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Ready to get started? Discuss with your local Master Gardener coordinator or volunteer leader how Ask Extension fits with the goals and priorities of your county program.
If you wish to volunteer with this online Q & A tool, contact Jackie Froemming at froem022@umn.edu.
There are 6 videos available at https://askhelp.extension.org/how-to/ that should help you move this effort along.
There is also an FAQ list at https://askhelp.extension.org/frequently-asked-questions/ that addresses some questions that have been identified.
Ready to consult fellow MN Ask Extension helpers? Post a message to the MN AAMG listserv via this email address - extmnmg@groups.extension.org
Suggestions for managing incoming questions during the busy summer months:
Accumulate a few questions then check "On Vacation" under your profile page. Once you are caught up, then uncheck "On Vacation" and start receiving questions again.
Respond to time-sensitive questions first.
Release questions that are outside your area of expertise back to the MN Yard and Garden Group by marking those questions as "Unassigned".
Assist the group by checking daily among the unassigned questions to see if there are any that could be quickly dealt with and assign them to yourself.
Suggestions for using Plant ID Apps:
PictureThis is my go to app. I back this up with PlantNET, and iNaturalist. It helps to have a couple. INaturalist is not as good with plants-better with trees and insects. And PlantNET can be even better than PictureThis as proved today when I went looking for a leaf identification. It asks you to choose between leaf, flower, fruit, etc. So it narrows the field of inquiry. PlantSnap performs pretty well too but I never start with that.
There are two keys. One is edit your picture so that only the plant is visible. Extraneous material confuses the app! Secondly, back up any identification with a Google image search by name and a validation by a reputable website. So if it says Hawthorne leaf. Go look for Hawthorne leaves and see if you have a match. Then get more information about Hawthorne leaves at a reputable site. Marykay Haas, Washington County Master Gardener
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