Six more weeks of winter...
February 8, 2022
In early February on Groundhogs Day we learned Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow which means six more weeks of winter. I did learn that his predictions have only been accurate 40% of the time over the past 10 years, according to NOAA. Regardless of these predictions I do know that Ramsey County Master Gardeners are getting ready for the arrival of spring and are busy planning projects and community programs.
Volunteering for RCMG in 2022
One event we are especially looking forward to hosting is our annual RCMG Plant Sale on Saturday, May 21st. This is one of our biggest RCMG events of the year and there will be many ways for you to get involved from growing plants to helping out with the plant sale the week of the sale. The proceeds from the Plant Sale help to support RCMG projects and programs in Ramsey County.
Besides the annual Plant Sale there are many ways to become involved as a Master Gardener volunteer. The best approach is to be pro-active in signing-up for activities. RCMG volunteer opportunities are posted on SignUp Genius on Saturday mornings and Monday evenings. All volunteer opportunities are filled on a first-come, first- served basis. We will be offering training on SignUp Genius at the March monthly meeting. Plan to come if you would like to learn about more signing up for volunteer opportunities and managing your individual account.
This year the State Master Gardener Program is continuing to support three approved At-Home Horticulture Projects. Volunteers can count them towards their volunteer service hours in 2022.
The At-Home Projects are:
Plant/maintain a pollinator-friendly garden
Grow a giving garden
Propagate plants to give to those in need.
Volunteers MUST complete this online form to register the At-Home Project(s) before starting any of the above projects for them to count.
If you would like to learn more about existing and upcoming volunteer projects in Ramsey County, please check out the Projects page on the RCMG website.
Each year RCMG volunteers initiate many new projects. Some projects involve a new partnership or working in a new neighborhood. These projects can be individual efforts for just you or group efforts involving many Master Gardener volunteers. They can start right away (pending approval) or they can start later in the future in cases where the project requires set-up or infrastructure before any volunteering work can be done.
If you are not sure how to start creating a new project, please contact me. Learn more about project development and the ingredients of a successful project at the RCMG Train-The-Trainer session on Saturday, February 26th.
However you choose to get involved in 2022, we encourage you to try something new and have fun!
Darren Lochner
RCMG Program Coordinator
Nov 9, 2021
COVID Safety Note
All volunteers are encouraged to wear a face cover or mask, regardless of vaccinations status when participating in volunteer activities, especially indoor activities, including carpooling.