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   WALKER — Matt Moraczewski is no stranger to Cass County Community Gardens, however he has a new position and began work as the Master Gardener Coordinator with the Cass County Extension Office. Moraczewski was introduced in his new roll during the regular meeting Tues., May 6 and shared an update on the program.

   Currently Cass County has six Master Gardeners, including Moraczewski, and there are plans to recruit more with visits to community gardens, attending farmers markets and setting up a booth at the Cass County Fair in June. However, the actual recruitment for master gardeners doesn’t begin until October. In order to become a master gardener an individual must complete a 40-60 hour course, have 50 hours of volunteer time and complete a background check. 

During 2024 the Remer Community Gardent donated approximately 5,000 pounds of produce to the Remer and Longville food shelves. With the construction of the high tunnel they will be able to extend the growing season by up to four months.

   Currently Northland Community School is working with the local community garden in Remer as a teaching classroom, Moraczewski shared. The Remer Community Garden has been hosting numerous activities for students. Some of those learning opportunities include Kindergarten students planting pumpkin and flower seeds, watching them grow and then harvesting the pumpkins when they become mature. Students in seventh and eighth grade had the opportunity to visit the newly built high tunnel where they were each given growing bags to plant carrots and potatoes. Towards the end of May the students will check on the progress of their crops and the following September they will harvest them. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk asked about how many potatoes the growing bag would produce, with Moraczewski stating approximately five pounds. Another group of students being taught through the garden was sixth through ninth grade special needs students. 

Volunteers setting up the plastic for the high tunnel.

   Moraczewski shared that last fall members of the Northland Lions assisted in the construction of a high tunnel measuring 30 feet wide by 72 feet long. This will allow the Remer Community garden to extend their growing season and produce fresh produce beginning in early spring and lasting well into late fall. Grants to build the high tunnel were acquired through various organizations and programs.

   Another program Moraczewski is excited about is the current collaboration with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO) in creating a 20 acre food production garden in Cass Lake. The purpose and end goal of this garden is to provide fresh produce to tribe members along with selling the produce to local grocery stores. Moraczewski stated he is currently working with training individuals in the Cass Lake area to become master gardeners, helping LLBO with obtaining grants through various sources and assisting in the development of the garden. LLBO will begin the project with five acres and have received soil and water testing kits from the University of Minnesota Extension.

   The LLBO currently has two high tunnels to extend their growing season, fencing for the garden area and equipment to assist with planting. 

   To learn more about the Master Gardener Volunteer Program you can contact Matt Moraczewski at 651-895-7696 or email [email protected] or visit https://extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/about-master-gardener. 

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