Volunteer News December 2025
- Dec 13, 2025
- 6 min read
12/23/2025
December Updates
RCMG Rebrand Updates
Earlier this month, Beverly R. Durgan, Dean of University of Minnesota Extension, announced the new name for the Master Gardener program in Ramsey County: University of Minnesota Extension Garden Education Volunteer Program. Participants will be known as Garden Education Volunteers. The rebrand team will finalize plans and a budget – with funding from Ramsey County – to purchase new name tags, shirts, and other items to reflect the new name. The goal is to have everything in place early in the new year. More information available on our website.
Changing Your Volunteer Involvement
If you are planning to change your involvement with RCMG either for 2025 or 2026, please review the steps in the Volunteer Manual for information about switching to another county, withdrawing from the program, or changing your status to Emeritus. Use the RCMG Volunteer Contact Info form to submit your change requests as soon as you can. Thank you for your cooperation.
Background Checks
Reminder! If you last updated your Background Check and Safety of Minors training in 2022, you MUST update them this year! If they lapse, you won’t be able to enter your hours and will be removed from the volunteer database. If you are not sure if this affects you, contact Brianna Gohde or Darren Lochner ASAP.
RCMG Materials Check-In
We want to collect all of the RCMG equipment to conduct an inventory, update materials, and replace anything that is wearing out. If you have any handouts, bookmarks, tote boxes, props, displays, signs, tables, awnings, or anything else, please bring it to the Resource Center between now and December 29.
Skills & Interest Survey 2025
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.
Non-Profit News
The Ramsey County Master Gardeners is a 501c3 nonprofit that is separate from the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program and helps raise funds for volunteer activities.
Board Blurb
The Board retreat is scheduled for December 13, 2025. The next regular Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All volunteers are welcome to attend.
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, Laura Savin.
Intern Roadmap
Core Course MUST be complete before 12/31
All core course modules MUST be completed before the end of 2025 to continue in the volunteer program. This affects both 1-year and 2-year interns. Failure to complete the coursework this year will result in removal from the Master Gardener Volunteer Program at the start of 2026, regardless of the number of hours entered.
Badge Pick-Up
Official badges will be available to all interns, who completed their requirements by the end of 2025, in February 2026. They will be sent to the Extension Office (“Barn”), and we’ll let you know when you can pick them up. Congratulations on all of the hard work!
Volunteer Stories
Congratulations!
Please congratulate these volunteers on completing their internship requirements in the past month: Laura Blasena, Henry Fellows, Gin Ruzhansky, and Sarah Waterworth.
A Special Plant Sale Just For Members And Interns
As a service to our members, our annual plant sale has a pre-sale. Prior to our public plant sale, Ramsey County Master Gardener (RCMG) members and interns may purchase a selection of annuals, natives, and hardy perennial plants by the flat and at a discounted price. Ordering will be open January 1 to January 10th ONLY, so watch for emails with information and the ordering link coming to you soon! Get grower-quality plants by the flat at a great price!
Way to Go, Judie!
The Landscape Ecology Awards Program (LEAP) recognizes landowners in the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, including private residences, public and commercial properties, who use management practices that support clean water and wildlife habitat. RCMG Volunteer, Judie Ginter, was recognized for blending art, edible gardening, and native plants together to make a beautiful backyard tapestry. You can view Judie’s garden here.
Volunteer Activities
New volunteer activities are announced on Thursday mornings and Sunday nights. If you are not receiving SignUp Genius notices, please contact rcmg2@umn.edu.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 12/13-12/19 & 1/24-1/30
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.
Last Chance—Enter Your Hours!
Don’t forget to log into the current Extension volunteer database and record the time you spent serving our community and growing your garden knowledge. You can’t enter any time spent in 2025 after Dec. 31. You can review information about Recording Your Time on the website. If you need help, contact the program coordinator as soon as you can.
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.
What to Expect in 2026
The new year will start with a bustle of activity! Here’s what to watch for in January. Please keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to get involved; email Darren and Brianna if you are not getting the messages.
Member Online Pre-sale - Jan 1-10
Intern-Mentor Welcome & Orientation - Jan 8
Online Monthly Meeting - Jan 20
Book Club Discussion - Jan 27
Contact info updates for the 2026 RCMG Directory - mid-Jan
Volunteer awards for hours and years-of-service pick-up - mid-Feb
Permanent name badges and certificates for graduated interns pick-up - mid-Feb
Temporary name badges for new (2026) interns pick-up - mid-Feb
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 Recap
The 11/18 monthly meeting also served as the non-profit’s annual meeting. Kay Wimer and Beth Fritcher presented an update on strategic plan goals and the 2026 plant sale. The education topic was Blooms, Thorns and Buds. Jan Fransen and Sue Mason presented stories submitted by Jo Sullivan, Simba Blood, Tina Fredrickson, Ann Pineles, Gener Ranieri, Alex Meyer, Deon Haider, Patty Hren-Rowan and themselves.
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.
No RCMG monthly meeting in December
Because of the holiday season, there is no monthly meeting in December. The next meeting will be January 20.
2026 Book Club Selections
Readers selected these books to read for the first half of 2026 (January, March, and May):
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
Invitations to join the discussions of these books will be forthcoming.
Climate-Conscious Gardening: RCMG Climate Responsiveness Project
The RCMG Climate Responsiveness Project has released a guide describing climate responsiveness actions. They are sharing a series of articles to help volunteers explore some of the practical steps featured in the guide. Take a look at the latest installment. Let’s do what we can to be a climate-conscious gardener.
Calendar
Office hours with Darren: In-person Weds (10am-2pm) and online Thurs (12pm-1pm)
12/31 – Last Chance to Enter 2025 Hours
1/08 – Intern-Mentor Welcome & Orientation
1/13 – Board Meeting (Zoom)
1/13 – Start of Core Course
1/20 – Monthly meeting (Zoom only)
1/24-1/30 – Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
1/27 – January Book Club
