August 2025 Volunteer News & Updates
- Sep 18
- 5 min read
08/14/2025
Message from the Coordinator
As we ease into August and the fall season, recruitment is top of mind. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is now accepting applications until October 1st. If you know someone – a friend, neighbor – or have connected with a Ramsey County resident while volunteering who may be interested in the program please share the program website and application materials. We have found that word of mouth continues to be the best method for volunteer recruitment. Thank you for your help with the recruitment process!
August Updates
MG Enrollment for 2026 Now Open!
The MN Master Gardener program is now accepting applications for new volunteers! (Enrollment runs from 8/01-10/01).Word of mouth is the best way to expand our RCMG community. If you know someone with a passion for gardening and community service, please invite them to apply!
Potential Change to the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Name
We welcome your questions and will respond to questions as soon as we can get the answer. We are sharing all of the information on the volunteer news blog. Stay informed!
Thank you to everyone who has entered their volunteer hours! We know that it’s been hard to catch up and appreciate your help! That said, it looks like half of our volunteers still need to log in and record their time. If you need help or a refresher, please email RCMG2@umn.edu or check out the resources on the RCMG website or State volunteer website.
Now Accepting Nominations
Can you think of someone who inspired you this year? Nominate them for an RCMG annual award! RCMG wants to recognize volunteers who demonstrate exceptional performance and community service. We have added 5 award categories for 2025. Nominations accepted until Sunday 11/23.
Severe Weather Guidelines Reminder
If you are a project lead, remember that you may reschedule or cancel volunteer dates based on severe weather conditions. If you don’t feel it is safe for volunteers, take the initiative and follow the guidelines outlined provided.
Volunteer Stories
Congratulations!
Please congratulate these Master Gardener volunteers on completing their internship requirements: Brian Cihacek, Sue Costello, Barb Dean, Cynthia Gustafson, Gretchen Hatch, Amanda Morcomb, Donna Roost, and Lloyd Waithe in the past month.
Arts Us Camp Teranga
2025 was the second year of the partnership between Ramsey County Master Gardeners, the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Arts Us non-profit in providing gardening education to youth as part of Camp Teranga, Arts Us’ five week summer camp. There were several significant changes made to the programming and, according to Roi Ward, the Interim Director of Arts Us, the program was even more successful than it was last year.
Coming soon: 2025 Buds, Blooms, & Thorns: 11/18
As gardeners, we have all experienced promise, success, struggle, and disappointment in our gardens. If you have a story from your garden, please take pictures and write a summary of your gardening high-(or low)-lights from 2025. We will share these stories at the November RCMG monthly meeting on 11/18. Details about submitting your story will be found on SignUp Genius as we get closer to fall.
Book Club Review: Brave the Wild River
Master Gardener volunteers who participated in the July book club discussed Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny. Readers were reminded repeatedly of the temerity and grit the women exhibited and marveled at how they preserved plant species for sending back to the University of Michigan. Read the review and comments from RCMG readers.
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.
Gardens for Good Donations Wanted
The Gardens for Good group shares produce from RCMG volunteers’ home gardens to people in need. If you have extra vegetables, herbs, fruit, or flowers to share, stop by the Barn between 12-1pm on Thursdays. Items are given to residents of the Wilson Hi-Rise, part of St Paul public housing.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 9/08-9/14
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.
State Fair Ask-A-Master-Gardener Booth: 8/21-9/01
There are only a few shifts left! Volunteers interested in working at the 2025 Master Gardener State Fair 'Ask a Master Gardener' booth should sign up ASAP! This is one of the most coveted volunteer activities of the year and spots fill-up fast.
Farmers Markets
RCMG provides garden information to shoppers at 8 local farmers markets. This is a fun activity for talking with members of our communities. Sign-up for a shift between now and early October.
Photography–Volunteers In Action
Before the season ends, please take a few pictures of you and your peer Master Gardeners in action at the many gardens, festivals, and events around Ramsey County. These pictures help us remember the year and the many great things that were done. Send photos (including any from earlier this year) to RCMG2@umn.edu with a note about who and what is in the scene.
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.
Education Meeting Recaps
If you missed a previous monthly meeting, don’t forget that you can find recordings and summaries on the RCMG website. This is a great way to accrue Continuing Education hours and brush-up on what’s happening inside RCMG.
August Member Meeting: 8/19
Join us for RCMG’s August monthly meeting on Tue 8/19. For this event, Washington County MGs host the combined Ramsey County and Washington County Master Gardeners to listen to Dr. Mark Seeley, Extension Climatologist/Meteorologist and UMN Extension Professor Emeritus present "Gardening and Climate Change". The event is in-person only and will happen in Mahtomedi. Space is limited; car-pooling recommended.
Summer Garden Gate Tours
Summer tours are posted! Visit a garden grown by other Master Gardener volunteers! Get inspired, share gardening advice or just enjoy the view of the garden and yard they have developed. Read descriptions of these wonderful spaces on SignUp Genius. Space is limited and varies by the garden. Site visits are broken into 2 time slots to avoid having us all arrive at once, but are not strict.
Book Club: The Light-eaters: 9/23
The next selection for RCMG Book Club is The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger on Tuesday, September 23, 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.
Calendar
Office hours with Darren: In-person Weds (10am-2pm) and online Thurs (12pm-1pm)
8/01 – Application for New (2026) Volunteers Opens
8/12 – Board Retreat
8/19 – Monthly Meeting (in-person only)
8/21-8/01 – State Fair Ask-A-MG shifts
8/21 – Garden Gate Tour
8/24 – Garden Gate Tour
8/25-8/28 – International Master Gardener Conference
10/01 – Application for New (2026) Volunteers Closes
10/25 – Central Regional Gathering
