Each MSUE Master Gardener is required to dedicate 20 hours annually to community projects. Often the volunteer hours exceed that minimum. Below are listed projects within northern Michigan approved by the Michigan State University Extension.

PROJECTS APPROVED BY MSUE FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS

in Charlevoix & Emmet Counties

Listed projects indicate the number of positions (volunteers) needed at the time of the proposal. Please reach out to the contact person regarding current needs. Phone and email information for NMMGA members may be found in the Members Only section of this website.

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY

Charlevoix Area Community Pool Landscape Project-3 positions

Creating and improving gardens and landscape around the community pool building.

Contact: Babette Stenuis Stolz, Pool Board member, Build & Grounds Committee & NMMGA board member

Charlevoix Civic Gardens -9 positions

The CAGC creates and maintains 8 civic gardens throughout the city of Charlevoix. These include Depot Heritage Garden, Historical Society Garden, Public Library Garden, Meditation Garden at Charlevoix Hospital, Memorial Garden, Pere Charlevoix Garden, US Post Office Garden, and the Triangle Garden. These gardens enhance civic spaces, offer spaces for rest and reflection, and serve as extensions of historic and public buildings. Volunteers are needed for each garden to help with design/layout, planting, maintenance, and final fall clean-up.

Contact: Beth Cowie, NMMGA Board member

Protect Lake Charlevoix - 5 positions

This project of Lake Charlevoix Association educates the public on both riparian and watershed. Volunteers are needed to distribute educational materials and update organizations like chambers, libraries, township halls, and other places around the lake with current best practice brochures, website information, and demonstration garden maintenance. Master Gardeners are needed to produce two newsletters per year and educating the public about best practices for maintaining the health of the lake. This is an ongoing project.

Contact: Peggy Smith, NMMGA member

Old City Park Project - Boyne City - 8 positions

Work with volunteers from the Friends of the Boyne River to educate and assist with the stabilization of Boyne River riverbanks. The information covered includes the introduction of rocks, use of native plants and other means to prevent soil erosion and sustain the good health of the river.

Contact: Nancy Cunningham, NMMGA member

Boyne Valley Garden Club - Bridge Garden - Boyne City - 6 positions

Work with, educate, and train volunteers to develop, create and maintain Bridge Garden. Education may include training volunteers regarding soil analysis and augmentation; teaching volunteers how to select the appropriate plants for the location, sensitivity to environmental conditions, and how to maintain garden for maximum visual impact.

Contact: Nancy Cunningham, NMMGA member

Boyne River Nature Garden - Rain Garden - Boyne City - 8 positions

Maintenance of the newly created Educational Rain Garden and ongoing education sharing with visitors to the rain garden are the primary roles of the volunteers.

Contact: Nancy Cunningham, NMMGA member

Boyne City Public Garden Beds -5 positions

Plant and maintain existing garden beds in Boyne City.

Contact: Nancy Cunningham, NMMGA member

Boyne Valley Garden Club Plant Sale - Boyne City -11 positions

Serve as a resource to provide research-based information regarding plants sold during Boyne Valley Plant Sale. Event is open to the public and information is accessible to all plant sale visitors.

Contact: Nancy Cunningham, NMMGA member

Charlevoix Welcome Sign and Education Garden -11 positions

The Welcome to Charlevoix sign at entrance to Pine River needs volunteers to design the garden, plant the layout, and maintain the garden. Plants used in design will be labeled. Master Gardener volunteers work with community volunteers as part of educational programming.

Contact: Kim Stevens 231-675-5757

Boyne City Shoreline Demonstration Garden -7 positions

Working with and educating citizens and other interested parties in best practices for design and maintenance of shoreline garden on Lake Charlevoix. The garden is located at the City of Boyne City waterfront at Sunset Park.

Contact: Tom Darnton 231-675-9787

Boyne City Community Garden – This opportunity is full

Contact: Pat Haver, Community Garden Coordinator   231-582-0338

Raven Hill Discovery Center-East Jordan-9 positions

Raised bed gardens planted at Raven Hill with a “Three Sisters” companion planting in collaboration with the Ziibimijwang of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Located at 4737 Fuller Road, East Jordan, MI 49727

Contact: Polly Cheney, NMMGA member

Seed Collecting for Northern Michigan Distribution – Boyne City- 27 positions

Growing, sowing and sorting seeds from the gardens of master gardeners for distribution to the public through the NMMGA annual plant sale and MSUE Smart Gardening activities.

Contact: Frances Paris, NMMGA member

Evangeline Township Hall Pollinator Garden-Boyne City – 11 positions

Boyne City has recently been recognized as a Monarch Community and the township hall is a natural extension of this effort. The pollinator garden at the township hall will provide education to visitors with examples of what to plant to support butterflies and other pollinators. The project is led by MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and includes participation from community volunteers.

Location: 02746 Wildwood Harbor Road, Boyne City, MI 49712

Contact: Mike Costa, NMMGA member

EMMET COUNTY

NMMGA Plant Sale & Educational Support - Petoskey -38 positions

Volunteers are needed for the education and outreach activities during the Northern Michigan Master Gardeners Association's annual plant sale. Volunteers recruit plants from their own gardens, prepare pots, add identification for the plants; and bring them to the Fairgrounds barn. Related nonprofit organizations are invited and bring free literature and handouts for participants.

2025 Plant Sale is June 7 with plant collection and set up on June 5 and 6.

Location: Emmet County Fairgrounds, enter from drive off Eppler Rd  

Contact: Plant Sale Chairperson or President of the Board

Emmet County Fairground Emmet County Fairgrounds - Petoskey-6 positions

Master Gardeners work with staff regarding the maintenance of existing perennial gardens (15+). Garden redesigning to minimize maintenance and improve appearance using native plants is also involved.  Shifts of volunteers are organized for both morning and evening times throughout the summer.

Contact person: Linda Guthrie, Lead MG for this NMMGA project

Central School Garden - Petoskey, Emmet County- unlimited positions

Through a partnership with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, elementary students grades 2-6 will learn about food security by working with plants, gardening, and pollinator conservation projects.

Location: Central Elementary School

Contact: Polly Cheney, NMMGA member

Petoskey Methodist Church Food Donation Garden -9 positions

Working with members and youth volunteers in the selection, planting, maintenance harvesting of vegetables which are then donated to the Manna project food bank. Since 2010, this project has donated over 25,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to the needy of Emmet, Charlevoix Cheboygan Counties.

Contact: Babette Stenuis-Stolz NMMGA Board Member

Hillside Garden – Alanson  - 7 positions

Planting, maintaining, dividing and labeling flowers at the Hillside Garden in Alanson.

Contact: Sue Jordan, NMMGA member

Lilacs on Mackinac Island - Mackinac Island, Mackinac County -46 positions

MSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers, State of Michigan State Parks, and the Mackinac Island Tourism are a partnering for the care and education of the lilacs and gardens on Mackinac Island.  Learning about the history of lilacs on Mackinac Island would be helpful. During various times of the spring and summer months, Master Gardeners will be needed for:

1.    "MSU Extension Ask the Gardener" educational opportunities for the public to talk to the Extension Master Gardeners about general garden topics. Some lilac knowledge is helpful but not essential. Literature will be provided. During the festival this may appear as a Smart Gardening booth manned by Master Gardeners. 

2.    Extension Master Gardeners will assist in the care of the Lilacs during scheduled work force days. Trimming and pruning of lilacs would be involved.

3.    Master Gardeners may assist in Special Programs as they arise.

Ferry tickets will be provided on work-days with free parking of vehicles in Mackinaw City.

Contact: Anne Borowicz, NMMGA member

First Presbyterian Church – Petoskey – 1 position

A group of church community volunteers led by EMG volunteers cares for the rain garden and native plant gardens. The gardens are accessible to the public and educational signs will be erected so that visitors can learn about the importance of plants to pollinators and other wildlife.

Contact Jane Denay, NMMGA member

Harbor Springs Garden Club Gardens - 11 positions

Volunteers would be involved in garden design, garden maintenance, activities related to protection of water quality, and public education.

Ginny Heinritzi, NMMGA member

Harbor Springs Garden Club Outreach and Education -Full

This project is for members of the Harbor Springs Garden Club to record time they have spent educating others. Activities such as writing articles for the local newspaper, preparing education signage, and educational workshops/presentations can be recorded here.

Contact: Harbor Springs Garden Club President

St. Nicholas Church Garden - Larks Lake-12 positions

Redesign and maintenance of garden beds. The youth group and mixed age of adult women and men help with the project. Participants are educated about environmentally friendly garden practices including water conservation and plant health care.

Contact: No information

Petoskey City Gardens - Petoskey, Emmet County-2 Positions

Work with the local garden club and Petoskey Public Works employees to plan and maintain city gardens. Master Gardeners provide advice/knowledge regarding pests, disease, water conservation (gardens adjacent to Little Traverse Bay), soil augmentation plant selection .and Includes presentations regarding these topics and ongoing gardening support throughout the year.

Contact: Linda Guthrie, NMMGA member

Wild Ones of Northwest Lower Michigan Educational Support - Petoskey, Emmet County-unlimited

Classes and events will provide information about native plants to gardeners. Our goal will be to help people understand the importance of sound gardening and landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity with restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Topics of classes and events may include rain gardens and practices to protect water quality, integrated pest management, diagnostics, how to choose plants (right plant, right place), and soil science.

Contact: Monica Gruler Farrier, NMMGA member

Petoskey Methodist Church Youth Education Gardens -11 positions

Waterfall Meditation Area working with youth training members regarding plant selection, planting, maintenance tagging with an emphasis on native plants

Contact: Babette Stenuis-Stolz, NMMGA Board member

Offield Family Viewlands - Harbor Springs -8 positions  

The 280-acre former golf club was acquired by Little Traverse Conservancy in 2020 and creates an opportunity for nature recreation and education. Work will restore fragmented habitats and broaden ecosystem protection. The property is open to all and is visited by local residents and tourists. The 4.5 miles of existing trails are used by people of all ages. Educational signage is being installed to inform visitors about the on-going plantings and the goal of restoring the landscape to its natural state after having been operated as a golf club for more than 3 decades.

 Location: 995 Hideaway Valley Drive, Harbor Springs, MI

Contact: Cacia Lesh, Little Traverse Bay Conservancy, 231-347-0991

Bayview Association Campus Gardens – Petoskey – 9 positions

MSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers work with Bayview residents to create and maintain a variety of historic garden beds. Educational opportunities are also created for the public and for Bayview residents to learn about environmentally friendly gardening practices.

Contact: Susan Neithercut 231-632-5212

Ottawa Stadium Rain Garden - Harbor Springs - 21 positions

EMGs educating participants on the purpose and value of rain gardens - - to reduce the runoff of untreated/contaminated water into our streams, rivers, and lakes - - as well as the basic structure and materials required for rain gardens. In partnership with Tip O Mitt Watershed Council.

Location: 160 Zoll St, Ottawa Stadium Parking Area, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Contact: Noah Jansen, Tip O Mitt Watershed Council Project Coordinator  (231) 347-1181