One of the missions of the Master Gardener Program of the University of Minnesota is to support UMN-Extension by providing volunteers trained in horticulture to educate the public with research-based information on the best practices in consumer-related horticulture and environmental stewardship.
Crow Wing County Master Gardener Helpline
Crow Wing County Master Gardeners respond to phoned questions year around. Recorded horticulture-related questions are answered within 2-3 days of their receipt.
Ready, Set, Grow! Garden EXPO
The Ready, Set, Grow! Garden EXPO is a one-day event open to the public by registration through the Brainerd Community Education. This event provides educational presentations, vendors, exhibitors, light breakfast and lunch all for a very affordable fee. The surveys completed and turned in are always about 99% extremely favorable towards our efforts.
Green Speakers at County Fair
In 2007 Master Gardeners offered short gardening presentations at the Horticulture Building during the county fair in 2007. The topics presented were "Stormwater 101", "Rain Gardens", "Rain Barrels", "The Beekeeper's Garden", "Shoreland Management", "Shade Gardening", "Oh dear, Deer!" and "Vegetable Container Gardening."
Kids' Kountry Agricultural Learning Center
Kids' Kountry, a mobile interactive agriculture learning center, is used to educate young children about basic agricultural practices such as how milk reaches grocery stores. The concept for Kids' Kountry was developed by two local women, one of them a Crow Wing County Master Gardener. During the county fair, many volunteers staff the "stations" of Kids' Kountry - several of these volunteers are Master Gardeners.
Brainerd Lakes Area Farmers Market - "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth - 2008
The week after assisting with the planting of three rain gardens by Franklin Arts Center, several Master Gardeners set up and staffed a "Ask a Master Gardener" booth at that location while the Farmers Market was open for business. Questions about the rain gardens and other horticulture-related topics were answered. From Mid-May thru Mid-October, the Brainerd Lakes Area Farmers Market is open for business every Tuesday at the Franklin Arts Center parking lot in Brainerd and every Friday at the Gander Mountain parking lot in Baxter. The market is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Senior Activity Center's Annual Plant Sale - "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth
As a fundraiser, the Brainerd Lakes Area Senior Activity Center has an annual plant sale in May. For several years now Master Gardeners are present during the sale ready to provide answers to horticulture-related questions that area residents visiting the plant sale might have.
Nisswa Flower Show - "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth
This one-day annual event has about 500 visitors. Area residents find this event to be an excellent educational opportunity to see what can be grown in Zone 3. In addition to the booth, some local Master Gardeners also present seminars for beginning and advanced gardeners.
Breezy Point Annual Community Fest Day - "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth
The purpose of the event is to encourage new residents to meet and enjoy the company of long-term residents and to introduce all residents to some of the services available in the community. This event is attended by all age groups with a large number of families participating.
Crow Wing County Fair - "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth
Each year Master Gardeners staff a booth located in the Horticulture Building. Every day, fair visitors can pick up educational materials and get answers to their horticulture-related questions.
Gardening Presentations at Public Library in Brainerd
In 2007 a four-week "Spring Gardening" series was offered by a Master Gardener from Crow Wing County at the Public Library in Brainerd. The topics included in the series were "Perennials", "Annuals", "Ornamental Grasses" and "Planting Under Trees".
Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity - presentations to new families
For the first time in 2008 the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity contacted the County Extension Office requesting a gardening presentation by Crow Wing County Master Gardeners. Originally the request was for a presentation "explaining to new home recipients on how to successfully grow grass at their prospective locations". The original task of instructing folks with no gardening experience on how to install lawns in the heat of the summer blossomed into a full fledged gardening class. From soil amendments to spacing trees, from planting annuals and perennials to planting conifers and deciduous trees, to the correct use of fertilizers and herbicides, Master Gardeners presented to the new home-owners the very basic do's and don'ts of growing things other than disappointment. According to all parties involved, the class was a huge success and most likely will turn into an annual or semi-annual event.
Public Presentations
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mgweb/crowwing/speakers_presentations/
Writing Gardening Columns and Articles
For many years now, there has been a gardening column written by a CWC Master Gardener printed in the bi-monthly magazine
Lake Country Journal. The column "Through the Garden Gate" has covered many different aspects of horticulture. In 2008, Master Gardeners also started contributing to a monthly column in the Brainerd Dispatch. This column, normally printed at the beginning of the month, includes answers to many horticulture-related questions as well as timely gardening tips. Master Gardeners also contribute articles to other groups' publications such as lake associations' newsletters.
