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MISSION: Ramsey County Master Gardener volunteers

educate residents in research-based, eco-friendly

gardening to improve our physical and

environmental health.

RAMSEY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS TEACH RESIDENTS HOW TO:

• Use water wisely

• Protect and plant for pollinators

• Reduce and recycle waste

• Reduce chemical use in yards and homes

• Grow healthy food at home and in

community gardens

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

RAMSEY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

Congratulations to Frogtown Farm, 2016 Farm Family of the Year in Ramsey County!

Volunteer Hours 12/31/2016

11,181

Education Hours 12/31/2016

2,799

Value to the Community

$281,761

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STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMPOSTING AND ORGANIC RECYCLING EDUCATION RAMSEY COUNTY YARD WASTE SITES

Ramsey County Master Gardeners staffed the yard waste

sites in the spring and summer and had contacts with 3686 RESIDENTS at the end of October. Master Gardeners also

talked to residents about organic recycling as well as

composting at home and answering horticultural questions.

EARLY SPRING AND SUMMER BACKYARD COMPOSTING PRESENTATIONS

• Dayton's Bluff/Metro State Library, St. Paul 55106

• Riverview Library, St. Paul 55107

• Elpis Enterprises 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 304 St. Paul, MN

55114

• Minnesota State Horticultural Society at the St. Paul River

Centre, St. Paul 55102

• The Salvation Army Headquarters, 53 Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

70 RESIDENTS SERVED

COMPOSTING AND ORGANIC RECYCLING AT COMMUNITY EVENT INFO BOOTHS • Classes Without Quizzes 1890 W. Buford

Avenue 55108 U of M Campus

• Maplewood Outdoor Family Expo 2100 White

Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109

• Ramsey County Correctional Facility Plant Sale 297 Century Ave, St. Paul MN 55119

• White Bear Lake Environmental Resource Expo, 55110

• Camphor Community Cookout, 941 Lafond Avenue, Bldg. D

• Maplewood Nature Center Monarch Festival

127 RESIDENTS TAUGHT on Organic Recycling.

Other environmental issues covered: Composting,

Watering Wisely and Pollinators

TOTAL RESIDENTS SERVED: 287

RCMG Gretchen talks with a county resident about organic recycling. Giving away green plastic buckets really helps promote the program and makes our job easier!

We had an enthusiastic response to our information on organic recycling. Maplewood mayor, Nora Slawik, stopped by our table to welcome RCMGs to the Expo and to chat about getting started with composting at her new residence. —RCMG Elaine Noel

A senior citizen, who came to get additional organics composting bags, said she had convinced the other residents who lived on her apartment floor to recycle their organics. —Yard Waste Site Coordinators RCMGs Pat

Rose and Kathy Smith

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STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP RAMSEY COUNTY FAIR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BOOTH In 2016, a special compost and organic recycling booth was set up at the fair and staffed by Master

Gardeners. Educational demonstrations were provided and 214 RESIDENTS had a chance to spin the

giant prize wheel! Next year, we hope to fill more shifts as we continue to promote waste reduction.

Master Gardeners teach on a variety of environmental topics throughout Ramsey County

Additional Environmental Projects Address Residents Building a Rain Garden - Como Dist.10 1415 Almond Ave., St. Paul 55108 30 Rain Barrel Workshop /Beyond the Barrel Event St. Anthony Village, 55118 8 Friends of Parks/Trails Tree sale 2015 Van Dyke Ave., Maplewood, 55109 48 Hampden Coop Plant Sale- Native Plants 928 Raymond Ave, St Paul, 55114 20 Maplewood Nature Center- Pollinators 2659 E. 7th St. Maplewood , 55119 12 Maplewood Nature Center-Native Plants 2659 E. 7th St. Maplewood , 55119 12

TOTAL 118

“Residents commented that they would like to see curbside organic recycling in Ramsey County and that more yard

waste sites would be welcome additions to the county’s commitment to waste reduction.

A nine year old girl was excited to share that her family has a worm bin in their basement. They also have a composting

bin in their backyard.

Several people commented on how helpful the information was and that they were excited to put the green plastic

starter kits to use at home.” —Comments summarized by RCMG Desiree Mueller

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YOUTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT In late fall, Ramsey County Master Gardeners begin the process of collaborating with the Ramsey

Washington County Watershed District. Students throughout the county learn to stratify native

plant seeds, plant them and then in the spring, transplant to raingardens in their school yard

and the community.

School Address # of Youth American Indian Magnet 1075 Third Street East, St. Paul,55106 401

Children's Discovery Academy 433 E. Little Canada Road, Little Canada 55117 39 Farnsworth/Farnsworth Aerospace 1290 Arcade St. East St. Paul 55106 582

L ‘Etoile du Nord 1760 Ames Place, St. Paul 55106 331

Mounds Park Academy 2051 Larpenteur Avenue E. Maplewood, MN 55109

184

St. Peter Catholic School 2620 Margaret Street, North St. Paul 55119 116

Level Up Academy 2620 County Road E, White Bear Lake, 55110 235

Weaver Elementary 2135 Birmingham St. Maplewood, 55109 32

Battle Creek Elementary 60 South Ruth Street, St Paul, 55119 52 Maplewood Middle School 2410 Holloway Avenue E. Maplewood, 55109 320 Harmony Learning Center 1961 East County Road C. Maplewood, 55109 14 Annual Total:

2306

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STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH : INVEST IN YOUTH YOUTH GARDENING PROJECTS IN COLLBORATION WITH SCHOOLS

ST PAUL CITY SCHOOL 643 Virginia St., St. Paul, MN 55103

Master Gardeners collaborate with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for a second year to teach

gardening to 3rd-4th graders as part of six session summer programs. This year 30 youth and 5

adults were engaged, an increase from 11 youth the year before. The lead teacher called this

program” one of the most successful Urban Gardening programs they ran this year due to strong

support from all key stakeholders - community, school and Master Gardeners.”

AMERICAN INDIAN MONTESSORI 1909 E. Ivy Ave, St. Paul, MN 55119

This is a summer program for pre-K youth involving planting a children's garden and learning about

gardening and the plants. This summer 16 preschoolers took part.

MIDWAY YMCA PRESCHOOL GARDEN 1761 University Ave W., 55104

This was our fourth summer at the Y engaging 67 pre K to K youth and

12 adults in learning about gardening. YMCA, Blue Cross and Blue

Shield of MN volunteers and Master Gardeners facilitated the

educational program. This year we helped one of the 5 year old groups

start seeds for the garden boxes and got the seed from the Active Older

Adults YMCA group who also got involved in helping the youngsters.

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BRUCE VENTO ELEMENTARY 409 Case Avenue East, St. Paul

This is the second year with our collaboration with Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, Healthy Learners,

a collaboration with the Youth and Family Consortium at the University of Minnesota Extension and

other community partners. Our involvement centers on the establishment and maintenance of the

school yard/ community garden and this summer primarily serving as consultants. Visit this link to

learn more: http://www.extension.umn.edu/family/cyfc/our-programs/healthy-bodies-minds-

learners/

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 622 1100 Heron Ave N., Oakdale, 55128 and 6675 50th St. N, Oakdale, 55128

Master Gardeners explained the importance of plants and the benefits of gardening and led 38

students and 6 adults in planting flowers and vegetable seeds. At the end of the session, students

enthusiastically shouted "VEGETABLES" in appreciation of what they had just done.

OAK HILL MONTESSORI 4665 Hodgson Rd, St. Paul, 55126

Master Gardeners provided guidance to 3 teachers in how to set up a school yard garden for the

youth. Our advice included sources of low cost plants, curriculim and funding sources.

MAXFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 380 N. Victoria St., St. Paul, 55104

Approximately 4 years ago, two Ramsey County Master Gardeners and our RCMG community liaison,

got involved with a science education program at Maxfield Elementary School. Learn more at this

link: http://maxfield.spps.org/Page/19700 . The first two years were spent working solely with a

Public Achievement Class that met in the spring months. With the assistance of the staff science

specialist, Cora Greenawald, and with the help of a single grow light contributed by the RCMGs, the

students in the Public Achievement class learned how to grow plants from seeds and then how to

plant them in the school garden. The collaboration was so successful, the program grew into

working with the second graders at Maxfield whose science curriculum has a significant amount of

plant biology. A donation of another shelf of grow lights from an endowment to the Ramsey County

Master Gardener Program contributed immensely in providing enough seedlings for 70 second

graders to engage in school yard gardening science in the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2016.

Within a 3 week span this spring and with the help of 3 more Master Gardeners and interns, students

were busy planting collards, tomatoes, sunflowers, watermelon and more! Students also learned

about home composting, and were given the opportunity to make community contributions.

Seedlings not used in the school garden were donated to the Urban Farm and Garden Alliance

(winner of the Farm Family of the year in Ramsey County in 2015 and is comprised of several

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community gardens) and also to the community Peace Celebration, an annual festival held in the

Rondo neighborhood In June.

In the fall, a Harvest Celebration was hosted with a collaboration with the University of Minnesota

Health and Nutrition Program and RCMG gardeners gave away pumpkins. Students planted garlic and

daffodil bulbs for the spring of 2017!

YOUTH EDUCATION IN COLLBORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

PHALEN 4H CLUB 2020 White Bear Ave, St. Paul, 55109

Master Gardeners visited this busy 4H club and helped them plant vegetable and flower seeds in

paper pots with 11 K-2nd graders and 8 additional adult volunteers.

GIRL SCOUTS IN ACTION! Maplewood Community Center, 2659 E 7th St, St Paul, MN 55119

Master Gardeners taught 53 girl scouts and 15 adults on how to identify pollinator friendly trees

and shrubs.

RICE STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN 1958 Rice Street, St. Paul, 55113

Ramsey County Master Gardeners hope to engage more youth in this garden in 2017. This year, they

planted a children’s vegetable garden and worked with 3 youth and 1 adult.

“Thank you for helping us identify pollinator friendly trees and shrubs. This information is invaluable when we are choosing plants for our gardens [at home]”

Photo of raised bed garden courtesy of Maxfield Schools taken from website with permission

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DREAM OF WILD HEALTH

16085 Jeffrey Avenue, Hugo, 55038

Dream of Wild Health is an ongoing project that began over a decade ago. Our engagement of

American Indian Youth on the farm continued in 2016. The program is evolving and has changed

over time. This summer, Master Gardeners taught 14 "Cora's Kids", who are all elementary aged

children. Lessons on worm composting, flowers and pollination and seed saving were enjoyed. Learn

more about Dream of Wild Health at this link: http://dreamofwildhealth.org/

CHILDREN'S GARDENING PROGRAM AT THE AURORA/ST. ANTHONY PEACE SANCTUARY GARDEN 851 Aurora Ave, St. Paul 55104

The Children’s Garden program meets one day a week from June 15 - August 17, 2016. Master

Gardeners plant and maintain the Peace Garden with neighborhood children, have a garden science

lesson and healthy snack. Learn more about the Children’s Peace Garden at this link:

http://news.extension.umn.edu/2016/07/peace-sanctuary-garden-engages-st-paul.html

An anonymous donor supports the Children’s Garden and other urban garden activities that benefit

youth. This year the Children’s Garden Master Gardeners/Land Connectors taught 35 youth and

adult participants.

Photos by Carol Gurstelle

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ENHANCE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY THROUGH CONNECTIONS TO EDUCATION FARMER’S MARKET BOOTHS PROVIDE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHED BASED INFORMATION ON MASTER GARDENER EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES

ALDRICH ARENA FARMERS MARKET 1850 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, 55109

Market meets Wednesdays throughout the season.

Master Gardeners refer residents to our Diagnostic

Clinic, conveniently located nearby.

Residents served: 235

Organic Recycling Education: 94

HMONGTOWN MARKET 217 Como Ave. St. Paul

Market meets Saturdays 1pm-4pm

Residents served: 240

Organic Recycling Education: 94

ROSEVILLE FARMERS MARKET County Rd B. Roseville

Market meets Tuesdays from 8am-12pm

Residents served: 398

Organic Recycling Education: 69

ST. PAUL DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET 290 5th Street East, St. Paul

Market meets Saturdays, 7am-1pm.

Residents Served: 976

Organic Recycling Education: 219

ST. THOMAS MORE FARMERS MARKET 1079 Summit Ave. St. Paul Market meets Fridays from 1 pm 5-pm

SHOREVIEW FARMERS MARKET Market meets 2 Tuesdays a month

Residents Served: 108

Organic Recycling Education: 27

"I love your compost buckets! It gives me great joy to empty it out!” "I go to the yard waste site at least once a month! I didn't know about organic recycling! Thanks!”

“A [resident] had asked the Master Gardeners last year about digging up Amaryllis and keeping it over the winter indoors and followed their advice for keeping it inside. She has put the pot outside and it is doing great!”

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

IRREDUCIBLE GRACE FOUNDATION, CAMPHOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, FROGTOWN FARM 585 Fuller Ave, St Paul, 55103

Master Gardeners staffed a festive community cook-out event co-

hosted by the Irreducible Grace Foundation and Camphor

Memorial United Methodist Church Community Peace Garden

Ministry. Learn more at this link. http://www.irgrace.org/

Frogtown Farm provided the tomatoes for a wonderful

opportunity for 100 participants from the Rondo and Frogtown

communities to taste, savor and learn to save seeds!

MORE MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL FOR EMPOWERMENT

96 E. Wheelock Pkwy, St. Paul, MN 55117

MORE (visit here: http://www.more-empowerment.org/:) is a multicultural community-based

organization providing refugees and immigrants with the education and support they seek to

become fully engaged members of our community. The 19 students were of adult age. Our

educational session in first year was so well received that the organization wanted to continue our

relationship for a second year. Master Gardeners gave a presentation on what parts of a plant were

edible and provided advice to students for their onsite vegetable garden.

“Having a world of tomatoes lined up next to each other is truly a glorious sight. All the colors, shapes and sizes…the tomato is a good metaphor for our community. Even non-gardeners and non-tomato loving folks could not resist inspecting and eventually trying some the tomatoes. Once tried, folks realized just how to different tomatoes can taste from each other. Inevitably, we won over some tasters and they asked ‘where can we get this variety to grow?’ Of course, we then taught them how to ferment and save tomato seeds!”—RCMG Stephanie Hankerson

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BREAKTHROUGH TWIN CITIES 2051 Larpenteur Ave E, St. Paul, 55109

As part of a one month summer program gardening curriculum for 7th-9th graders, Master

Gardeners provided speakers for three sessions on nutrition, composting, and native plants. Program

students apply and are accepted into this program to help them prepare for college. Learn more at

this link: https://www.breakthroughtwincities.org/. There were 8 students and 2 adults involved.

Our three sessions were part of an elective class on gardening taught during the summer program.

Speakers were from the University of Minnesota Extension Health and Nutrition Program, the Ramsey

County Master Gardener Program and from the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District.

TWIN CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 12 Project locations throughout the county

Throughout the year, 12 families (100

residents) were served to provide landscaping

help for home owners. Master Gardeners

planted plants, created produce garden beds

and educated homeowners and community

volunteers on maintenance, composting and

organic recycling.

GARDENING MATTERS

Throughout the spring, Master Gardeners staff seed and seedling distributions partnering with

Gardening Matters, https://www.gardeningmatters.org/ a non-profit organization that specializes in

community garden support for Metro county residents.

Ready, Set, Grow at River’s Edge Academy

14 adults and 4 youth had gardening questions answered while picking up seeds and seedlings.

This event also partnered with Growing Westside.(http://growingwestside.com/) We also answered

questions at East Side Hub Distribution: 7 adults and Midway Seed Hub Distribution: 15 adults

One homeowner was so happy to have plants at his new Habitat home. "Thank you very much for helping us [the family]."

A single mom wanted a garden bed so she could grow vegetables for her family. "I did not know [how to start a garden] and would not have if you were not here to help teach me; thank you."

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SERVICES IN HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION

Organization Address Residents Edgerton Community Garden Open House 1929 Edgerton Street Maplewood, 55117 7 Pletscher's Greenhouse 641 Old HWY 8 SW. New Brighton, 55112 6 Ask a Master Gardener Phone Line for Ramsey Residents 99

RCMG Diagnostic Clinic 2020 White Bear Ave., Maplewood, 55109 115

Falcon Heights Community Garden Clean-Up Falcon Heights 8

Frogtown Farm Berm & Swale Frogtown Farm 5 Como Skill Share Como Park 10

Annual Total: 250

COMO PARK ZOO AND CONSERVATORY

1225 Estabrook Dr., St Paul, 55103

Master Gardeners have traditionally helped to

staff exhibits at Como Park. This year was no

exception as Como presented “Blooming

Butterflies”. Master Gardeners participated in a

specialized training which gave information on

the species of butterflies that would be inside

the event tent. Many native plants had been planted inside to provide food for the butterflies. We

connected with youth groups, adults and families. It was interesting to have an exhibit of a sarcopia

moth caterpillar and a cocoon, and then see the moth emerge from the cocoon. We had an

opportunity to talk with residents young and old about the life cycle of a butterfly and moth and to

provide information on how our own native Minnesota butterflies are helpful pollinators.

Annual Contacts: 10,654

Comments from Residents from our Ask a Master Gardener Line:

"Thank you for sharing your wisdom!" "Great service." ""Thank you for the conversation.” “Great suggestions.”

A story from our Diagnostic Clinic:

One client brought a plant in for identification… I passed books on wildflowers and weeds out to the other two Master Gardeners. The client asked if she could have a book to look in too, so I gave her... [one]. She actually found the weed in her book … It was horseweed! —RCMG Linda Treeful

“Our volunteers enjoyed the project experience especially the opportunity to educate the public about the challenges facing pollinators and opportunities to support and improve their conditions. The public is awed by the Blooming Butterfly Gardens and the experience of being close to the pollinators, which connects and motivates them to do their part to attract and protect the pollinators.” —RCMG Jan Brunell

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT NEIGHBORHOOD FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

BACKYARD FARM FAIR AT FROGTOWN FARM 941 Lafond Avenue, Bldg. D.

The second annual Backyard Farm Fair found our Master Gardeners

giving away vegetables to residents of all ages in compostable bags!

There were also Master Gardeners dispensing sweet potato vines and

teaching folks how to plant them. Learn more at this link on Frogtown

Fair. http://www.frogtownfarm.org/

Residents served: 250

RONDO DAYS

This neighborhood celebration in mid-July delights residents every

year. Master Gardeners join in the fun with an information booth to

answer horticultural questions and give away some green kitchen

compost buckets. Learn more at this link on Rondo Days

https://rondoavenueinc.org/events/rondo-days/

Residents served: 48

PEACE CELEBRATION Ober Community Center, 376 Western Ave N, St Paul 55103

Residents Served: 107

SELBY JAZZ FEST

Residents Served: 154

“The day was AMAZING! MG's got to work with hundreds of community members helping them select seedlings and also teach them how to grow sweet potatoes. Event goers got to see sweet potatoes growing as slips in many stages, they each were offered a slip and instructions on how to cultivate when they got home. The variety of potato was a purple Japanese variety and lots of folks had not heard of that before. There were finished mixed planters with sweet potatoes growing in them so visitors could see that a big garden space is not needed.” —RCMG Stephanie Hankerson. Backyard Farm Fair 2016

“This event reaches many people who are new to gardening and gives them a vegetable seedling to plant at home so they can enjoy healthy, fresh, produce. We had a good variety of seedlings, and people were excited to grow their own peppers, tomatoes and watermelon. Several people told the Master Gardeners about their success with the seedling they received at last year's event, so we know we are encouraging the community to grow some of their own food.” —RCMG Susan Oven on the Peace Celebration

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UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION RAMSEY COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM… offers thanks and appreciation to the following organizational partners:

Afro Eco Maplewood Nature Center

Aldrich Arena Maxfield Elementary School

American Indian Montessori Midway YMCA

Breakthrough Twin Cities Minnesota State Horticultural Society

Bruce Vento Elementary MORE Multicultural School for Empowerment

Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church Oak Hill Montessori School

Capitol Region Watershed District Phalen 4H Club

City of Falcon Heights Parks & Recreation Pletscher's Greenhouse

City of Maplewood Ramsey County Environmental Health

City of White Bear Lake Ramsey County Parks and Recreation

City of St. Paul Ramsey County Volunteers in Corrections

Como District 10 Community Council Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Rice Street Community Garden River's Edge Academy

Dayton's Bluff/Metro State Library Roseville Farmer's Market

Dream of Wild Health St. Anthony Village Watershed Management Organization

Edgerton Community Center Shoreview Community Center

Elpis Enterprises St. Paul City School

Friends of the Parks and Trails St. Paul Farmers Market

Frogtown Farm St. Paul Public Libraries

Frogtown Green The Salvation Army

Gardening Matters Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Growing Westside UMN Student Organic Farm

Hampden Coop University of Minnesota Extension Health and Nutrition

Harding High school University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Hmong American Farmers Association Urban Farm and Garden Alliance

Independent School District 622 White Bear Lake Food Shelf

Irreducible Grace Foundation

RMCG/Land Connector Megan Phinney guides youth in the Children’s Peace Garden

Compostable bags are given away at Backyard Farm Fair