NEWTON — Just in time for spring, the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach 2025 Seeds for Thought Garden Symposium will be held on Saturday March 29 from 9 am—3 pm at the DMACC campus in Newton. This event is a joint effort by the county Extension horticulture staff and Master Gardeners from Jasper, Mahaska, Marion and Poweshiek counties.
This educational event is open to all who are interested, and will offer a variety of presentations on topics that are sure to match any gardener’s interests and provide a fun day of learning for gardeners of any experience level. Gardeners (or gardening hopefuls!) can learn and grow their skills with educational breakout sessions on topics, such as: annual flowers, lawn management, turf establishment, vermicomposting, native gardens, garden journals, conservation, vegetable gardening, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and soil blocking.
Randall Vos, ISU Commercial Horticulture Extension Specialist is the keynote presenter and will be sharing his expertise on “Extending the Flowering Annual Season”.
Following the keynote, there will be three breakout session times with three options. Breakout session presenters include: Adam Thoms “Lawncare Management For You”, and “Growing the Next Field for Jack Trice Stadium:, Lydia Dingeman “Vermicomposting for your Home”; Myriam Lafreniere-Landry “Create a Native Garden with Ease”; Suzette Striegel “Garden Journal: Your Most Valuable Tool”; Adam Janke “Conservation in the Garden”; Megan Bollhoefer “Planning a Vegetable Garden to Feed Your Family” and “IPM and Healthy Soil” and Cathy Benscoter “Be a Blockhead: Ditch Plastic and Grow Healthier Seedlings with Soil Blocking. Breakout choices are made with registration.
The registration fee is $45 and includes: the keynote presentation, variety of breakout sessions and lunch. The registration deadline is March 21. After March 21, please call for availability. If space is available there will be an additional $15 late fee.
For a registration brochure, which includes descriptions of the session topics, please visit Jasper, Mahaska, Marion or Poweshiek County ISU Extension and Outreach offices or their websites; or contact ISU Extension and Outreach – Jasper County at 550 North 2nd Ave W, Newton; 641-792-6433. Sponsoring organizations include ISU Extension and Outreach from Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, and Poweshiek Counties.
