Our Activities and Projects — Anoka County Master Gardeners

Our Activities and Events

Master Gardeners are available to assist with community-based planting projects by helping to educate project volunteers about proper planting and after-care of trees and plants. Other community events may involve eradicating invasive weeds such as buckthorn. As rain gardens grow in popularity, Master Gardeners are equipped to assist with plant selection and installation of plants with large groups.

Organizations who typically contact Master Gardeners for these service projects include K-12 schools, Great River Greening and Tree Trust.

Community Demonstration Gardens

Come visit any one of our demonstration gardens. Take a self-guided tour through our gardens to see themed gardens, raised beds, container gardens, native pollinator gardens and much more! These gardens are a great way to learn new gardening techniques, see best-loved plants and get ideas for your own gardens. Our demonstration gardens are created to provide a green space for the community while sharing research=based, eco-friendly gardening ideas. While doing so, many of our gardens pay tribute to our veterans, who have served our communities.

Pollinator and Sensory Gardens

Giving Gardens

Anoka Master Gardeners maintain giving gardens in many locations, and may be part of a larger garden project. Our giving gardens are designed with the sole purpose of providing fresh produce to the local community through various food shelves within the county.

Anoka Master Gardeners work with local schools and senior living communities to create and maintain green spaces for young and old. Anoka Master Gardeners have been working with local elementary schools to provide after-school programming to students in 4th and 5th grade. These garden clubs aim to educate youth on relevant environmental and horticultural topics.

At one of our partner schools this year, students focused on creating pollinator-friendly environments. The students worked with the Master Gardeners for 4 weeks to plan, prepare, and plant a pollinator garden at their school.

Additionally, the students planted a giving garden and a raised bed vegetable garden. All food produced in their garden goes directly into the school’s food shelf to provide healthy and nutritious food to students and their families.

Master Gardeners set up booths at local events, markets and garden centers across Anoka County to answer your yard and garden questions. We also sponsor an annual Home Landscape and Garden Fair each spring as well as our annual Plant Sale.

Community Events

Four Master Gardeners posed for a photograph smiling

Community Outreach

The Master Gardener Outreach team improves the health and well-being in our community through our educational outreach initiatives. Our Speakers Bureau provides quality horticultural information as a free, public service. Each year we present to garden clubs, schools and neighborhood organizations. Our Plant Diagnostic is a popular service provided weekly during summer months. Have a troublesome issue in your lawn, gardens or trees? Our Diagnostic team is at the ready to help you address any issue you may be encountering. Additionally, we support the county through our Community and Schoolyard Garden Consultation, our Lawns to Legumes Project, just to name a few.