Yard and Garden News
The following yard and garden news items are from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
- The Urban Agriculture team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering four Urban Agriculture Field Days in 2025, partnering with area urban farms. Local community members and those interested in urban agriculture are invited to attend.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering a fruit and vegetable production safety course this spring and summer. The course is designed to be easily understood by beginning gardeners while offering enough details to benefit experienced commercial growers.
- Are you worried about pests on your urban farm or in your garden? In the next installment of the Urban Ag Webinar Series, Ashley Dean will share the best Integrated Pest Management methods for urban settings. The webinar is set for Thursday, March 20, from 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. on Zoom.
- Master Gardeners in Johnson County partnered with Ecumenical Towers to create a hügelkultur garden that provides residents an innovative, accessible garden space for attracting pollinators. For this effort they have received the Search for Excellence Award from the Iowa Master Gardener program.
- In the midst of record setting food pantry usage throughout the state, Growing Together Iowa mini grants will provide fresh produce and nutrition education to pantries in 2025 through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's SNAP-Education program.
- Staff with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development are launching Iowa Kids Garden Day on May 21 to celebrate and encourage community efforts to grow, eat and learn in on-site gardens. K-12 school district staff, early care and education providers, families and community groups are invited to participate anytime throughout the month of May.
- Just in time for spring, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 2025 Seeds for Thought Garden Symposium will be held Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a monarch and pollinator habitat workshop on Tuesday, March 18, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library. Farmers, landowners and urban residents are welcome to attend the free workshop and a complimentary meal.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Wild-harvested Mushroom Certification Class will return this spring. The class is particularly relevant for those hoping to sell wild-harvested mushrooms, as sellers are legally required to complete a certification workshop to sell eight different varieties of wild-harvested mushrooms.
- Sansevieria is known for its ability to thrive in a variety of conditions, making it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists answer questions on these highly adaptable indoor plants.
- Iowa Learning Farms will host a series of monarch and pollinator habitat workshops in February and March. Farmers, landowners and urban residents are welcome to attend these free workshops that include a complimentary meal.
- The Siouxland Garden Symposium will take place on March 22 at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. This year's symposium will feature a lineup of expert speakers covering a range of topics of interest to the gardening community.
- Registration is open for the 2025 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, Feb. 11-12, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Session topics include viticulture, enology, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and business and marketing.
- The application window is opening Jan. 13 for this year’s spring Master Gardener training cohort, which will be offered in 23 counties or extension regions.
- After helping to deliver Master Conservationist and other programming for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Polk County in her previous role as natural resources programming coordinator, Gina Buelow is eager to implement these programs statewide in her new role as natural resources field specialist.