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This special section of the Master Gardener website is focused on providing resources for Master Gardeners throughout the state to use when serving communities of various cultural background.
Many of you already volunteer as Master Gardeners on projects focused on ethnic communities within our state. The state subcommittee is made up of Master Gardeners from various counties and focus on helping Master Gardeners throughout the state better understand and serve communities of various cultures within their counties through gardening, agriculture and the love of plants.
Representatives from three counties are active on the committee: Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington. Scott/Carver members have contributed through the planning and hosting of the state conference. Members share local projects, contacts, resources, and efforts related to the diversity goals. As a result of these relationships, Hennepin has extended an invitation to all MGs to attend a diversity training on Hmong culture on October 21, 2006. Meetings are held every two months at various locations within the metro area. Master Gardeners outside the metro area can participate and contribute via email, phone updates, and written communication. We invite you to join this important – and fun – committee!
Current members:
Advisors:
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Goals of the State Diversity Committee
Diversity in our state is a big task to tackle. After a lot of listening, talking and some research, the subcommittee wrote the following goals to help focus efforts on educating Master Gardeners about serving the many cultures in our state as well as provide guidelines, ideas, and resources to help along the way.
Goal 1: To increase the cultural competency of the Master Gardener members
A. Educate the current MG members on lifestyles, traditions and horticulture as they relate to other cultures.
- Include a speaker on diversity as part of the 2005 State Conference;
- Include the topic of diversity as part of the MG Core Course for 2006;
- Propose to Carver / Scott County MG Board that the theme of the State Conference in 2006 focuses on Diversity and the changing face of a typical Minnesotan. Schedule Juan Moreno as a keynote speaker for the 2006 State Conference, and ask him to facilitate a smaller workshop that includes break-out sessions focusing on understanding our individual cultural backgrounds.
| UPDATE: 2006 State Conference Highlights Diversity
Thanks to support from the state office and the Scott/Carver Master Gardeners that planned the conference, the 2006 State Master Gardener Conference theme was diversity and it was well integrated throughout the conference. On Sept 15, 2006, Susan Price Davis spoke on ethnic gardening from her book, Growing Home. Juan Moreno, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist from Extension, gave the keynote speech on Sept 16. There were 8 of 24 breakout sessions on topics of diversity including: Explore and Grow in a World of Difference by David Moen, State MG Program Manager; Growing Unusual Veggies and Herbs by JeungE Yang-Gallego, community gardener in Chaska; How Gardens Can Help Communities by Seitu Jones, artist and community gardener in St. Paul; and Gardening Tips from England by Mary Meyer, Extension Horticulturist. The three diversity goals were included in the conference folders as well as a handout on Minnesota's changing population. There was a display and quiz on Asian vegetables. There were three vendors with crafts made from people around the world and a musician from Costa Rica. The chef provided lunch with flavors and foods typical of different cultures. Master Gardeners Making a Difference:
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B. Assume our audiences are diverse. Therefore, as resources are updated or created, they should include information pertinent to various cultures. While the MG is not expected to present in various languages, hand-outs should be translated into other languages and included. Information and guidelines should be provided to MG members / groups about Extension materials available in various languages (on both national and local levels), and translation resources for new materials.
C. Include ethnic plants in gardens at regional research and outreach centers (Rosemount, Morris, St. Paul, etc.) to serve as a location for MG and public education. At these locations, include literature in various languages.
Goal 2: To provide equal access to Master Gardener services and info for all cultures in Minnesota
A. Typically, the second generation of immigrants - the kids - speak English and act as translators for their parents. Utilize the Junior Master Gardener Program to spread the word about Extension services, Master Gardener services and information to adults in various cultures here in Minnesota. By reaching the kids, it is also feasible that we are propagating the next generation of Master Gardeners.
B. Visit with leaders of the various ethnic groups in the state, and educate them on the services Master Gardeners offer and information from which their communities may benefit.
C. Be more visible. Schedule Master Gardener info booths and speakers at culturally diverse events such as Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, and Festival of Nations. (Be sure to include hand-outs in various languages.)
Goal 3: To culturally diversify the master Gardener membership itself
A. Translate the How to Be a Master Gardener (PDF) brochure into various languages.
B. Create 2-3 scholarships to cover the Core Course expenses for Master Gardener interns from diverse backgrounds. The goal of this action is that these scholarship winners will complete the course and give back to their communities, and mentor new Master Gardener interns. These scholarship winners should be paired with strong mentors who are well-acquainted with the Master Gardener organization, opportunities, and horticulture.
Websites
Organization directories and other online articles:
- The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) - directory of Nonprofit Organizations of Color in Minnesota In particular, the CURA Experts page may be a source of contacts for MG groups wishing to make contact with groups of color within their counties.
- The Chicano Latino Affairs Council also has a directory of organizations that serve the Chicano Latino community in Minnesota. In particular, the Community Organizations page may provide a link to organizations within an MG county and a starting point for contacting Hispanic organizations.
- Hmong Homepage
Online ethnic news sources for anyone interested in the diverse, vibrant communities of Minnesota:
Youth gardeners sources:
Books
Growing Home, Stories of Ethnic Gardening, Susan Davis Price
Summary: Get to know gardeners from all over the world who have settled right here in Minnesota. Local writer, Susan Davis Price introduces us to people who share passions for food, plants and the earth, and have survived Life's turmoils and flourished to tell us about it.Seedfolks, Paul Fleischman, Joanna Cotler Books, 1997
Summary: One by one, a number of people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled inner-city lot into a productive and beautiful garden and in doing so, the gardeners are themselves transformed.Dark Sky, Dark Land, David L. Moore, 1989
Summary: Stories of the Hmong Boy Scouts of Troop 100. Dave Moore is a former Edison High School teacher of Minneapolis who introduced a number of Hmong boys in 1981 to scouting ultimately organizing Troop 100. The troop, which he still leads today, has produced a number of professionals and leaders in the twin cities. This book is a series of interviews conducted by Mr. Moore to preserve their incredible tales of courage and survival.
Speakers
Below is a list of possible speakers that Master Gardeners may use to learn more about diversity issues. Also see The Center for Urban and Rural Affairs' Directory of Nonprofit Organizations of Color in Minnesota (pdf) for more contact information.
Juan Moreno Shawn Lewis David Moen Rose M. Brewer, PhD Collie Graddick Gevonee Eugene Ford Hussein Samatar Margaret Adamek Dorothy Freeman |
Activities, Events and Other Ideas
This section features ideas and activities developed by Master Gardeners and others to help increase cultural competency. Please email Julie Weisenhorn any of your ideas for activities!
Food
A Local Culinary Adventure: Asian Vegetables from the St. Paul Farmers' Market (PDF)This is a great idea for a monthly Master Gardener meeting or a class during a special event. The presenter should bring a nice variety of 8-10 fruits and/or vegetables commonly grown in a specific foreign country or province and that are grown by the same immigrants who have settled here in Minnesota. The presenter may want to put together a Powerpoint or slide presentation about the country as well. Topics may also include how the foods are used and traditional recipes. Post-presentation activities may include a quiz that attendees can take while having a refreshment.
This was shared by Cyndy Crist, a Master Gardener from Ramsey County. Cyndy brought a nice display of eight Asian vegetables from the local Farmers' Market and grown in her own garden. She numbered them, and provided handouts that included a quiz and additional information about the foods. She also supplied a popular beef curry recipe as a handout.
Asian Vegetables Brainteaser (PDF) This document was created as a supplement to Cyndy Crist's PDF above.
An Asian Recipe: Beef Curry and Long Beans (PDF) A St. Paul Farmers' Market Asian Vegetable Recipe. This is also included in the "Local Culinary Adventure" document, above.
Minnesota Diversity
Learning Circle Lessons - Minnesota Nice or Not: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (PDF) Created by Juan C. Moreno, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist and Nancy Lenhart, Extension Educator University of Minnesota Extension Service.
QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Where You Live? (pdf) answers are on last page
About Diverse People, Food, & Flowers in St. Paul (scroll down a little on the page)
Global Gardening and Agriculture
Global Gardening (pdf) Over the centuries, world travelers brought home seeds, spices, herbs, and other edible and decorative plants. They also returned with memories and ideas, and tried to recreate a bit of their travels in their homes and gardens. This document includes a few imported landscape practices & plants that are common here today.
The Benefits of Ecological Diversity (pdf) Throughout history, as people emigrated they also brought their cultural traditions with them, which included food and agriculture practices. Native peoples and immigrants shared practices, adapted them, and often created new traditions. This can be demonstrated by briefly looking at a few items closely linked with American and other cultures.
Bibliography of Bilingual Agricultural Dictionaries and Glossaries (pdf) National Immigrant Farming Initiative Bibliography of Bilingual Agricultural Dictionaries & Glossaries in Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Multilingual.
Agriculture in Vietnam (pdf) St Paul has become home to Vietnamese who fled their homeland during and after the Communist takeover in 1975. This document includes first-hand information on Vietnamese agriculture.
Native American Gardening Practices (pdf) Information and book suggestions for learning more about Native American growing practices.