2/14/2025
February 2025 Volunteer News |
February Updates |
Skills & Interest Survey 2025—3/31
Please take a few minutes to complete the RCMG Skills & Interest Survey. We use this information to make decisions about how RCMG operates so every response is important! Volunteers can count time spent filling in the survey towards their 2025 volunteer hours.
2025 Volunteer Directory—2/28
We are still collecting information from volunteers. Check your email for the information currently on file:
If there are no changes, please send a message to Brianna Gohde.
If you want to make changes to your email, phone number, home address or status for 2025 but haven’t responded yet, please fill in this form or contact Brianna Gohde.
New Projects for 2025
If you are considering starting a new volunteer activity this year, please complete the New Project Proposal Form.
Office Hours—Weds & Thurs
Program Coordinator Darren Lochner will be hosting office hours every week this month on Wednesdays from 10am-2pm at the Extension Office (2020 White Bear Ave) and online using Zoom Thursdays from 12pm-1pm. While not required, volunteers are encouraged to message Darren ahead of time when planning to visit office hours.
New Volunteer Database System—March
The State Leadership Team wants to remind all volunteers that we are not able to record their time online until the new tools are available. They are expecting this to happen sometime in March. While we all wait, please print and use this Temporary Hours Sheet PDF or you can download a copy and use this tabbed spreadsheet.
Intern Roadmap |
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RCMG Project Fair – 3/27
RSVP TODAY—The annual Project & Activity Fair is a great chance for ALL volunteers to learn about the many types of volunteer activities that are available in the coming year. The 2025 Project Fair is scheduled for Thursday, 3/27 from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM!
Goals for February
Fill in the Skills & Interest Survey
Confirm your contact information for the Volunteer Directory (see above)
Set-up your RCMG website account if you haven’t already
Complete the following Core Course modules by mid-Feb
Soils, Composting, and Fertilizers
Plant Pathology
Integrated Pest Management
Entomology
Up Next
Volunteer t-shirts mailed to you – late-February
Database access for entering hours – late-March
Come to the March meeting & get your temporary Name Badge – (Tue) 3/18
Attend the Project Fair – (Thur) 3/27
Non-Profit News |
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Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on February 11, 2025 on Zoom. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. In addition to updates from the committees and leadership, a new board position was added.
Volunteer Stories |
2025 Spring Book Club Survey
Help us choose the books for our May 2025, July 2025, and September 2025 Book Club discussions! There are several great options coming up and we need your help to decide. The selected books will be purchased and copies will be available to volunteers for free. Volunteers can borrow copies of past books and read them for Continuing Education credit.
Food Donations 2024 Recap
Last year the Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteer Program donated produce to Keystone Community Food Center and residents at the St. Paul Public Housing Authority—Wilson Hi Rise. Despite a tough growing season, RCMG volunteers donated 2,843 pounds last year! Gardens For Good Program donated 1,700 pounds and the Barn demonstration garden team donated 1,143 pounds to Keystone Community Food Center. Many thanks to everyone who helped contribute to improved food security in Ramsey County.
NEW Bee Lab Collaboration
Many thanks to RCMG volunteers Julie Bechtold and Linda Hinderscheit, who have agreed to take a leading role to work with the University Bee Lab on St Paul campus and develop new volunteer activities and community service projects with the Bee Lab. Stay tuned for updates about this new opportunity later this spring!
Book Club Review: The Comfort of Crows
The January RCMG Book club discussed The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl to much fanfare! You can read the review on the Garden Blog. There are copies of this book available through the RCMG Lending Library and other copies available through the public library.
Materials Up For Grabs!
As the Resource Center is being updated, RCMG is looking for new homes for the giant table, a flier holder, some tall chairs, and a mini fridge. You can see photos and details about these items here. If you are interested, contact Julie Reimer.
Volunteer Activities |
New volunteer activities are announced on Thursday mornings and Sunday nights. If you are not receiving SignUp Genius notices, please contact Brianna Gohde.
February Monthly Meeting—2/18
ZOOM AIDE WANTED Help out at the next monthly meeting on Tue 2/18. This meeting will be online only. We need a volunteer to act as the Zoom Aide during the meeting to collect questions and post links. If you are a Project Lead and want a few minutes to share an update about or recruit for your project(s), sign up for one of the “Project Updates” slots.
2025 Seed Trials—2/21
The 2025 statewide seed trial is getting underway! This year volunteers will be testing mini bok choy, parsnips, red beets, orange cauliflower, container-friendly slicing tomatoes, parsley, nasturtiums and rudbeckia. Register online before Feb 21.
Ask-A-Master-Gardener: Information Booths—3/01
RCMG has been invited to answer gardening questions and offer garden advice at the Falcon Heights Sustainability Fair and Mounds View March Into Spring, both on Saturday 3/01. We are looking for 6 more volunteers to answer this community call.
Youth Projects with Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District—3/06-3/26
If you like working with kids, please sign-up! Volunteers will work with small groups of students from several schools take the seeds they stratified in an earlier lesson, help them prepare the soil, move soil into planting trays, lay out seed, and bury the seed.
Yard and Garden Phone Line—3/24-3/30
Sign up to answer resident’s garden questions from home through the Arboretum’s Yard & Garden hotline. These are excellent opportunities to volunteer remotely and build your garden knowledge at your own pace.
Grow for the Plant Sale—5/17
As you plan your 2025 garden, consider contributing some plants to the RCMG plant sale. Sign up to grow Annual Flowers, Vegetables and Herbs, Native Plants and Houseplants. There will be more ways to get involved later this spring.
At-Home Projects 2025
The at-home projects allow volunteers to work independently on projects beneficial to their communities. Volunteers can plant & maintain a pollinator garden, grow a giving garden, or propagate plants for distribution to those in need. This can be a great addition to volunteering at other community-based events. These activities are monitored by the state-wide Master Gardener Leadership Team and volunteers must register to be able to record time on these activities.
Continuing Education Opportunities |
Find approved opportunities to learn more on the RCMG website, the State MG Volunteer website, the MN Landscape Arboretum, or through Extension. Check with the program coordinator about other local events and learning opportunities.
Let’s Talk Plants
Brush up on recommendations for responding to resident questions with the Let’s Talk Plants toolkit from the state-wide Master Gardener Leadership Team. Information on this page can help you learn best practices for answering questions and find resources for sharing science-based horticulture solutions as you work with your community to solve plant problems.
2025 Core Course Sign-up
All returning MG volunteers are able to register for access to the Core Course material each year for free. You can complete these modules for education credit. Register for 2025 access and download a free copy of the Companion Guide.
January Education Meeting Recap
Our guest speaker, Mitch Hunter shared information from the U of MN Forever Green Initiative to increase statewide cover crop adoption. Read the recap or watch the recording.
February Member Meeting—2/18
Join us for RCMG’s February monthly meeting on Tue 2/18. This month, we’ll hear from author and RCMG volunteer Michelle Bruhn about “Companion Gardening From The Ground Up." This meeting is hosted online only. RSVP today!
Gardening from the Ground Up webinar series—2/17-2/21
University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to bring back the sixth annual Gardening from the Ground Up webinar series. This year’s webinar series focuses on adaptation, with topics on embracing climate change, non-traditional lawns, replacement trees, food forests, and integrated pest management. These webinars are free but you will need to register. Registering gives access to all five sessions.
Book Club: Twelve Trees—3/25
The next RCMG Book club discusses Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future by Daniel Lewis on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. There are copies of this book available through the RCMG Lending Library, and other copies available through the public library. Sign-up to join the discussion.
Garden Conferences
Spring is a great time to learn new garden information, practices, and skills. Many Master Gardener programs host annual educational conferences around the state. Check out some of these upcoming events!
Let's Get Growing – 3/01 (Dakota County)
Garden Day – 3/08 (Rice County)
Horticulture Day – 4/05 (Pine County)
Spring Days – 3/22 (Wright County)
Home Landscaping and Garden Fair – 4/12 (Anoka County)
Garden Fever – 4/12 (Carver-Scott County)
Day of Insects 2025—3/29
Celebrate the 17th annual Day of Insects at Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State University campus. Enjoy a day filled with presentations from professionals, academics, advocates, and enthusiasts. From beginners to seasoned veterans, Day of Insects has something for anyone interested in or involved with insects.
Calendar |
Office hours with Darren: In-person Weds (10 am-2 pm) and online Thurs (12 pm-1 pm)
2/11 – February Board Meeting (on Zoom only)
2/18 – February Monthly Meeting (on Zoom only)
3/02 – Awards and Recognition Event
3/25 – RCMG Book Club Discussion
3/24-3/30 – RCMG Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
5/17/25 – Plant Sale
6/27 & 6/28 – Master Gardener 2025 statewide conference
Quick Links |
RCMG Resources
Extension Resources
Report Your Hours – offline for Jan-Mar
Access the MN Arboretum for free with code MG2025