Volunteer News August 2026
08/15/2026
Participants in the Bumble Bee Survey Training and Workshop met at the Barn on July 25. The prairie at the Ramsey County Poor Farm area provided ample opportunity to view and photograph bumble bees. An endangered Rusty Patch Bumble Bee was sighted! Participants were encouraged to take part in the Backyard Bumble Bee count through iNaturalist from 7/23-8/1. The Backyard Bumble Bee count occurs annually.
August Announcements
Breaking News – Ramsey County Moves to Better Impact in September
All Garden Education volunteers are asked to make sure their hours are entered and up-to-date before the end of August. The state leadership team will be disabling access to the volunteer database for all Ramsey and Hennepin County volunteers starting on September 01 and ending October 01. During this time, all hours previously entered will be moved into the new Better Impact volunteer management system. After the move is complete, all volunteers will need to use Better Impact only to enter all hours. We are still getting details on using this new system; stay tuned.TBD
Congratulations!
Please congratulate these Garden Education volunteers on completing their internship requirements in the past month: Ron Schlangen, Paulina Vergara Buitrago, Julie Boldt, Kat Kennedy, Jennifer Larsen, Mariah Marx, Raina Russ, Jessica Scott Gallo, Mary Thibert, Mary Whalen, and Ashley Winger.
Nominate a Volunteer
Have you been inspired by another volunteer this summer? Nominate them for one of RGEV's annual awards! This is a great way to recognize those Garden Education volunteers who go above and beyond. Here are the award categories:
Outstanding Teamwork
Leonard Gloeb Outstanding Service
Unsung Hero
Ralph Thane Extraordinary Partnership
Friend of the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program
This month we are focusing on nominations for the Outstanding Teamwork Award, which recognizes a group of Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers who have actively teamed on a project while creating a fun and positive atmosphere for collaboration and community.
U of M Extension Master Gardener Enrollment for 2027 Now Open!
The University of Minnesota Extension 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 RGEV community. If you know someone with a passion for gardening and community service, please invite them to apply!
RGEV Name Badges
Almost all badges are in the mail and should arrive within the next week. If you don’t receive your new name badge before the end of August, please submit the “Get In Touch” form at the very bottom of the Quick Links page on our website or contact rcmg2@umn.edu.
RGEV Shirts
If you ordered a complimentary shirt between May 01 and July 04, you should have received the shirt in mid-July. If you haven’t received your shirt(s), please submit the “Get In Touch” form at the very bottom of the Quick Links page on our website so we can follow-up with the vendor. If you did not order a shirt in May or June, you can still order one. To order, log into the vendor portal for Minnesota Ts (the store sale code is ramsey) and select your shirts. Shirts will be mailed directly to you after ordering, free of charge. Please submit your order before Sept 30.
Your Monthly Plant Pun:
What did the cantaloupe say to his crush?
(The answer is somewhere below.)
Non-Profit News
The Ramsey County Master Gardeners nonprofit is a 501(c)(3) organization that is separate from the University of Minnesota Extension Garden Education Volunteer Program and helps raise funds for volunteer activities.
Leadership Changes
At the July monthly meeting, Board Chair Beth Fritcher gave an important update on the governance structure that supports Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer programs. The changes were requested by University of Minnesota Extension and the transition timeline was discussed. These changes will not affect day-to-day volunteer activities but they will impact the larger volunteer-leadership committees and program operations.
Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting held a retreat on August 11 in Vadnais Heights. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All members are welcome to attend. (By computer, smartphone, or tablet on Zoom Video Conference with Meeting ID: 949 4344 4368 and Passcode: 060589.)
Intern Roadmap
It’s Time to Check Your Progress
The growing season is in the home stretch, so this is a good time to check your volunteer hours to determine what you need to do in the coming weeks. You will want to have most of your volunteer commitments filled by October when many of the ongoing projects are wrapping up. There are fewer opportunities to volunteer late in the year.
Now is also a good time to review the variety of your volunteer activities. At the end of their first year, interns consistently advise new interns to “try many activities.” In order to expand your horizons, you might want to check out the new Volunteer Bingo Card. Another option is to check out Darren’s 10-day, volunteer forecast that appears in your email inbox each Sunday, letting us know where volunteers are needed most in the following 10 days. Have fun!
Shared Stories
Volunteers are continually doing great work in the community. Take a moment to read about what your Garden Education Volunteer peers are doing and ask them about it when you see them at events and activities.
Bumble Bee Survey & Rusty Patch BB Sighting
More than 30 Garden Education Volunteers met at the Barn Gardens on a hot and humid Saturday in July to learn bumble bee identification skills. Dr. Elaine Evans. Her team of pollinator ambassadors led an hour long training including a question and answer session. Volunteers then practiced their new bumble bee identification skills in the native bed and Monarch Waystation of the Barn Gardens before walking over to the prairie planted at the site of the Ramsey County Poor Farm Cemetery to further develop their skills. In subsequent sightings for the 2026 Bumble Bee Count, a Rusty Patch Bumble Bee was sighted at the Barn.
State Fair Demonstration Gardens
“Creative Containers” is this year’s theme for the State Fair Gardens project, according to Julie Coopet, RGEV project lead. Julie says, “We have used many everyday items to show that everyone can garden in many different ways, including kettle flower pots, tire rim pots, and cement blocks.” Julie thanks the many crews of volunteers who help weed and replant throughout the summer so the gardens look great for the State Fair. The garden is located between the Horticulture Building and the Haunted House (at the corner of Judson and Underwood). Stop by and visit the gardens while you are strolling the fairgrounds!
Black Business Network National Night Out
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers partnered with Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) staff to participate in the Black Business Network’s National Night Out event on St. Paul’s East Side. The event was a unique volunteer opportunity, a fun time, and a great example of how community organizations partnering together can benefit all involved.
Rice Street Gardens
Gene Ranieri, a master gardener who has volunteered at the Rice Street community garden for four or five years, and Ron Peterson, one of the founders, described the garden for the Roseville Reader. The land is part of nearby St. Paul Regional Water Services. Peterson says the gardens use about 3 acres of a 16-acre space. McCarron’s Pub & Grill next door lets them access well water for watering the plants. There are tools to share, as well as a mower and gas-powered tiller. The City of Roseville provides compost. About two-thirds of the gardeners are recent arrivals to the Twin Cities, including Nepali, Somali, and Karen immigrants. On weekends, Ranieri says there are dozens of gardeners and their families tending their growing produce.
Montessori American Indian Child Care Center
At the Montessori American Indian Child Care Center (MAICC) at New Life Presbyterian Church, Garden Education Volunteers work with the children to plant, tend, and harvest a flower and vegetable garden. The garden is culturally based around the Three Sisters (Corn, Squash, Beans) model in addition to other vegetables. Some of the food, which the children harvest, is used in their lunches or gets sent home to share with their families. They also cut flowers and learn how toarrange them as part of the Montessori curriculum. Program Lead Kayleigh Frey says that the joy the kids show each week while gardening is so contagious. They are fast learners and are always so curious and engaged.
Gardens for Good Made the State Newsletter!
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Jennifer Porwit donated 20 varieties of home-grown tomatoes to Gardens for Good. This Ramsey County program offers free weekly farmers markets for residents of public housing facilities in St. Paul. Volunteers donate fruits, vegetables, and flowers from their own gardens. (Photo by Joe Baltrukonis, reproduced from the U of M’s Statewide Master Gardener Update, August 2026.)
July Book Club Review
The RGEV Book Club met on Tuesday, July 28th, to discuss Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control by Jessica Walliser. The book includes profiles of beneficial insects, profiles of plants that support these insects, interviews with entomologists, and suggestions for creating insectary plantings and borders and was one of the best-reviewed titles that the book club has read. Find a copy of the book to borrow in the Resource Center so you don’t miss out!
Plant Swap
The Plant Swap 2026 sign-up continues! As we head into fall, you may have perennials to divide and share. If you do, please contact Brianna Gohde (brianna.gohde@gmail.com) to add them to the sign-up.
Answer to Your Monthly Plant Pun:
(What did the cantaloupe say to his crush?)
You’re one in a melon.
Volunteer Activities
SignUp Genius notices of new volunteer activities are emailed on Thursdays and Sundays. If you are not receiving them, please contact us at rcmg2@umn.edu.
BINGO 2026
At the monthly meeting in April, Brianna Gohde and Darren Lochner announced the new 2026 BINGO cards for volunteering. Many volunteers find the things they love to do in the community and lose track of the many other volunteer activities happening in RGEV. The goal of these cards is to encourage volunteers to branch out and try as many types of volunteer activities as they can each year.
Find a Volunteer Activity Near You
Want to help out in your neighborhood? Check out the 2026 RGEV Project Map and then visit the related Sign Up Genius pages to get involved! What an easy way to support your community!
Monthly Meeting Volunteer Roles: 8/18
Help out at the next in-person monthly meeting at the Bell Museum. Every month we need volunteers to make our meetings run smoothly. This month we need 2 more Greeters to welcome volunteers to the event. Sign up to volunteer.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 8/22-8/28
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 (and with your reference materials readily available).
Volunteers Needed for Ask Extension
Ask Extension is an online question-answer tool hosted and supported by National Cooperative Extension and state university Extension colleges. Ask Extension is one of UMN Extension's valued assets and volunteers are needed. Citizens may submit questions on their own time and attach photos to their submission. For volunteers who enjoy (1) researching garden issues, (2) working remotely, and (3) working at their leisure, this might be a great fit. Some training is involved. At this time, volunteers currently working on their internship can't join. To learn more, visit Ask Extension. For questions or to sign up, contact Jackie Froemming.
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.
July Monthly Meeting Recap
The July meeting featured Rhonda Fleming Hayes. Rhonda is a local author who has written Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age. Rhonda gave an inspiring and lively presentation on how we can fulfill our love of gardening as we age, adapting as our bodies won’t let us do what we used to be able to do.
Join Us for a Night Out at the Bell Museum: 8/18
The August RGEV meeting will be held on August 18 at the Bell Museum Herbarium
The Herbarium contains preserved plant specimens and associated data of over 700,000 samples. The representation of Minnesota's flora is unparalleled and among the best in the United States. Learn how they are preserved and used by scientists to study plant evolution and the effects of environmental changes. Bonus: Come early to see the Big Woods Garden and the Touch and See exhibit, open from 5:30 to 6:30. The meeting starts at 6:30. Space is limited and on-site parking costs $6. We encourage you to carpool or take public transportation. The Museum is located at 2088 Larpenteur Ave. W, at the intersection of Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues.
September Book Club: 9/29
The Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Book Club will meet on Tuesday, September 29, to discuss When the Forest Breathes by the two-time, New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Simard. Simard has watched timber companies leave forests at risk for wildfires, water crises, and plant and animal extinction. The forest ecosystem depends on finely honed cycles of regeneration—from mushrooms breaking down logs to dying elder trees passing their genetic knowledge to younger ones. Working closely with local Indigenous communities, Simard examines how human interventions endanger new growth and longevity. As she considers how older living things facilitate the conditions for new growth to flourish, Simard faces parallel rhythms of loss and regeneration in her own life.
Save the Date - Central Regional Gathering: 10/24
This year's Central Regional Gathering will feature the "latest and greatest" research with Extension Horticulture Educator Matthew Gullickson; Special Projects Coordinator Jamie Spanks; and Extension Horticulture Educator Jennie Wagner. In addition, you'll find out what's planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program! Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 9 am - 3pm at the Bunker Hills Activities Center in Andover, Anoka County. Registration is now open.
Calendar
In-person office hours with Darren at the Maplewood Extension Office on Wednesdays (10am-2pm). Sign up here. Contact him directly to schedule additional times.
8/13 – Garden Gate Tour
8/22-8/28 – Yard and Garden Phone Line
8/27–9/7 – State Fair
8/27 – Garden Gate Tour
9/8 – Board Meeting
9/15 – September Monthly Meeting
9/29 – September Book Club
10/01 – End of new volunteer application period
10/24 – Central Regional Gathering
Quick Links
RGEV Resources
Extension Resources
Access the MN Arboretum for free with code MG2026
While we wait for a new acronym for the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program, please use the acronym RGEV to replace RCMG. This should only be used for internal communication and never for external documents. Like RCMG, the general public will not understand what it stands for.
