June 2025 Volunteer News & Updates
- Jun 13
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 20
Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteer Program
6/15/2025
U of MN extension educators Bailey Tangen and Natalie Hoidal led a group of RCMG volunteers in a new Advanced Soils Training session at the Extension office in Maplewood
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June Updates
Potential Change to the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Name
There have been concerns related to the term “Master” in the “Master Gardener Volunteer Program” name for many years. Extension has outlined a process that would allow individual counties to choose between predetermined alternative names for their local volunteer program and Ramsey County may become the pilot case for that process.
More information will become available in the next 4-8 weeks (please watch your email!) but we welcome questions from the volunteers. We will respond to questions with answers and share them on the volunteer news blog as we get more details.
Spring Goal: 10,000 Hours
The old volunteer database has been resuscitated for 2025 and we all need to catch up.You can enter them all at once or bit by bit but make sure you record all of your 2025 hours. Based on the last few years, RCMG provides a little more than 10,000 hours of community service between January and May. The mission for June : Enter all hours for January, February and June.
Current Status (Jan-May)
3,176 hours entered
6,824 hours remaining
New Responsibility for Shift Leads
Thank you to all of the volunteers who have helped to step up at events this spring as Shift Leads. We are expanding that list of responsibilities a little: We are now asking Shift Leads to help us take attendance at events. Report an Absent Volunteer.
NEW Contact Tally Sheet
To help Shift Leads track contacts (the people who visit Master Gardeners at events), the Communication Committee has helped create Contact Tracking Forms. These little notepads can be found in all Education Kits for events. Shift Leads are encouraged to fill out a sheet during their shift and take it home with them to help them enter the information when they record their hours. This is new for RCMG; Feedback is welcome!
NEW Name Badge Binder
There are dozens of name badges still waiting for their volunteers to pick them up. If you are one of the volunteers in question, you will get an email in the coming weeks but you can also flip through the new Badge Binder inside the Resource Center if you are onsite. We will be bringing this binder to all Monthly Meetings as well.
Intern Roadmap
Entering Hours - Advice & Tips
You can now record all of the time you’ve spent volunteering! Interns are expected to enter at least 50 hours into the database but we know that can be tough at the beginning. If you need help, you can watch this demonstration by Darren Lochner with tips and tricks for recording hours as a Master Gardener volunteer. You can also refer to the instructions on the State MG website.
If you get stuck, please ask! We have all been in your shoes and remember the first time entering hours. You can also sign up for technical support at the Office Hours on Tue 6/24 between 6-8pm.
Demonstration Gardens
Demonstration and Hands-On Gardening are common activities for Master Gardener volunteers. These span from the Barn Gardens, to the Frogtown Green Projects, to the Aldrich Rain Gardens to Lilac Hill and many more. These are usually seasonal and recurring over the growing season so there are many chances to get involved. In addition to spending time in a garden, these are often great socializing opportunities to chat with other volunteers. If you are looking for a way to get to know people while doing garden work to benefit the community, we recommend adopting a hands-on garden activity and making it a regular event this summer. We’ve collected these activities together in SignUp Genius; find a day and time that works for you!
Goals for June
Ask for help if you are stuck – your mentor, your mentor team, or any volunteer you meet can help. You can also send questions directly to RCMG2@umn.edu.
Complete any remaining Core Course modules and quizzes; ALL interns must complete these before the end of the year
Enter your January-May hours in the volunteer database
Sign up for as many different volunteer activities as you can to get the full experience
Up Next
Participate in a Garden Gate Tour this summer
Complete 50 hours of volunteer service
Attend the summer Master Gardener Conference (financial aid available)
If you don’t think you will be able to finish the 50 hours, contact the Intern Support Team to ask about the 2-year program. This can be done anytime.
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Non-Profit News
Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on June 11, 2025. The board discussed potential upcoming changes to the Master Gardener program name and received updates about the 2025 Plant Sale. The board also confirmed Kathy Passe as interim treasurer. The next Board Meeting will be on July 8, 2025. All RCMG’s are welcome to attend these meetings.
Board Staffing Change
The nonprofit's Board of Directors Treasurer, Kristina Hughes, has stepped down from her role as of the end of May. The Board must vote on a nominated replacement but we have asked Kathy Passe to step in as Interim Treasurer. Read more about this change.
Volunteer Reimbursements
With Kathy returning as the interim treasurer, she is working to finalize reimbursements to volunteers for project expenses. If you previously submitted a reimbursement request but have not received it, we encourage you to contact Kathy Passe to ensure that we have a copy of your request.
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Volunteer Stories
Plant Sale 2025 Report
Many thanks to the Team Leads, Captains, Co-captains and their team members for all of their hard work over the past year. It takes a village to run an event like this and it was great to see everyone working together to meet the goals of the Task Force and make the 2025 Plant Sale a great success!
Advanced Soils Training
Following the January Monthly Meeting about Soil Preparation, U of MN eExtension educators Bailey Tangen and Natalie Hoidal led a group of RCMG volunteers in a new Advanced Soils Training session at the Extension office in Maplewood in late May. The goal is for trained volunteers to take this information into the community to help them understand how to care for and improve their soil.
Update on Jumping Worms at the Barn
Last year we reported that we thought we had discovered Jumping Worms in the Barn Demonstration Gardens. After frequent testing in 2024, we are happy to say that we have not been able to identify any Jumping Worms in the Barn Demonstration Gardens.
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.
Book Club Review: The Serviceberry (4.5 Stars)
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.
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 Waste Sites: 6/14 - 7/02
Help us end the spring season strong! We need 34 volunteers over the next 3 weeks to help at the compost sites in these last weeks of June. Serving at the Yard Waste Sites is what we agree to do to pay our bills and has a huge impact on our relationship with Ramsey County. PLEASE sign up for a shift.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 6/16 - 6/22
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.
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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.
June Member Meeting: 6/17
Join us for RCMG’s June monthly meeting on Tue 6/17 at the Extension office in Maplewood (“The Barn”) for a Peer-to-Peer Learning event from other RCMG Volunteers. Topics include Planting for Pollinators 101, Native Gardens, Monarch Way Station, information from our local watershed organizations about cost-share grant programs. Volunteers can also hear about the Anti-Creeping Bellflower campaign to bring to their neighborhoods.
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 State Master Gardener Conference:
6/27 & 6/28
Don’t forget to register for the MG annual event at the Landscape Arboretum. Attendees will enjoy top-notch keynote presentations, indoor classes, outdoor guided walking tours, outdoor show-n-tell classes as well as networking and socializing opportunities. For all available information, visit this section of the Volunteer Google site.
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.
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
