All seminars are FREE with your Festival ticket unless otherwise indicated!
Plan your Festival experience around your favorite speakers, special events, and activities!
Check back closer to your visit for the latest schedule updates and new additions.
Sunday, February 21, 2027
Book Signing Add to Calendar
Adams Room
Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)
Sponsored by:
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10:30am |
Companion Planting: Fact, Folklore or Does It Matter? (Live Podcast Recording) Dagny Kream - Accessible Gardening Advocate, Garden Girls Podcast Co-Host, Content Creator Meagan Lloyd - Content Creator, Garden Girls Podcast Co-Host Join a live recording of the Garden Girls Podcast for a lively look at one of gardening’s most passionately held beliefs, and one of its least scientifically validated practices. What actually holds up, what is garden folklore, and does knowing the difference always matter? Dig into companion planting claims, from those backed by research to ideas that are anecdotal but still plausible. Along the way, consider whether the real value may sometimes lie less in finding a definitive answer and more in becoming a gardener who observes, experiments, and pays closer attention to what’s happening in the garden. |
Companion Planting: Fact, Folklore or Does It Matter? (Live Podcast Recording)
Join a live recording of the Garden Girls Podcast for a lively look at one of gardening’s most passionately held beliefs, and one of its least scientifically validated practices. What actually holds up, what is garden folklore, and does knowing the difference always matter? Dig into companion planting claims, from those backed by research to ideas that are anecdotal but still plausible. Along the way, consider whether the real value may sometimes lie less in finding a definitive answer and more in becoming a gardener who observes, experiments, and pays closer attention to what’s happening in the garden. Sunday, February 21, 2027 10:30am
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12:00pm |
Big Harvests, Small Spaces Graylen Brown - Content Creator, Texas Master Gardener
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You don’t need a big backyard to grow your own food. Discover how balconies, patios, sunny windowsills, and other small spaces can become productive edible gardens with the right approach. Learn practical strategies for container gardening, vertical growing, soil management, raised beds, and grow bags, all designed to make the most of limited space. Whether you’re starting with a few pots or looking to increase what you already grow, you’ll leave with ideas for creating a thriving food garden wherever you have room to plant.
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Big Harvests, Small Spaces
You don’t need a big backyard to grow your own food. Discover how balconies, patios, sunny windowsills, and other small spaces can become productive edible gardens with the right approach. Learn practical strategies for container gardening, vertical growing, soil management, raised beds, and grow bags, all designed to make the most of limited space. Whether you’re starting with a few pots or looking to increase what you already grow, you’ll leave with ideas for creating a thriving food garden wherever you have room to plant.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 12:00pm
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1:30pm |
The Future of Chicken Keeping (Panel) Johannes Paul - Co-founder of Omlet, Chicken Expert
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What does a happy, healthy backyard flock really need? This panel brings together experienced chicken keepers to look at how our understanding of chickens, and the way we care for them, continues to evolve. From behavior, intelligence, and surprisingly complex social lives to thoughtful care and better living environments, the conversation will examine what helps chickens thrive. Whether you’re considering your first flock or have been keeping chickens for years, come away with practical insights and fresh ideas for creating a healthier, happier life with your birds.
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The Future of Chicken Keeping (Panel)
What does a happy, healthy backyard flock really need? This panel brings together experienced chicken keepers to look at how our understanding of chickens, and the way we care for them, continues to evolve. From behavior, intelligence, and surprisingly complex social lives to thoughtful care and better living environments, the conversation will examine what helps chickens thrive. Whether you’re considering your first flock or have been keeping chickens for years, come away with practical insights and fresh ideas for creating a healthier, happier life with your birds.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 1:30pm
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3:00pm |
Cannabis in the Garden: a New Story for an Ancient Herb Penny Barthel - Author, Cannabis Educator
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Cannabis has been grown by humans for thousands of years for fiber, food, medicine, and more. Today, this ancient herb is finding a new place in the home garden as a lush, dramatic plant with a fascinating story. Take a closer look at Cannabis sativa through its history, botany, medicinal uses, and horticulture, then turn to the practical side of growing it at home. From cultivation and care to harvesting, discover what makes this remarkably useful plant so distinctive and why gardeners may want to see cannabis in an entirely new light.
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Cannabis in the Garden: a New Story for an Ancient Herb
Cannabis has been grown by humans for thousands of years for fiber, food, medicine, and more. Today, this ancient herb is finding a new place in the home garden as a lush, dramatic plant with a fascinating story. Take a closer look at Cannabis sativa through its history, botany, medicinal uses, and horticulture, then turn to the practical side of growing it at home. From cultivation and care to harvesting, discover what makes this remarkably useful plant so distinctive and why gardeners may want to see cannabis in an entirely new light.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 3:00pm
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Hood Room
Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)
Sponsored by:
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10:45am |
Never Hand-Pull Weeds Again Sean Pessarra - Founder of Mindful Farmer
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Tired of spending your weekends pulling weeds? Discover proven organic strategies for preventing weeds before they become a problem, using the same approaches professional growers rely on to dramatically reduce weed pressure without herbicides. Learn how mulches, cover crops, silage tarps, stale seedbeds, cultivation tools, crop spacing, and an understanding of weed biology can help you stay ahead of unwanted plants. Whether you’re growing flowers, vegetables, or maintaining landscape beds, you’ll leave with a practical weed-management system designed to mean less time weeding and more time enjoying the growing season.
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Never Hand-Pull Weeds Again
Tired of spending your weekends pulling weeds? Discover proven organic strategies for preventing weeds before they become a problem, using the same approaches professional growers rely on to dramatically reduce weed pressure without herbicides. Learn how mulches, cover crops, silage tarps, stale seedbeds, cultivation tools, crop spacing, and an understanding of weed biology can help you stay ahead of unwanted plants. Whether you’re growing flowers, vegetables, or maintaining landscape beds, you’ll leave with a practical weed-management system designed to mean less time weeding and more time enjoying the growing season.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 10:45am
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12:00pm |
Top Home Greenhouse Mistakes + The FIX! Leslie Halleck - Author, Certified Professional Horticulturist, Instructor A home greenhouse can extend the growing season, protect delicate plants, and increase yields, but it also introduces a new set of challenges. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light, and watering all need to work together to keep plants thriving. Whether you’re setting up your first greenhouse or fine-tuning an existing one, find out what commonly goes wrong, why it happens, and what you can do about it. From preventing problems before they start to correcting trouble once it appears, you’ll come away with practical solutions that can save time, money, and frustration. |
Top Home Greenhouse Mistakes + The FIX!
A home greenhouse can extend the growing season, protect delicate plants, and increase yields, but it also introduces a new set of challenges. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light, and watering all need to work together to keep plants thriving. Whether you’re setting up your first greenhouse or fine-tuning an existing one, find out what commonly goes wrong, why it happens, and what you can do about it. From preventing problems before they start to correcting trouble once it appears, you’ll come away with practical solutions that can save time, money, and frustration. Sunday, February 21, 2027 12:00pm
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1:15pm |
Soil Testing Made Simple Matt Williams - Educator, Plant & Soil Scientist, SoiLab Creator
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Ever looked at a soil test report and wondered, What do all these numbers actually mean? Learn how to take a useful soil sample, understand the results, and turn all that data into smarter decisions for your garden. Explore when and how to sample soil, the tools and techniques that produce accurate results, and how different laboratories test and report what they find. Using reports from three different soil-testing labs, learn how to interpret pH, nutrient levels, and other results to make informed choices about fertilizers and amendments.
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Soil Testing Made Simple
Ever looked at a soil test report and wondered, What do all these numbers actually mean? Learn how to take a useful soil sample, understand the results, and turn all that data into smarter decisions for your garden. Explore when and how to sample soil, the tools and techniques that produce accurate results, and how different laboratories test and report what they find. Using reports from three different soil-testing labs, learn how to interpret pH, nutrient levels, and other results to make informed choices about fertilizers and amendments.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 1:15pm
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2:30pm |
Gardens as Gateways to Community Hillarie Maddox - Community Educator, Farming Advocate, Somatic Practitioner
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Gardens are more than beautiful spaces. They can also be places where community takes root. Through reflection, conversation, and somatic practice, consider how our gardens connect us to the people and systems already growing around us. Look at the networks that exist in every garden: the neighbors who walk by, the plants we inherit or exchange, and the food systems we’re part of. Whether you’re growing a single container or tending an urban garden, discover the stories of connection already present and leave with a renewed perspective on gardening as a way to cultivate community.
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Gardens as Gateways to Community
Gardens are more than beautiful spaces. They can also be places where community takes root. Through reflection, conversation, and somatic practice, consider how our gardens connect us to the people and systems already growing around us. Look at the networks that exist in every garden: the neighbors who walk by, the plants we inherit or exchange, and the food systems we’re part of. Whether you’re growing a single container or tending an urban garden, discover the stories of connection already present and leave with a renewed perspective on gardening as a way to cultivate community.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 2:30pm
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Rainier Room
Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)
Sponsored by:
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10:00am |
Germinate! Growing from Seed Made Simple Joseph Tychonievich - Author, Comic Book Artist, Horticulturist, Plant Breeder
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Growing from seed opens the door to an incredible range of plants you may never find at the garden center, and it can save you money along the way. But if you’ve never tried it before, getting started can feel overwhelming. Learn the simple tools and techniques you need to grow successfully from seed, whether you’re dreaming of vegetables, perennials, or even trees. You’ll leave with a straightforward approach to seed-starting and the confidence to start growing more of the plants you want from scratch. |
Germinate! Growing from Seed Made Simple
Growing from seed opens the door to an incredible range of plants you may never find at the garden center, and it can save you money along the way. But if you’ve never tried it before, getting started can feel overwhelming. Learn the simple tools and techniques you need to grow successfully from seed, whether you’re dreaming of vegetables, perennials, or even trees. You’ll leave with a straightforward approach to seed-starting and the confidence to start growing more of the plants you want from scratch. Sunday, February 21, 2027 10:00am
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11:15am |
Pure Imagination : The Artistry of Edible Landscapes Christian Douglas Author, Award-Winning Landscape Designer Colin McCrate - Author, Founder of Seattle Urban Farm Company What if your edible garden could be every bit as beautiful as an ornamental one? Discover how thoughtful design and innovative growing techniques can transform an outdoor space into a landscape that is both beautiful and delicious. Learn how design principles, plant choices, growing techniques, and healthy soil can work together to create productive landscapes with food at their core. You’ll come away with fresh ideas for reimagining the traditional edible garden and bringing greater beauty, creativity, and abundance to the food you grow. |
Pure Imagination : The Artistry of Edible Landscapes
What if your edible garden could be every bit as beautiful as an ornamental one? Discover how thoughtful design and innovative growing techniques can transform an outdoor space into a landscape that is both beautiful and delicious. Learn how design principles, plant choices, growing techniques, and healthy soil can work together to create productive landscapes with food at their core. You’ll come away with fresh ideas for reimagining the traditional edible garden and bringing greater beauty, creativity, and abundance to the food you grow. Sunday, February 21, 2027 11:15am
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12:30pm |
Regenerate America: A Virtual Tour of the Nation's Leading Farms Andrew Tuttle - Co-founder of Edge Perma, Edmonds College Instructor, Pragtree Farm Steward
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Travel across the United States for an immersive look at some of the nation’s most innovative regenerative farms. Through drone footage, 360° imagery, interviews, and virtual field tours, visit sites including Savanna Institute’s Vernal Ridge research farm, Ocean Hour Farm, Alexandre Family Farm, and Sierra Orchards. See how farmers working across diverse landscapes are putting regenerative practices into action, from agroforestry and silvopasture to soil health practices and ecosystem restoration. Together, these farms offer a fascinating look at different approaches to building resilient food systems for the future. |
Regenerate America: A Virtual Tour of the Nation's Leading Farms
Travel across the United States for an immersive look at some of the nation’s most innovative regenerative farms. Through drone footage, 360° imagery, interviews, and virtual field tours, visit sites including Savanna Institute’s Vernal Ridge research farm, Ocean Hour Farm, Alexandre Family Farm, and Sierra Orchards. See how farmers working across diverse landscapes are putting regenerative practices into action, from agroforestry and silvopasture to soil health practices and ecosystem restoration. Together, these farms offer a fascinating look at different approaches to building resilient food systems for the future. Sunday, February 21, 2027 12:30pm
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1:45pm (Rainier Room) |
REGEN: A New Future For Farming, Food, and Health David Montgomery - Author, MacArthur Fellow, Professor of Geomorphology
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A century of conventional farming has taken a toll on our soils, contributing to declining fertility, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change. But rebuilding soil health offers practical solutions, and many of the same principles can apply from farms to home gardens. Drawing on the work of farmers, historians, and researchers, discover how regenerative practices including cover cropping, reduced tillage, and greater plant diversity can rebuild healthy soil while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. See how changing the way we care for the land beneath our feet can help restore the soil that grows our food and contribute to a healthier future for the land and ourselves. |
REGEN: A New Future For Farming, Food, and Health
A century of conventional farming has taken a toll on our soils, contributing to declining fertility, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change. But rebuilding soil health offers practical solutions, and many of the same principles can apply from farms to home gardens. Drawing on the work of farmers, historians, and researchers, discover how regenerative practices including cover cropping, reduced tillage, and greater plant diversity can rebuild healthy soil while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. See how changing the way we care for the land beneath our feet can help restore the soil that grows our food and contribute to a healthier future for the land and ourselves. Sunday, February 21, 2027 1:45pm
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DIY Demo Stage
Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)
DIY Demo Stage sponsored by:
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1:15pm |
Plant Guilds: Grow More in Layers Jessi Bloom - Author, Certified Arborist, Ecological Landscape Designer
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What if your plants could help each other grow? In nature, they do. Discover how to build “plant guilds,” simple groups of plants that work together as a team. Through a practical demonstration, learn how trees, shrubs, herbs, and groundcovers can be combined into layered systems that improve soil, attract pollinators, reduce weeds, and grow food with less work over time. You’ll leave understanding how to start building plant guilds in your own garden, even in a small space.
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Plant Guilds: Grow More in Layers
What if your plants could help each other grow? In nature, they do. Discover how to build “plant guilds,” simple groups of plants that work together as a team. Through a practical demonstration, learn how trees, shrubs, herbs, and groundcovers can be combined into layered systems that improve soil, attract pollinators, reduce weeds, and grow food with less work over time. You’ll leave understanding how to start building plant guilds in your own garden, even in a small space.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 1:15pm
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10:15am |
Growing Food When Water is Scarce Lisa Taylor - Author, Master Composter, Organic Gardening Consultant
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Hot, dry summers can be just as challenging for Pacific Northwest vegetable gardeners as long, cool springs. See practical ways to keep an edible garden productive while using water more thoughtfully. Through demonstration and practical examples, find out how to conserve water, deliver it where plants need it most, and improve soil so it holds moisture longer. Get a look at useful watering tools and vegetable varieties better suited to hot, dry conditions, with ideas you can put to work in your own food garden.
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Growing Food When Water is Scarce
Hot, dry summers can be just as challenging for Pacific Northwest vegetable gardeners as long, cool springs. See practical ways to keep an edible garden productive while using water more thoughtfully. Through demonstration and practical examples, find out how to conserve water, deliver it where plants need it most, and improve soil so it holds moisture longer. Get a look at useful watering tools and vegetable varieties better suited to hot, dry conditions, with ideas you can put to work in your own food garden.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 10:15am
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2:45pm |
Thinking Like a Bee: What Mason Bees Really Need from You Dave Hunter - Author, Founder/Owner of Crown Bees
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Confused about bee houses and all the Mason bee-raising advice out there? Learn what these important pollinators actually need to thrive and how to create a garden that supports them throughout their life cycle. Bring your bee house questions, and you’ll leave knowing what works, what doesn’t, and how to handle some of the common challenges that come with raising Mason bees. Learn how to create the right conditions for Mason bees and gardens to thrive together.
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Thinking Like a Bee: What Mason Bees Really Need from You
Confused about bee houses and all the Mason bee-raising advice out there? Learn what these important pollinators actually need to thrive and how to create a garden that supports them throughout their life cycle. Bring your bee house questions, and you’ll leave knowing what works, what doesn’t, and how to handle some of the common challenges that come with raising Mason bees. Learn how to create the right conditions for Mason bees and gardens to thrive together.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 2:45pm
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Creative Studio: Hands-on Workshops
Seminar Level (3rd floor, Tahoma Level)
Sponsored by:
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12:00pm |
Seed Snails: Sow, Roll & Grow Kendall Becherer - Content Creator, Educator, WSU Master Gardener Additional Ticket Required Roll up your sleeves and discover a wonderfully space-saving way to start seeds. Build your own seed snail from the ground up by adding potting mix and choosing from a selection of seeds suited to this clever growing method, then roll it all together into a compact little nursery for healthy, deep-rooted seedlings. As your snail takes shape, find out what makes some seeds particularly good candidates for this growing method, how to care for your seedlings through germination and early growth, and when they’re ready to up-pot or transplant. You’ll leave with your own planted seed snail ready to grow at home, a few complimentary seed packets to keep the growing going, and a clever new seed-starting technique to use season after season. All materials, including seeds, are provided, along with a complimentary pair of WomansWork gloves.
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Seed Snails: Sow, Roll & Grow
Roll up your sleeves and discover a wonderfully space-saving way to start seeds. Build your own seed snail from the ground up by adding potting mix and choosing from a selection of seeds suited to this clever growing method, then roll it all together into a compact little nursery for healthy, deep-rooted seedlings. As your snail takes shape, find out what makes some seeds particularly good candidates for this growing method, how to care for your seedlings through germination and early growth, and when they’re ready to up-pot or transplant. You’ll leave with your own planted seed snail ready to grow at home, a few complimentary seed packets to keep the growing going, and a clever new seed-starting technique to use season after season. All materials, including seeds, are provided, along with a complimentary pair of WomansWork gloves.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 12:00pm
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2:00pm |
Plan, Plant & Partake: Grow a Tea Garden Dagny Kream - Accessible Gardening Advocate, Garden Girls Podcast Co-Host, Content Creator
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Design and plant your own tea garden from seed, choosing from tea-worthy herbs and flowers such as chamomile, lemon balm, and anise hyssop to create a combination that’s uniquely yours. Get your hands in the soil as you fill your seed-starting cells, sow your selections, and set up your miniature garden to take home and grow, with practical guidance for nurturing, harvesting, and drying what you’ve planted. And because waiting for seeds to grow requires patience, you’ll have something to sip in the meantime. Play with the scents and flavors of dried herbs to create a custom loose-leaf tea blend, then package it in a tin to take home alongside your newly planted garden. All materials are provided, along with a complimentary pair of WomansWork gloves.
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Plan, Plant & Partake: Grow a Tea Garden
Design and plant your own tea garden from seed, choosing from tea-worthy herbs and flowers such as chamomile, lemon balm, and anise hyssop to create a combination that’s uniquely yours. Get your hands in the soil as you fill your seed-starting cells, sow your selections, and set up your miniature garden to take home and grow, with practical guidance for nurturing, harvesting, and drying what you’ve planted. And because waiting for seeds to grow requires patience, you’ll have something to sip in the meantime. Play with the scents and flavors of dried herbs to create a custom loose-leaf tea blend, then package it in a tin to take home alongside your newly planted garden. All materials are provided, along with a complimentary pair of WomansWork gloves.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 2:00pm
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Main Stage
Back of North Hall
Main Stage sponsored by: 
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11:00am |
Container Showdown Graylen Brown - Content Creator, Texas Master Gardener Kelsey Segaloff - Content Creator, Podcast Host, Nerd You don’t need a big backyard to grow your own food. Discover how balconies, patios, sunny windowsills, and other small spaces can become productive edible gardens with the right approach. Learn practical strategies for container gardening, vertical growing, soil management, raised beds, and grow bags, all designed to make the most of limited space. Whether you’re starting with a few pots or looking to increase what you already grow, you’ll leave with ideas for creating a thriving food garden wherever you have room to plant.
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Container Showdown
You don’t need a big backyard to grow your own food. Discover how balconies, patios, sunny windowsills, and other small spaces can become productive edible gardens with the right approach. Learn practical strategies for container gardening, vertical growing, soil management, raised beds, and grow bags, all designed to make the most of limited space. Whether you’re starting with a few pots or looking to increase what you already grow, you’ll leave with ideas for creating a thriving food garden wherever you have room to plant.
Sunday, February 21, 2027 11:00am
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1:00pm |
Epic Gardening & Friends Jacques Lyakov - Garden Hermit, Epic Gardening Creator
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What's new and exciting in the world of gardening? Join Jacques Lyakov from Epic Gardening and some of your favorite Epic creators for a lively session packed with fresh ideas, gardening inspiration, and a little unexpected fun. From seeds and soil to raised beds and beyond, discover what's growing, what's trending, and what the Epic Gardening team is excited about sharing with gardeners. Come for the gardening tips, stay for the prizes and surprises! And if you're really lucky, you might even get to wear Jacques' signature hat. |
Epic Gardening & Friends
What's new and exciting in the world of gardening? Join Jacques Lyakov from Epic Gardening and some of your favorite Epic creators for a lively session packed with fresh ideas, gardening inspiration, and a little unexpected fun. From seeds and soil to raised beds and beyond, discover what's growing, what's trending, and what the Epic Gardening team is excited about sharing with gardeners. Come for the gardening tips, stay for the prizes and surprises! And if you're really lucky, you might even get to wear Jacques' signature hat. Sunday, February 21, 2027 1:00pm
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Meet & Greet
Meet & Greet Café
Sponsored by: 
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12:30pm-2:30pm |
Meet & Greet: Chick Week Something to Cluck About! We're cooking up a little feathered fun for Homegrown/Homestead Day! Rumor has it some rather fancy chickens might be making an appearance, but we're keeping a few surprises under our wings for now. Stay tuned! We'll have more to crow about soon...
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Meet & Greet: Chick Week
Something to Cluck About! We're cooking up a little feathered fun for Homegrown/Homestead Day! Rumor has it some rather fancy chickens might be making an appearance, but we're keeping a few surprises under our wings for now. Stay tuned! We'll have more to crow about soon...
Sunday, February 21, 2027 12:30pm-2:30pm
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