Let’s Dig Into Gardening
Be inspired at the first-ever Dig into Gardening (DIG) Symposium! Register for this daylong educational event where garden newbies and professionals alike will learn the latest research-based gardening techniques and best practices.
Saturday, March 16
8 AM – 4 PM
FFA Enrichment Center on the DMACC campus – Ankeny, IA
“What will set the DIG Symposium apart from other home and garden shows will be its focus on trustworthy, reliable gardening and horticulture information,” Stephanie Harrington, natural resources program coordinator for ISU Extension and Outreach in Polk County. “The Polk County Master Gardeners utilize all the information and resources offered by the University to educate attendees across a wide range of relevant and interesting gardening topics.”
Symposium Details
The 2024 DIG Symposium, “Growing a Greener Tomorrow,” will highlight information, speakers, and breakout sessions centered on sustainability and how to incorporate this into gardens, lawns, and landscapes. The morning keynote Benjamin Vogt, author, and owner of Monarch Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska, will discuss the idea of “a new garden ethic” and the afternoon speaker, Ed Lyon, director of the Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa, will speak on climate-smart gardening.
“All our workshops will be informative, but there are a couple that really speak to the home gardener,” Harrington said. “The seed-saving session will share the best way to save seeds and how to pass these heirloom seeds down from generation to generation, and the container garden session will focus on planting edibles in a small space. Both breakouts will allow participants to walk away and immediately implement what they learn.”
Registration is $85, is open to the public, and includes breakfast and lunch. To register or for full details on speakers, schedule or exhibitor opportunities visit https://polkcountymastergardeners.org/DIG-Symposium.
“We hope that those attending, whether it’s the home gardener or seasoned professional, can walk away informed, inspired, and ready to dig into their gardens,” Harrington said.
Proceeds from the DIG Symposium go directly back to the Polk County Master Gardener volunteer service program which supports Polk County through educational events, youth engagement projects, and three local demonstration gardens.
About the Polk County Master Gardeners
Polk County Master Gardeners is a volunteer service organization where advanced horticulture education and training are provided in exchange for volunteer service within the community. In 2023, 375 active Master Gardener volunteers served the community by:
- Donating nearly 7,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries.
- Providing community spaces for education and respite through three community gardens.
- Demonstration Garden, Urbandale
- Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines
- Enabling Garden, Altoona
- Serving over 13,500 service hours!
About ISU Extension and Outreach in Polk County
For over 100 years, ISU Extension and Outreach in Polk County has served its residents by connecting them to research and resources developed by Iowa State University. Knowledge and programs offered through the ISU Extension Polk County office have been specifically tailored to represent, enhance, and meet the needs of Polk County residents and the community. For 2023 ISU Extension in Polk County will focus on local issues including K-12 youth outreach; family and food; and agriculture and the environment. ISU Extension and Outreach in Polk County is part of a 99-county campus backed by research to serve all Iowans to create a strong Iowa.
