Macalester-Groveland & Highland Area
Home Improvement Workshop Day
Sat., March 7, 2026 | 9Am-12PM
Cretin-Derham Hall
Join the Macalester-Groveland Community Council and Highland District Council for the 4th annual the Home Improvement Workshop Day! For over 20 years, the Home Improvement Fair has been one of our neighborhood’s most popular events, bringing hundreds of area homeowners to attend and learn about local businesses and vendor’s products, services, and/or educational efforts.
2026 Workshops
workshop: Old Windows vs New windows: How do they really compare?
11:00am-11:55am
Restoration Window Systems
Room 106
Will take a good look at energy efficiency, payback calculations, condensation reduction, and more.
Workshop: Solar Basics
9:00am-9:55am
All Energy Solar
Room 101
Anyone is welcome to attend this workshop, whether you’re interested in the benefits of using solar energy on residential, commercial, agricultural, or other types of property. During the workshop, a solar expert will give a high level overview on how solar energy works and the environmental benefits it has.
workshop: Design First: A Better Way to Remodel
9:00am-9:55am
Lucas Builders
Room 102
Navigating your wants and needs to design your dream home, without losing its character, and implementing changes to better suit your lifestyle.
Workshop: Composting 101
9:00am-9:55am
City of St. Paul
Room 106
Join us for on workshop on how you can start your composting journey.
workshop: Your home has a history- And so does your plumbing
10:00am-10:55am
Kelly Plumbing & Heating
Room 102
Have you ever wondered what plumbing and heating maintenance your home actually needs each season? Or how long your water heater should last? Or whether your boiler is telling you it’s time for service? In this friendly, neighborhood-style workshop, Master Plumber Steve Skoog will share the plumbing know-how every St. Paul homeowner should have.
Discover how to care for: Your water softener (and why soft water matters so much here), your water heater—tank & tankless, your boiler/radiator system, your sump pump and drainage systems, older pipes and fixtures common in historic homes.
You’ll go home with a seasonal task checklist, a homeowner calendar, and a “When to Call Your Plumber” one-pager so you can spot issues early and avoid expensive repairs. This is a great workshop for first-time homeowners, long-time residents, and anyone who wants their home to stay safe, warm, and running smoothly all year.
Workshop: Remodeling 101: costs, Choices, and trade-offs
10:00am-10:55am
Refined Homes
Room 105
Thinking about remodeling but unsure what it really costs or why prices can vary so widely? This workshop is designed to pull back the curtain on the remodeling process in a clear, practical way. We’ll walk through the major components that make up a remodeling budget, how design and material choices influence cost, and the trade-offs homeowners often face along the way.
You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to plan realistically, ask smarter questions, and make confident decisions that align with how you want to live in your home — now and in the future. Whether you’re actively planning a project or just starting to explore ideas, this is an informative, no-pressure conversation for homeowners who want clarity before they remodel.
WORKSHOP: Home Remodeling: Step by Step
11:00am-11:55am
Plekkenpol Builders, Inc.
Room 108
A guide to the remodeling process, from choosing a remodeler to the construction phase. Helpful information on consultation preparation, budget and financing, and understanding contract documents.
WORKSHOP: ADU’s In st. paul, a 2025 case study approval
10:00am-10:55am
Lindee Construction Services
Room 108
A detailed presentation on the process of St Paul City Approval, ADU FAQ and types (garage, attached, freestanding, design for lot size, project timeline & schedule, cost examples).
Workshop: INtro to indoor home cannabis Cultivation (21+)
11:00am-11:55am
Waxwing Horticulture
Room 101
Intro to Indoor Home Cannabis Cultivation is a crash course for anyone curious about growing cannabis inside their home. Learn the basics of the cannabis plant, what a cannabis grow cycle looks like from start to finish, and how to set up an indoor grow space.
Workshop: Growing tomatoes: From seeds to harvest
10:00am-10:55am
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers
Room 107
Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteers (formerly Ramsey County Master Gardeners) will share tips for starting tomatoes from seed, supplies needed, seed sources, and nurturing tomatoes in the garden throughout the season. We will also provide an overview of some of the exciting newer tomatoes that you can only grow in your gardens if you start them from seed, including selections that can be grown in large containers from the Dwarf Tomato Project and even some Micro Tomato varieties that can be grown in smaller pots.
Workshop: Original window repair & restoration
9:00am-9:55am
Hayes Window Restoration
Room 105
Discuss how to maintain your home’s historic character through window restoration & storm window
Workshop: Kitchen remodeling 101
10:00am-10:55am
Castle Building & Remodeling
Room 106
Process, style, budget, timelines, design tips, Q&A, and more.
Workshop: How to select the right flooring for your home
11:00am-11:55am
Unique Wood Floors
Room 102
A step by step presentation on how to choose the right flooring for your home.
Workshop: Intro to financial planning
11:00am-11:55am
Thomas Romens
Room 103
Financial Planning Basics – do it yourself.
Workshop: Sustainable plantings for MN
9:00am-9:55am
Thomas Romens
Room 107
Presentation of our services including native-low input- plantings for MN, Rain and Pollinator Gardens, along with utilizing natural stone
2026 Tables
In addition to the workshops, there will also be city/county employees and nonprofits tabling at the event between 9am-12pm to discuss projects going on in and around the neighborhood.
Click on the icons to learn more about each project and/or organization.
City of St. Paul Regional water services
Water service questions, water meters, Lead Pipe Replacement Program
RAMESY/WASHINGTON RECYCLING & eNERGY
Information on grants available for homeowners to use salvaged building materials in projects and grants to help with deconstructing properties.
City of st. Paul Department of safety and inspection
Permitting, zoning, and other information about setbacks, fences, and roofs, etc.
Minnesota Department of Transportation
waxwing horticulture
Resources on home cannabis cultivation (21+).
Highland district council and macalester-Groveland Community council
City of St. Paul recycling
mINNESOTA Tool Library
Resources on the Tool Library and programs. Plus a chance to win a free guest tool pass.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, at mei dolore tritani repudiandae. In his nemore temporibus consequuntur, vim ad prima vivendum consetetur. Viderer feugiat at pro, mea aperiam
Local Business Owners
For guidelines, applications, or other Home Improvement Workshop questions, please contact program.Mgcc@macgrove.org
As a presenter, you will have the opportunity to present a workshop to communicate the importance of services or products your company provides. Workshop space is limited and workshops will be chosen by the event organizers. Our objective is to provide a wide array of workshop topics that pertain to community interests.
Home Improvement Workshop Day will take place on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9am-1pm at Cretin Derham Hall. If you are interested in participating as a workshop presenter, please fill out the application form. We will review applications and inform all applicants on an ongoing basis up until the application deadline: Saturday, February 8, 2025. The priority application deadline is Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Please submit payment with your application – you can pay via check written out to MGCC and mailed to 320 Griggs St S, St. Paul, MN 55105 or pay via paypal below . If your application is not approved, your payment will be reimbursed by check within 30 days of the application deadline.
Community Members
FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT program.mgcc@MACGROVE.ORG
Home Improvement Workshop Day (HIWD) is the revitalized Home Improvement Fair. Attend one of 4-6 workshops every hour between the hours of 9am and 1pm. Each workshop will pertain to various topics relevant to the community members of Mac-Grove and Highland.
Yes, this webpage will be accessible year round!