July 2025 Volunteer News & Updates
- Jul 11
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 20
Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteer Program
7/11/2025
Shoppers at the 2025 plant sale. Check out this cool time-lapse video of set-up taken by Christopher Skelly!
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Message From The Coordinator
It is hard to believe that the year is over half way done and that the days are getting shorter. On a positive note, we know that you've been working hard this year and accomplished so much in 2025. We appreciate all of the time and energy dedicated to the Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteer Program! Your efforts and contributions make a real difference.
Thank you to those who have already shared photos, success stories and lessons learned with your Master Gardener volunteer experiences. We would like to hear from more of you. These stories are shared with your fellow Master Gardener volunteers, the U of M Extension and partners across Ramsey County.
Finally, we remind you to report your volunteer and continuing hours! As of July only 40% of RCMG volunteers have reported hours. To help us recognize your contributions and meet our goals, please take a moment to log your hours. Reporting your time supports funding, helps us plan better, and ensures your impact is counted.
Every hour counts – and so do you.
Thank you again for everything you do!
July Updates
Potential Change to the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Name
Following the announcement that Extension has outlined a process for individual counties to become retitled in June, RCMG has formed a committee to research the request and outline the pros and cons of both options. We will be sharing what we have learned in the past month at the July monthly meeting and hope everyone is able to attend or watch the recording once it’s available.
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!
Spring Goal: 10,000 Hours
The old volunteer database has returned! Based on recent trends, we know RCMG volunteers have already provided a little more than 10,000 hours of community service between January and May. Now we need to prove it!
So far, 4,791 hours have been entered. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to record your spring activities. If you haven’t yet, please take a few minutes to help out. Track our progress on the Quick Links page.
Tracking Unexcused Absences
Quick reminder that we are now asking Shift Leads to help us take attendance at events. Check the sign-up for your shift to know who should be there and then Report any Absent Volunteers. We’ll follow-up with the person but we need you to tell us who needs a check-in. Please help us out!
Changes inside SignUp Genius
We have made a few small changes inside our sign-ups to help volunteers based on feedback we’ve received. We updated the links at the top so you can easily get to the page for entering hours and find the contact information for other volunteers in the RCMG directory. We also adjusted some settings so volunteers can no longer delete themselves from a sign-up 3 days before an event and will need to contact Darren or Brianna to make the change manually. Thanks for the ideas! If you have more, please share them with RCMG2@umn.edu.
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.
Non-Profit News
Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on July 8, 2025, on Zoom. The board discussed the success of the 2025 Plant Sale and the start of a new Leadership Team to support Darren as Brianna’s availability changes. The next Board Meeting will be a retreat on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with the location to be determined. All RCMG’s are welcome to attend these meetings.
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Volunteer Stories
Congratulations!
Please congratulate these Master Gardener volunteers on completing their internship requirements: Judith Graziano, Janet Guthrie, Kelly Jones Hicks, Robyn Millenacker-Sharpe, and Kaelly Wolfe in the past month.
Loss of a Friend: Melvin Giles
Across the Twin Cities, people are mourning the loss of a widely respected community leader and peace advocate. Melvin Giles, 66, passed away on Tuesday, 7/01/2025 leaving behind a powerful legacy of activism, community-building, and compassion— particularly in the Rondo and Frogtown neighborhoods he called home. You can read stories about Melvin’s contributions to the community from Kare 11 News & Pioneer Press.
Help a Friend
A new type of sign-up has been created for volunteers helping volunteers. We are hoping this can help build relationships and a sense of community by helping one another with small things like re-homing garden-related items like shovels and pots, watering plants while on vacation, and sharing divisions, seedling, or transplants. Please note: These activities do NOT count towards either volunteer service or continuing education. This is purely about helping one another as peers and friends.
Climate Responsiveness Team Update
Earlier this year, a group of RCMG volunteers came together to form a Climate Responsiveness Team to participate in the University of Minnesota's Climate Action Leadership Course and to brainstorm ways that RCMG can increase support for climate adaptation and mitigation horticultural practices.
Coming Soon: 2025 Buds, Blooms, & Thorns: 11/18
Master Gardener volunteers who participated in the May book club discussion expressed appreciation for many concepts and ideas in The Serviceberry. As a volunteer organization with a goal of helping community members, we can spark interest in people, provide information, and be a positive enlightenment for people about how we can reciprocally interact.. Read the review and comments from RCMG readers.
Dunning Bee Lawn Update
Last month, the Dunning Bee Lawn team added a new sign to their demonstration bee lawn to educate the public about what to expect in year 2 of the bee lawn. The planting is lush with all the rain and warm weather from recent weeks. Folks walk and bike past all the time and many stop to check it out. There’s a team sharing in weeding and more volunteers are welcome to get involved. Bring on the flowers!
Climate Responsiveness Outreach Summary
Back in May, the RCMG Climate Responsiveness Team sent out a survey to all RCMG Project Leads, in an effort to understand how climate responsive practices are already part of current projects, as well as how Project Leads could be further supported in incorporating practices into their projects and with volunteers. The RCMG Climate Responsiveness Team received great feedback on the most effective strategies for sharing this information and helping others in our community to become more climate conscious gardeners. This handout summarizes the Team's findings. As the Team shifts from ideation to implementation, we invite anyone who is interested in joining us at this stage of the project to attend our next meeting on July 17th. A huge thank-you again to all RCMG Project Leads for their time and insight in helping us get to this point!
Get Involved with Blooming St Paul This Year
Tell us about a garden that inspires you! Blooming St. Paul is accepting nominations until Friday, August 1. Blooming Saint Paul highlights amazing gardens that enhance the Saint Paul community. RCMG volunteers have been assisting with this community service project since 2005 and will do so again this year.
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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.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 7/28-8/03
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.
Join the State Conference Planning Committee: Register by 7/15
Would you like to be a part of the 2026 State Conference Planning Committee? We are seeking a few committee members from each of the five regions in Minnesota. The committee meets on the first Tuesday of every month via Zoom from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. If you're interested, please send an email to mgweb@umn.edu no later than July 15.
State Fair Ask-A-Master-Gardener Booth: 8/21-9/01
Volunteers interested in signing up for a shift at the 2025 Master Gardener State Fair 'Ask a Master Gardener' booth should watch for an announcement in the July Statewide Master Gardener Update.
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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.
July Member Meeting: 7/15
Join us for RCMG’s June monthly meeting on Tue 7/15. We’ll be discussing the recent name change request from Ramsey County. RCMG recently formed a committee to review the name change issue. There will be time for questions and comments from everyone attending. This meeting is hosted both in-person at the Roseville Skating Oval (Rose Banquet room) and online. RSVP today!
Lawns To Legumes Garden Tour Day: 7/19
Join the Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day on Saturday 7/19 from 9am-12pm. Lawns to Legumes coaches, previous participants, and other DIY wildlife gardeners are hosting neighborhood native garden tours across Minnesota. Get inspired and connect with folks who are planting for pollinators in your area! Explore their map to find a garden tour near you.
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: Brave the Wild River: 7/29
The selection for July 2025 is Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny. on Tuesday, May 29, 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.
2025 International Master Gardener Conference: 8/25-28
The International Master Gardener Conference is a 4-day (online) celebration of gardening, innovation, and sustainability! Gain insights from experts, explore global gardening practices, and connect with passionate gardeners working to make a difference. Discover new techniques, embrace sustainable solutions, and be part of the effort shaping the future of our planet. Register today
Central Regional Gathering: 10/25
SAVE THE DATE! The Central Regional Gathering will be held in West St. Paul (part of Dakota County) on Saturday 10/25. Details for this educational event will be available in the August Statewide Master Gardener Update.
Calendar
Office hours with Darren: In-person Weds (10am-2pm) and online Thurs (12pm-1pm)
6/10 – Board Meeting (on Zoom only)
6/16 - 6/22 – Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
6/17 – Monthly Meeting (in-person only)
6/27 & 6/28 – Master Gardener 2025 statewide conference
7/08 – Board Meeting (on Zoom only)
7/15 – Monthly Meeting (hybrid format)
7/28-8/03 – Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
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Quick Links
RCMG Resources
Extension Resources
Access the MN Arboretum for free with code MG2025
