Topeka Common Ground, Inc.

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Join us for a half-day conference designed to provide real-world knowledge and useful strategies for gardeners at any level&mdash;from beginners just getting started to those managing community garden projects. Throughout the conference, you&#39;ll hear from local speakers on topics like:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to grow lesser-known or culturally unique vegetables</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tips for starting a home or community garden</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Introduction to hugelkultur and low-maintenance soil-building</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">What to do with your harvest: recipe planning, preserving &amp; donating</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Edible native plants</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tips for engaging and retaining community garden volunteers</li></ul>You&#39;ll also have time to explore vendor and resource tables, connect with fellow growers and join in a closing raffle and group activity. Tentative Schedule Overview:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">8:30 a.m. &ndash; Check-in Opens</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">9:00 a.m. &ndash; Welcome &amp; Keynote&quot;Le Bizzarre: Growing Unique Vegetables from Italy and Beyond&quot;, Will Nagengast, Seeds from Italy</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">10:00 &ndash; 10:45 a.m. - Breakout Sessions&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Starting a New Home or Community Garden: Tips for Success Barbara LaClair, Topeka Common Ground&nbsp; OR</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hugelkulture - Water, Soil, and Beauty Amber Thumann, Kansas Permaculture Institute</li></ul></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">10:55 - 11:40 - Breakout Sessions&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Growing a Native Food Forest Kevin Siek, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners OR</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Building Volunteer Networks Jenna Gorton, United Way of Kaw Valley</li></ul></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">11:55 - 12:50 - You Grew It! Now What To Do With It? Making the Most of Your Garden HarvestCarrie Riordan, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">12:40 p.m. &ndash; 1:30 pm. Closing Group Activity &amp; Door Prize Raffle</li></ul>Register now to save your seat! Register by February 23, 2026. Learn more about Topeka Common Ground at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://topekacommonground.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">topekacommonground.org</a>.

Join us for a half-day conference designed to provide real-world knowledge and useful strategies for gardeners at any level—from beginners just getting started to those managing community garden projects. Throughout the conference, you'll hear from local speakers on topics like:<ul><li>How to grow lesser-known or culturally unique vegetables</li><li>Tips for starting a home or community garden</li><li>Introduction to hugelkultur and low-maintenance soil-building</li><li>What to do with your harvest: recipe planning, preserving &amp; donating</li><li>Edible native plants</li><li>Tips for engaging and retaining community garden volunteers</li></ul>You'll also have time to explore vendor and resource tables, connect with fellow growers and join in a closing raffle and group activity. Tentative Schedule Overview:<ul><li>8:30 a.m. – Check-in Opens</li><li>9:00 a.m. – Welcome &amp; Keynote"Le Bizzarre: Growing Unique Vegetables from Italy and Beyond", Will Nagengast, Seeds from Italy</li><li>10:00 – 10:45 a.m. - Breakout Sessions <ul><li>Starting a New Home or Community Garden: Tips for Success Barbara LaClair, Topeka Common Ground  OR</li><li>Hugelkulture - Water, Soil, and Beauty Amber Thumann, Kansas Permaculture Institute</li></ul></li><li>10:55 - 11:40 - Breakout Sessions <ul><li>Growing a Native Food Forest Kevin Siek, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners OR</li><li>Building Volunteer Networks Jenna Gorton, United Way of Kaw Valley</li></ul></li><li>11:55 - 12:50 - You Grew It! Now What To Do With It? Making the Most of Your Garden HarvestCarrie Riordan, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners</li><li>12:40 p.m. – 1:30 pm. Closing Group Activity &amp; Door Prize Raffle</li></ul>Register now to save your seat! Register by February 23, 2026. Learn more about Topeka Common Ground at <a href="https://topekacommonground.org" target="_blank">topekacommonground.org</a>.

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Topeka Common Ground, Inc.

Topeka Common Ground's Garden Conference 2026

Washburn Institute of Technology 5724 SW Huntoon St

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Conference registration

$25

Become a member of Topeka Common Ground today

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