MSU Extension MSU Extension Master Gardener Program®

“Growing Together in Michigan” is an MSU Extension program that brings together Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs), MSU Extension Nutrition Instructors, and low income food sites (e.g., food pantries) in an effort to increase the amount of fresh produce available to Michigan residents who experience food insecurity. This program is now part of a Growing Together regional effort that reports on EMG donation efforts across many Midwestern states.

In 2019, MSU Extension implemented a pilot support program that provided $500 mini grants to EMG Donation Gardens in certain targeted regions of the state that have high levels of food insecurity (see below).

We encourage all MSU Extension Master Gardeners to grow and donate food. Please watch this video to learn how you can help.

For more information on this program, please contact Dr. Sarah Rautio at rautio@msu.edu. 

Sharing Our Impacts

In 2018, MSU Extension Master Gardeners reported:

• 71,884 pounds of donated produce
• 12,948 volunteer hours in support of donation gardens, Plant a Row (PAR) gardens, and community gardens
• 2,101 hours educating others in donation gardens 

In 2020, MSU Extension Master Gardeners can help us by:

• Weighing all fresh produce donations (all fruit and vegetable types can be weighed together).
• Tracking the number of EMG volunteers and hours devoted to growing and donating food, as well as time doing educational outreach.
• Planning educational events in the garden (Contact MSU Extension Master Gardener staff for ideas).
• Filling out the MSU Extension Food Donation Survey in the fall of 2019.

Reports

• 2018 Multi State Growing Together Report
• Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Program State Report, August 2019

Contacts

• Dr. Sarah Rautio, rautio@msu.edu 
• MSU Extension Master Gardener Program State Office mg@msu.edu

This is a multi-state effort in cooperation with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Wisconsin Extension, Purdue Extension, University of Illinois Extension, and Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service.