Dakota County Parks

General Description 

Struggling with the winter blues? Seedsters is back for 2026 and we are looking to utilize enthusiastic growers to continue this awesome opportunity. Assist Dakota County Natural Resources by growing native plants in your home this winter to be utilized later in the season for county planting events.

Each Seedsters volunteer will be provided with a loaner kit containing grow lights, native seeds, trays, soil and everything else you’ll need to start your seedling wonderland at home. In March, you’ll return your grow kit and bring your seedlings to our hoop house where they’ll continue to grow, nurtured by awesome volunteers until the plants are ready to be placed back out into the park system.

Required Qualifications - Please do not sign up for this event if you cannot meet the following expectations required for this project. 

• IMPORTANT: If you plan to be out of town January through March 2026, you must have a plan in place for someone to watch your plants while you are out of town. We cannot watch your plants for you. If you are going to be gone longer than 7-10 days at a time and cannot guarantee someone to watch your plants, please pass on this event. 
• Must be able to make it to one of the orientation dates listed below to pick up your supplies. 
• Adequate space in your house to fit either a 2' or 4' growing kit setup. 
• Space in your vehicle to transport plants and equipment to and from county buildings and your home. We cannot deliver items to your house.
• Must be able to take care of your plants throughout the entire growing season (January - March). We cannot accommodate early drop-offs. 
• If you still want to help but cannot commit to the above items, consider joining our milk jug plantings instead. Once again, do not sign up for this event if you cannot commit to the above requirements. Good intentions with a lack of commitment results in sad/dead seedlings. =(

Timeline

Program Registration

During the registration window, you’ll receive an email with a link to a survey where you’ll indicate the preferred light kit size* you’d like to use (2’ or 4’ lengths). We cannot guarantee a size but will do our best to make everyone happy. We need time to prepare these kits for participants so you will not be able to change your mind on kit size after January 23.

*If you have your own lights or other grow materials, you’re welcome to use them instead. That will allow us to invite more people to help with this project. Let us know on the survey on what you have and what you need so we can send you home with the appropriate items.

Materials Pick up/ Drop off

You’ll pick up/drop off your materials at the Lebanon Hills Maintenance Facility (740 Cliff Rd, Eagan, MN 55123). Reminder: please have adequate space in your vehicle to pick up your program supplies when you come to the orientation.  

Volunteer Orientation & Training  

We look forward to seeing you at the orientation. We’ll walk through setting up your light kit, planting your seedlings and tips on growing and tending your plants at the training. 

Seedling Transplanting and Materials Return

We will welcome you and your seedlings to our greenhouse at the Lebanon Hills Maintenance Facility in March. Because space is limited, we’ll ask that you sign up for one of our transplanting events.  When you come, you’ll have an opportunity to help us with the following tasks:

1. Work with a staff member to check in your equipment.
2. Transplant your seedlings from their germination trays into larger growing containers.
3. Wash out your old germination tray(s) and dome(s) so they’re ready for next year.

Contact Information

Garrett Zaffke | Community Relations and Volunteer Services Coordinator

Dakota County Communications

1590 Highway 55| Hastings, MN 55033

Direct: (651) 438-4635 | Fax: (651) 438-4405 | Email: garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us