Volunteer News March 2026
- Mar 14
- 8 min read
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program
Laurel Watt and Beth Fritcher led a seed-starting workshop at the Barn. The workshop provided an overview of needed supplies and some hands-on practice. It’s that time of year!!
March Updates
We are RGEV
We have not yet received a new acronym for the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program from U of M Extension. In the meantime, if you use an acronym for our program, please replace RCMG with RGEV. The acronym should be used for internal communication only and not for external documents. Like RCMG, the general public will not understand what it stands for.
Is Your Background Check and Safety of Minors Training Up-to-date?
Your background check and safety-of-minors training is good for three years. You can check to see when yours is due under “update your info” on the same site you use to report your volunteer and continuing education hours. Volunteers with expired background checks and safety-of-minors training will receive an email in the next few weeks; everyone should watch their inbox for that message.
New Membership Directory for 2026
The 2026 Directory is now available on the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers website. You can always find it on the Quick Links page.
2025 State Master Gardener Annual Report
Our 2025 STATE REPORT highlights the program’s public value and features high-impact projects supporting the seven priorities of the program. Be sure to take a few minutes to read about the inspiring accomplishments of Master Gardener volunteers around the state.
We need you! Each year the State Leadership Team collects stories and photos related to great projects happening around the state. Plan ahead so you will have great stories and great photos to submit this coming November.Non-Profit News
Your Monthly Plant Pun:
Why did the cabbage win the track race at school?
(Search for the answer below. Hint: There might be more than one….)
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Nonprofit 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.
Board Blurb
The RCMG Board of Directors Meeting was held on March 10, 2026 on Zoom. The next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. All volunteers are welcome to attend. (By computer, smartphone, or tablet on Zoom Video Conference with Meeting ID: 949 4344 4368 and Passcode: 060589.)
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.
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Intern Roadmap
Do You Have Any Questions About Your Internship?
Susie DeShon and Travis Sandland, co-chairs of the New Member Committee, will be at the Oval from 6:00 to 6:30 before the next in-person monthly meeting on 3/17 to answer your questions.
Core Course Info
If you have been keeping up with the Core Course weekly, new interns should have just completed the herbaceous ornamentals module and plant talk session. This pace helps you be ready to hit the ground running in May. If you are having any trouble accessing the course or using Canvas, email Jennie Wagner (wagn1400@umn.edu).
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers’ Project Fair – 3/26
The annual Project & Activity Fair is a great chance for ALL volunteers–interns and mentors alike– to learn about the volunteer activities that are available in the coming year. Information tables are staffed by project leaders and offer the opportunity to learn more in-depth information about the many opportunities available. The 2026 Project Fair is scheduled at the Oval for Thursday, 3/26, from 6:30-8:00 PM. Sign up now! To get a preview, you can view the 2025 Project Directory here.
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Volunteer Stories
2025 Seed Trial Winners
If you want to grow mini bok choy, red beets, parsley, parsnips, orange cauliflower, dwarf slicing tomatoes, rudbeckia, or nasturtiums this year, be sure to view the Seed Trial Results from last year to help guide you to the best varieties. This list is created by the work of Master Gardener volunteers from all over Minnesota, including several from Ramsey County. Please give Jeanne Buck and Becky Rude a big Thank You for organizing our local seed trial test gardens.
Answer to Your Monthly Plant Pun:
(Why did the cabbage win the track race at school?)
Because it was ahead.
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.
New Projects for 2026
If you are considering starting a new, community-based, volunteer activity within the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program this year, please complete the New Project Proposal Form.
At-Home Projects are Also an Option
At-home projects were established by the state program during the pandemic so volunteers could work safely and independently on projects beneficial to their communities. These projects continue as a way to broaden volunteer engagement with the program, diversify types of projects, and increase the value of Master Gardener projects in communities. These work-from-home volunteer activities are available for all volunteers through the state program.
At-Home Projects in 2025 were, once again, remarkably effective! A few "stats" collected from around Minnesota:
57 new pollinator gardens were planted, totaling 20,000 sq. ft.
85 established pollinator gardens were maintained, totaling 141,000 sq. ft.
12,929 pounds of produce were donated
3,019 vegetable plants were propagated and donated
Reminder: Sign-up Etiquette
The community requests for Master Gardener volunteers start coming in fast and frequently starting in March. While it is tempting to sign up for lots of interesting projects well in advance, we encourage you to be mindful of your schedule and sign up for activities that you are sure you will be able to attend. If you need to cancel out of an activity, we absolutely need you to find your own substitute. Project leaders depend on you!
Ramsey County 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 to volunteer via Sign Up Genius.
Yard and Garden Phone Line: 4/18–4/24
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).
Last Chance to Get Growing for the Plant Sale
The annual plant sale will be on May 16th at Aldrich Arena. The Grow Team still has some openings for seed starting and houseplant propagation. See tabs for each of these categories. This is your LAST CHANCE to sign up for this volunteer activity. In order for plants to be of sufficient size for the plant sale, seeds need to be started and plants propagated soon. The SUG will close after the March 17th monthly meeting. If you have any questions, reach out to the category captain listed on each tab. Thanks for supporting the plant sale!
Needed for the Plant Sale Garden Store
Here’s your opportunity to create space in your garage or potting shed. The Garden Store needs your gently used ceramic and/or terracotta pots to be sold at the Plant Sale. This was a huge success last year. Bring your pots to the in-person monthly meeting at the Oval on March 17. Garden tools, which are in good shape, are also a welcome donation.
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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.
March Monthly meeting: 3/17
At the March 17th monthly meeting, Amy Jay and Olivia Blanchflower, of the Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers, will share their knowledge and experience in developing and building a Monarch Way Station. The Waystation scope has been enhanced to support a wide range of pollinators. Steps to register a site in order to achieve certification with Monarchwatch.org will be included in the presentation. This meeting will be held in-person at the Rose room at the Roseville Skating Center or available remotely using Zoom. In-person social time begins at 6 pm. The meeting begins at 6:30. Hint: You can easily sign into Zoom monthly meetings through Quick Links on our website.
Education Meeting Recap
The February monthly meeting was held on 2/17 via Zoom. Updates on the Project Fair and the Plant Sale were provided. The education topic was Homegrown National Park, which is a grassroots movement co-founded by Doug Tallamy. Krista De Cooke highlighted the biodiversity crisis and how to build healthy ecosystems in our own yards and communities. Some ways include: planting natives, removing invasives, and reshaping our relationship with nature. De Cooke highlighted the importance of keystone plants. You can find more information on keystone plants from the Climate Responsiveness Project on our website. If you missed a monthly meeting, don’t forget that you can find recordings and summaries on our website.This is a great way to accrue Continuing Education hours and brush-up on what’s happening.
March 2026 Book Club: 3/24
The Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Book Club will meet on Tuesday, March 24th, to discuss Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. Macfarlane, who is celebrated by The New York Times for his lyrical, effortless prose, turns his attention to one of humanity’s oldest and most urgent ideas: that rivers are not just waterways but living beings deserving of recognition, respect, and legal protection. Sign up to join the March 2026 Book Club.
Check out a Book from the Lending Library
If you are looking for some reading and inspiration before the growing season starts, visit the RCMG Lending Library. Check out the selection of Book Club titles approved for continuing education credit.
2026 Statewide Conference Update
This year’s statewide conference will be held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27. Jon Trappe, Assistant Extension Professor, who will speak about "Changing landscapes: The science behind the public’s yard and garden decisions." Bethann Garramon Merkle, Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming, will present "Cultivating community: Tools to help people care about plants." Conference registration opens on April 1. Register by 3:00 p.m. on April 30 for the Early Bird discounted registration fees and a complimentary conference t-shirt. Check out the state website for more information, including many more presentations.
Lawn Leaders
Lawn Leaders complete a mix of online and in‑person training focused on lawn care management, watering efficiency, and turfgrass establishment. After training, each volunteer hosts a small neighborhood event between May and October. Demonstration options, supplies, and handouts are provided. The estimated time commitment is about five hours of online learning and five hours of community engagement. Volunteers can choose the topics that best fit their neighborhood, and it continues to be a great fit for people who enjoy connecting with neighbors and sharing practical, research‑based lawn care information. If you would like to learn more about the program please contact: Gary Deters
Red Star Rust: A New Apple Disease
Laura Irish-Hanson, Horticulture Extension Educator, is offering a free webinar on Tuesday, March 24 from 12-1 PM about red star rust. Red star rust is a new fungal disease affecting our crabapples and landscape junipers.
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.
3/24 – Book Club Discussion
3/26 – Project Fair
4/10 – Board meeting
4/18 – 4/24 – Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
5/11– Plant Pre-sale pick-up
5/14-5/15 – Plant sale set-up
5/16 – Plant sale at Aldrich Arena
6/26-6/27 – State Master Gardener Conference
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Quick Links
RCMG Resources
Extension Resources
Access the MN Arboretum for free with code MG2026
Alternative Answer to Your Monthly Plant Pun:
(Why did the cabbage win the track race at school?)
Because it was not slaw.
