Minnesota Master Naturalists learn so they can teach others
Minnesota is rich with plant-dyeing resources: Yarrow and goldenrod produce yellow; oaks and black walnut produce brown dye; and rough-speckled shield lichen makes a purple hue.
Attendees at the Minnesota Master Naturalist Gathering Partners conference near Brainerd learned the basics of using natural dyes at a session hosted by Ellie Hechter, family engagement and STEM night coordinator at the Bell Museum. Hechter is also an Extension Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer. Participants foraged plants from the conference site, Cragun’s on Gull Lake. The technique shown is flower pounding, also known as tataki-zomé, where plant pigment is crushed into fabric using a hammer.
During the conference, about 200 participants learned from Minnesota Master Naturalist presenters on subjects ranging from loons to lichen.
Highlights
- 4-H’ers in Crow Wing County have been growing the program through more Cloverbuds activities, teaching animal science through the rabbit and dogs projects and training more new club leaders.
- Alex M., a Crow Wing County 4-H’er, is a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Caughey family (2026)
- Master Gardener volunteers collaborated with MN Teen Challenge Women’s center to build, plant and maintain two durable raised garden beds. The project engaged more than 20 residents in addiction recovery with invaluable gardening skills, fostering a sense of pride and community, and introducing them to the healing power of nature.
- Minnesota Master Naturalist training: Big Rivers, Big Woods biome (Brainerd) and North Woods, Great Lakes biome (Palisade)
- SuperShelf locations: Cuyuna Range Food Shelf, Emily Emergency Food Shelf, Lakes Area Food Shelf
- In collaboration with the Initiative Foundation, the Climate Adaptation Partnership enabled the creation of a new staff position focused on community preparedness and resiliency across the central Minnesota region.
Crow Wing County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Crow Wing County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.