Originally written 8/05/2022
Edited 6/11/2024
Our volunteers' work is amazing and impactful, and deserves to be shared!
Every year, I am reminded of our amazing volunteer projects and activities in Ramsey County through the stories I hear, the photos shared with me, the community members I speak with, and more. Stories like these are gold! As Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteers, your contribution in the community is incredibly valuable and impactful, and your story deserves to be told!
Project Stories & Testimonials
Have you heard some meaningful quotes or good testimonials from residents participating in your RCMG volunteer activity and the positive change that resulted from your volunteer efforts? Hearing from those people who we get to interact with as volunteers can say so much about the value Master Gardener volunteers bring to their communities.
Project Stories
Stories describe some of the things our volunteers do. We can share them on our website or through social media to let everyone know about the great work that volunteers are doing. Check out some examples of Project Stories from last year.
Participant Testimonials
Quotes from participants is a great way to get feedback right from the source! For example, “I like being able to grow my own food and learn about gardening,” said Jane Doe, one of 20 St. Paul public housing residents working with Master Gardeners on their community garden. or "I like eating vegetables from the garden that I helped to grow," said Jada, a participant in a youth garden.
Write down the great things you hear and, if you can, ask the person if you can quote them while thanking them for the kind words. Photographs
As the old saying goes, "A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words." Pictures are a wonderful way to share your story as a volunteer in the Master Gardener Program. Some photos are used to highlight projects with other volunteers, some can be shared with the State Leadership Team, who may then include them in their public announcements about the program and others can be used for creating new handouts and marketing materials.
Event Pictures
You all know the saying: A picture is worth a thousand words and it's so true! Check out some examples of volunteer photos from last year in the 2023 RCMG Activity Collection.
Media Release Form
Please be aware that if you have photos with residents—especially children!— you may need to ask them to fill in a University of Minnesota Media Release Form. (download below) To know when you need that, you can check out the guidelines on When do you need a Media Release.
Photography Tips and Tricks
If you are taking photos consider these Tips and Tricks for the Extension photographer for capturing the moment.
Annual Reports
Every fall, Master Gardener groups all over the state are asked to collect their stories, photos, testimonials, and volunteer data. These eventually turn into the MN State Annual Report. (See archived reports here.) These are then shared with the wider public to let everyone know what Master Gardener volunteers do for their communities.
When we share these reports, we can encourage more community organizations to partner with us, recruit more people to join us as volunteers, and ensure that we maintain the funding from Ramsey County and the University of Minnesota to continue with our work.
Thank you again for everything you do! Happy Gardening!
Darren Lochner
RCMG Program Coordinator