By Kristen Nelson, Colorado Master Gardener

Colorado Master Gardeners are known for their gardening and horticultural expertise. But did you know they are community champions? Their volunteer service inspires comradery, shared knowledge, and community good.

Master Gardeners manage several demonstration gardens where they grow produce in community gardens. The demonstration gardens contribute to the “Grow and Give” program, a larger hunger relief effort in Colorado. During the Covid-19 pandemic, food banks experienced a twenty-percent increase in requests for food, especially for fresh and culturally relevant foods. In 2021, Arapahoe County Master Gardeners grew and donated 6,533 pounds of produce from six demonstration gardens. The Master Gardener volunteer program works with local partners to fight hunger. Join them by donating your surplus produce in 2022. Visit Grow and Give – Learn to Grow Food & Share the Harvest (colostate.edu) to participate.

Master Gardener volunteers have a passion for service and helping others. They are available at community events, county fairs, garden centers and in the office responding to calls and emails. Diagnostics and problem-solving start with conversations about plants, soils, and insects. Master Gardeners share science-based educational resources. By providing trusted and practical information, volunteers empower residents to grow their own knowledge base. Sharing scientific knowledge can influence environmental decision making and inspire leadership and community action. By sharing their knowledge and skills to benefit others, Master Gardener volunteers are champions of the community.