ALEXANDRIA — If you’ve ever found joy in planting a seed, watching a pollinator dance across a bloom, or helping a neighbor troubleshoot their tomato troubles, the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program might be your next great adventure.

Master Gardeners are more than plant enthusiasts — they’re community educators, environmental stewards, and connectors of people and place. Across Minnesota, these volunteers are improving lives by sharing research-based gardening knowledge in ways that are practical, inclusive, and deeply rooted in local needs.

From teaching kids how to grow their first carrots to helping seniors create pollinator havens, Master Gardeners are making a difference. In 2024 alone, 3,283 certified volunteers contributed over 195,000 hours of

See Full Page