January 2026 Volunteer News & Updates
- Jan 21
- 8 min read
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program
01/17/2026
Message From The Coordinator
We are looking forward to the start of the new year. A special welcome to the new interns in Ramsey County. We're so glad that you are here.
The State Master Gardener Program and Ramsey County newsletters have lots of great information and we encourage you to take some time to read them and bookmark them for information that will help you in the year ahead.
January Updates
What to Expect in 2026
The new year will start with a bustle of activity! Please keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to get involved. Email RCMG2@umn.edu if you are not getting the messages.
Monthly Educational Meetings - every 3rd Tuesday (except May and December)
Book Club Discussions - Every-other 4th Tuesday
Board Meetings - Every 2nd Tuesday (except July and December)
Updates for the 2026 Volunteer Directory - February
Pick up for badges, stars and certificates - March
Project Fair - March
Main Volunteer Season - April-October
Plant Sale - May 16th
Garden Gate Tours - June-September
New Applicant Interviews - October
New Name Updates
In the coming weeks, all returning Ramsey County volunteers (2025 interns, active, and emeritus active) will be receiving a new name badge and shirt to wear while volunteering. The new badges will replace "Master Gardener" with "Garden Education Volunteer," and, like all badges produced starting this year, they will show first names and last name initials only. (See Name Badge Change-up update below) Details about shirt orders are still in the works but watch for a message from rcname@umn.edu asking you for your preferred size. You can find more information about the name change on our website.
Double-Check Your Contact Info
We are preparing for the 2026 Volunteer Directory. As a reminder, this is an INTERNAL document only, and none of the contact information is shared outside of our volunteer group.
If you have changes to your email, phone number, home address or involvement for 2026, please fill in this form or contact RCMG2@umn.edu.
RCMG Materials Check-In
We are preparing for the 2026 Volunteer Directory. As a reminder, this is an INTERNAL document only, and none of the contact information is shared outside of our volunteer group.
If you have changes to your email, phone number, home address or involvement for 2026, please fill in this form or contact RCMG2@umn.edu.
Skills & Interest Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete the RCMG Skills & Interest Survey. If you previously filled in this survey, your new response will replace your previous one. This information is used to connect volunteers with opportunities and activities that they are interested in. Volunteers can count time spent filling in the survey towards their 2026 volunteer hours.
Statewide Name Badge Changes
Going forward, all volunteer name badges (for the whole state) will feature first names and last name initials only. This format prioritizes volunteer safety by preventing members of the public from easily looking up personal information or home addresses online. This change will start appearing on temporary 2026 intern badges, new hard badges for graduated 2025 interns, and replacement badges requested going forward. You will be notified when new badges become available.
Non-Profit News
The Ramsey County Master Gardeners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is separate from the University of Minnesota Extension Garden Education Volunteer Program and helps raise funds for volunteer activities.
Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors meeting was held on January 13, 2026, on Zoom. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All volunteers are welcome to attend.
2026 Presale
Thank you to all of the RCMG members who recently placed orders for plants through the volunteer Pre-Sale. It was exciting to see over 100 members take advantage of the wholesale prices offered, buying over 600 flats of plants to add to their home landscapes. Shoppers: Please note that pickup will be Monday, May 11, 2026 from 3 PM - 6 PM at the Barn (2020 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109).
Project Grants are Available
Attention Project Leads! If your project needs extra funds for 2026 or you have questions about how to apply for a Project Grant, contact the RCMG Finance Committee Chair, Julie Bechtold.
Wanted: File Cabinet
The RCMG nonprofit corporation is looking for a donation of a file cabinet. The ideal file cabinet would be vertical, metal, locking (with keys), 3 or 4 drawers and in good condition. Because the RCMG nonprofit is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your donation qualifies as tax-deductible. Please contact Julie Bechtold (juliebechtold@gmail.com, 651-497-7072) for more information.
Intern Roadmap
Core Course Info
The Core Course became available to interns on January 7th. If you did not receive the invitation to log in to the core course or are having any troubles using Canvas, email Jennie Wagner (wagn1400@umn.edu). All course modules MUST be completed before the end of 2026. Even though interns have the whole year, it is highly recommended that you complete it before the volunteer season starts in May.
Make a Website Account
If you haven’t yet, please take a few minutes to create an account on the ramseymastergardener.org website. This will give you access to the internal pages that give you access to many of the tools you’ll want to use and news to keep up to date on what other volunteers are doing.
Send a Directory Photo
We need pictures for our internal volunteer directory. Please email a photo that has a clear view of your face (selfie or photo with other people) to RCMG2@umn.edu. This is a tiny thumbnail but it’s invaluable to help us know who to look for at events during the year.
Volunteer Stories
Congratulations!
Please congratulate these volunteers on completing their internship requirements in the past month: Lee Bruce, Evan Clark, Trahern Crews, Timothy Eldridge, Cindy Land, Signe Nestingen, Susanne Schroeder, and Robert Wilson.
Loss of a Friend: Frank Dolejsi
Frank joined the volunteer program in 2014. He was part of the RCMG Board of Directors in 2016 (secretary), 2017 (vice-chair), and 2018 (chair), and served on the Master Gardener State Advisory Board from 2020-2022. His contributions and insight to our community will be greatly missed.
Last Year in Review
A lot happened in 2025 for the volunteer program. Many projects started for the first time, some came to a close, and several new tools were developed to help volunteers. Take a look at the many changes, improvements and accomplishments from 2025.
Volunteer Activities
New volunteer activities are announced on Thursday mornings and Sunday nights. If you are not receiving SignUp Genius notices, please contact please contact Brianna Gohde.
I forgot to enter my hours for last year! Now what?
Life happens and we understand that. However, there is no way to back-date your hours and have them counted towards your volunteer efforts for 2025. You may also notice your volunteer status for 2026 says “TI.” This is a temporary flag but one you need to pay attention to. (See the information under the first bullet point in the linked document.)
RCMG Monthly Meeting Volunteer Roles
Help out at the next monthly meeting. Every month we need volunteers to make our meetings run smoothly. We are looking for people to help with: Set-Up, Welcome table (Greeter), Journalists, Time Keeper, Zoom Aide, and Clean-up. Sign up here.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 1/24-1/30
Sign up to answer residents’ 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.
Mark Your Calendars now – 2026 Plant Sale: 5/16
The 2026 RCMG Plant Sale is scheduled for May 16. Volunteers are needed for set-up on May 14-15 for and for the sale day. Find out how you can get involved right away.
You can also sign up to grow plants from seeds. The tabs on the linked page will give you options for natives, tomatoes, vegetables and herbs. You can also donate houseplants!
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.
January Monthly meeting: 1/20
The January 20th monthly meeting will be held via Zoom only. The education topic will be mitigating wildlife (or how do I get the deer and rabbits to stop eating my shrubs…) Sign-up to RSVP and get updates about the meeting in case there are changes.
Education Meeting Recap
There was no monthly meeting in December. 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.
January 2026 Book Club: 1/27
The Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Book Club will meet on Tuesday, January 27th, to discuss Sea of Grass: the Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie by Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty. Sign up to join the discussion!
Other Upcoming 2026 Book Club Titles
Readers selected these books to read for the first half of 2026 (January, March, and May). Copies of these books and other Book Club titles are available for volunteers to borrow through the Lending Library. Invitations to join the discussions of these books will be forthcoming.
Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie by Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty
Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
Chasing Wildflowers: An Adventurer's Guide to Finding Minnesota's Native Flowers in Their Unique Habitats by Phyllis Root
Check out a book from the Lending Library
If you are looking for some winter reading and inspiration, visit the RCMG Lending Library. Check out the selection of Book Club titles approved for continuing education credit.
Core Course Access for Master Gardeners
Remember that as a certified, active Master Gardener volunteer, you have the opportunity to retake the Core Course. The time spent reviewing the course can count toward your required five hours of continuing education. This year's edition features updates to some of the modules, videos and activities. See the Statewide Master Gardener Update for information on how to register.
Home Gardening Webinar Series from the University of Iowa
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will again host its annual Home Gardening Webinar Series, which will begin in January, 2026, and end in March. Sessions will take place every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. Central time, concluding on March 12.
Designed for anyone interested in gardening or horticulture, the series aims to inspire and educate. Throughout the series, participants will hear from horticulture experts at Iowa State University, Colorado State University and commercial growers in Iowa. The sessions are available at no cost to viewers and open to the public.
Gardening from the Ground Up 2026
University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to offer the sixth annual Gardening from the Ground Up webinar series, a free weeklong program designed to help gardeners build skills from soil to harvest. Join us online for five focused, practical sessions led by Extension experts, covering everything from building healthy soil and understanding microbes and product labels, adapting to shifting growing conditions, and harvesting and storing produce for long-lasting quality.
Calendar
In-person office hours with Darren at the Maplewood Extension Office on Wednesdays (10am-2pm); reserve your time here. Contact him directly to schedule additional times.
1/20 – Monthly Meeting (online only | hybrid format | in-person only)
1/24-1/30 – Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
1/27 – Book Club Discussion
2/10 – Board meeting
2/17 - Monthly meeting (Zoom only)
