Featured Speakers

Matthew Wichrowski has been practicing horticultural therapy at New York University’s Langone Medical Center for almost 30 years as a Clinical Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine. He teaches in the Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and regularly presents at national and international conferences, including those hosted by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). Matt is Editor-in-Chief of AHTA’s Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture. He holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and is a registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR). We are very fortunate that Matt will be sharing time with us to discuss resiliency we face as gardeners.

Alicia Wasula is a forensic meteorologist and owner/ president of STM Weather, a meteorological firm that provides climatological analysis and weather preparedness plans. Alicia holds a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology from the University at Albany/SUNY. She serves on the Board of Best Practices for the American Meteorological Society and is also president of the Association of Certified Meteorologists. Alicia was an adjunct professor at Hudson Valley Community College for 14 years and is interested in helping the public better understand the science of meteorology and how it affects our daily lives.

Heather Darby is an agronomic and soils specialist for the University of Vermont Extension. She holds a PhD in Crops and Soils from Oregon State University. Heather conducts applied research on cover crops and reduced tillage, biofuel and forage crops as well as niche crops like hops, hemp, dry beans, and milkweed. Her outreach and education efforts center around environmental stewardship of the land with a focus on soil health, nutrient management, organic grain and forage production, and oilseed production. Heather also owns and operates a certified organic vegetable farm with her family in Northwest Vermont.

Sarah Kingsley-Richards is the Pesticide Safety Education program coordinator at UVM Extension. She works closely with the Integrated Pest Management Program, Plant Diagnostic Clinic, and the UVM Apple & Grape Team. Sarah holds a Master’s degree from UVM in Plant & Soil Science studying cold hardiness in perennial flowering plants.

8:30 a.m. Welcome

Statewide Outreach & Education Program Manager Deb Heleba will introduce the conference and get us grounded for the day.

9:00 a.m. Cultivating Resilient Gardeners

Matthew Wichrowski will kick off the conference by delving into the world of personal resilience through the lens of gardening. We’ll discover how the act of nurturing plants can help us weather life's storms, reduce stress, and enhance our overall well-being. As gardeners and volunteers, we have the unique opportunity to share the profound healing qualities of gardens with the wider community. Learn how gardening can strengthen your personal resilience and inspire others to embrace the healing potential of gardens.

10:00 a.m. Stretch Break

10:10 a.m. Resilient Gardens in the Face of Climate Change

Climate change is undeniably affecting our world, and its impact on our gardens is becoming increasingly evident. Alicia Wasula will address what we know about climate change and what we don't. She will discuss how climate change may affect our area, including potential increases in temperature, shifts in precipitation patterns, and more extreme weather events. Understanding potential local impacts is crucial for preparedness. Let’s learn how to fortify our gardens against the challenges of a changing world.

11:10 a.m. Stretch Break

11:20 a.m. Finding Resilience in the Soil

Healthy soils are the foundation of our gardens. Heather Darby will share her expertise and insights on the practical methods for nurturing soils that support the growth of healthy plants, ultimately feeding our bodies and strengthening our communities. She will provide important reminders of soil management practices, including organic matter enrichment, crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, all of which contribute to resilient soils. We will leave the session inspired to become stewards of the soil.

12:20 p.m. Optional Gardeners' Gather & Grow: A Lunchtime Reflection

Grab your lunch and gather with a friendly circle of fellow gardeners to exchange stories of triumphs and trials from the season, and to ponder the morning's presentations. These casual, small-group get-togethers offer a chance to connect with kindred gardeners...and it's totally optional. You may select a themed circle led by Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers or join a general circle. Themed circles include the following. 

1. From Compost to Fertile Soil in Raised Bed Systems with UVM EMG Dan Steinbauer
2. Cultivating Community through Seed Libraries with Iowa State University EMG coordinators Alicia Herzog and Megan Will
3. Jumping Worms--Keep Calm and Garden On with UVM EMG Cindy Heath
4. Becoming a Houseplant Hero with UVM EMG Judy Mirro
5. Morning Session Reflections: Key Takehome Lessons (no facilitator/open chat)
6. Gardening Season Reflections: Favorite Moments (no facilitator/open chat)

1:20 p.m.  A Look at BioPesticides

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an essential strategy for maintaining the health and productivity of gardens and ecosystems while minimizing harm to the environment and human health. An emerging component of IPM is the use of biopesticides, a class of pest management tools derived from natural sources such as bacteria, plants, animals, and minerals. In this presentation, Sarah Kingsley-Richards will explore with us the world of biological pest management products, their applications, and potential to reduce conventional pesticide use, adapt plants to climate stress, and improve ecosystem understanding.

2:20 p.m. Wrap-Up

We'll end the conference with a fun group exercise!

2:30 p.m. Adjourn

Registration Fees 

The registration fee covers your cost to participate in the live broadcast of the conference as outlined in the agenda below, plus access to recordings of keynote presentations for 30 days after the conference.

Sign up early to receive our early bird rate! -- early registration ends at midnight on 11/21. No conference discounts are available. Registration closes at midnight on November 30, 2023.

Conference rate before 11/22/23: $40 per person for the general public.

Conference rate 11/22 to 11/30/23: $55 per person for the general public.

Discounted Rate for Active Volunteers

We are offering a discounted registration rate for active UVM Extension Master Gardener (EMG) and Vermont Master Composter (VMC) Volunteers and Interns*

Conference rates before 11/22/23: $25 per volunteer 

Conference rates 11/22 to 11/30/23: $40 per volunteer

*The discount rate is available to volunteers and interns who have donated volunteer hours to our program in 2023. All others should register under the standard rate.

Location

The conference will be held online over Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link and other conference information on December 1, 2023.

Accommodations

Thanks to Interpreter Services provided by the UVM Center for Academic Success, all conference presentations (except optional "Chat and Chew") will be live captioned. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Deb Heleba at debra.heleba@uvm.edu or 802-656-1777 by November 22, 2023 so we may assist you.  

Refund Policy

Cancellation requests must be made in writing to University Event Services registration team at eventregistration@uvm.edu. Requests made by November 30, 2023, will receive a refund minus a $5 cancellation fee. No refunds are available after the close of registration at midnight ET on November 30, 2023.

UVM Extension Master Gardener & Composter Hours

Certified UVM Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter volunteers may claim Continuing Education hours for this conference. 

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Heleba by email at debra.heleba@uvm.edu or phone at 802-656-1777.