Using a Blog to Reach Extension Master Gardeners

Julie Weisenhorn

Assistant Extension ProfessorState director – Master Gardener program

National eXtension Virtual Conference

October 20, 2010

UMN Extension Master Gardeners• 2025 volunteers• 81 counties• Economical• Speedy communication• Wide range of volunteer

opportunities and needs• Need for supporting materials

Why a blog?

• Conversational, personality• Fast, quick to post• Photos, graphics, file attachment• Provides commentary• Easy, fun to read and create• Once established, I can do it

myself!

Once you decide to blog,

You must promote your blog• Connect it to your other social media

– Twitter, Facebook, Flickr

• Send out alerts when updated• Encourage use of feeds• Include it in your email signature and

profiles• Make sure the content is relevant to

audience• Make your site interesting, desirable

landing page

What to include in your blog

• Continuing education opportunities

• News Master Gardeners can use

• Comments on topics of interest– Conferences– Public gardens

• Promote volunteer opportunities

• Links to pertinent, helpful web resources

(My shameless self-promoting…)

• “Blog gets better and better.”• “What a great communication tool!”• “Keeps everyone up to date.” • “Very interesting and useful notes.”• “I love the article and pictures on bees! This will

help me recognize the different types of pollinators!”

My director’s blog

• Choose a name:– Over the Backyard Fence:

Connecting UMN Extension Master Gardeners

• http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/mgdirector/

National Extension Master Gardener Blog

• Connect Master Gardener Programs throughout the nation.

• Provide a forum for state programs to share ideas, projects, news.

• Currently, state coordinators and eXtension specialist blogging to get site established.

Extension Master Gardener blog

• http://blogs.extension.org/mastergardener/

Thank you for listening!

Julie Weisenhornweise019@umn.edu