Using a blog to reach Extension Master Gardeners
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Using a Blog to Reach Extension Master Gardeners
Julie Weisenhorn
Assistant Extension ProfessorState director – Master Gardener program
National eXtension Virtual Conference
October 20, 2010
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UMN Extension Master Gardeners• 2025 volunteers• 81 counties• Economical• Speedy communication• Wide range of volunteer
opportunities and needs• Need for supporting materials
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Why a blog?
• Conversational, personality• Fast, quick to post• Photos, graphics, file attachment• Provides commentary• Easy, fun to read and create• Once established, I can do it
myself!
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Once you decide to blog,
You must promote your blog• Connect it to your other social media
– Twitter, Facebook, Flickr
• Send out alerts when updated• Encourage use of feeds• Include it in your email signature and
profiles• Make sure the content is relevant to
audience• Make your site interesting, desirable
landing page
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What to include in your blog
• Continuing education opportunities
• News Master Gardeners can use
• Comments on topics of interest– Conferences– Public gardens
• Promote volunteer opportunities
• Links to pertinent, helpful web resources
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(My shameless self-promoting…)
• “Blog gets better and better.”• “What a great communication tool!”• “Keeps everyone up to date.” • “Very interesting and useful notes.”• “I love the article and pictures on bees! This will
help me recognize the different types of pollinators!”
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My director’s blog
• Choose a name:– Over the Backyard Fence:
Connecting UMN Extension Master Gardeners
• http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/mgdirector/
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National Extension Master Gardener Blog
• Connect Master Gardener Programs throughout the nation.
• Provide a forum for state programs to share ideas, projects, news.
• Currently, state coordinators and eXtension specialist blogging to get site established.
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Extension Master Gardener blog
• http://blogs.extension.org/mastergardener/