Madison South Madison Partnership, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue with funding support from the Internal Revenue Services through […]
Yes, this time of year we often see some leaf damage courtesy of some garden friends and garden foes (as well as hail!). Holes are not necessarily a reason to panic and pull out the insecticide sprayer. In fact, they can be an indicator that your ecosystem is healthy and functioning as it should. The […]
The pruning season for many woody plants has been especially difficult to determine this year as the temperatures have swung wildly between frigid and too warm for pruning certain species. Temperature is critical in determining when it is safe to prune oak trees. This is due to the activity of the beetles that carry oak […]
With 84 percent of youth around the world reporting that they are worried about the threat that climate change poses to people and the planet, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced in March of 2024 that Madison would join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new Youth Climate Action Fund, which provided technical assistance and funding for 100 Mayors to activate […]
The FoodWIse program in Dane County is federally-funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). With local strengths, we support healthy eating habits, active lifestyles and healthy community environments for Wisconsin residents experiencing limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, community, and systems levels. Dane […]
Dane County has experienced rapid growth in jobs and residents, but housing construction has not kept pace. Demand for all kinds of housing—from affordable rentals to high-end family homes—is surging. Limited availability of workforce and senior housing is leading many households to pay more in rent or mortgage than is feasible given their income (called […]
Black Lace™ elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’) is a great black-leaved shrub for full sun. The plant was bred Ken Tobutt and Jacqui Prevette of East Malling Research Station in Kent, England from European elderberry cultivars. Black Lace™ elderberry is marketed under the Proven Winners® brand. Our plant at the Dane County Extension Teaching Garden is about […]
Situation Low-income seniors who participate in the food access program known as the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) may face barriers in accessing traditional farmers markets. While Dane County distributes all their senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers annually, redemption of vouchers has been historically low in Dane County as compared to other counties across […]
Situation The U.S. is undergoing a rapid energy transformation to clean renewable energy as a major strategy to mitigate climate change. Rural communities in Wisconsin, which are well suited for large-scale solar or wind development, may experience major economic, environment, and social transitions when a large-scale electric power facility comes to town. With any major […]
Situation Farm-to-school programs provide kids access to nutritious, high-quality, local food while creating market development opportunities for local farmers. Yet not all local farmers have equal access to this economic opportunity. This is especially true of historically-underserved farmers, a federal designation that includes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); women; beginning farmers; and veterans, […]
This year I am trying something new. I am following the advice of Xerces, (the national pollinator protection non-profit) and well-known author Doug Tallamy, Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and not doing the scrupulous fall garden cleanup I have been practicing […]
