Spring Garden Symposium
A Premier gardening event Brought to you by UNH Extension Master Gardeners
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | in-person* or remote
$45 per session or $70 for both. NH Master Gardener Alumni Association members receive a discount.
Registration Deadline: March 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Registration for the breakout sessions on Saturday morning are FULL
All other aspects of the symposium are open!
*In-person location on Saturday is University of Southern New Hampshire in Manchester/Hooksett
The Spring Garden Symposium is perfect for anyone who enjoys gardening and learning ways to do it better. It has remote and in-person options and features four presentations by gardening experts. A silent auction fundraiser for UNH Extension Master Gardeners includes gardening tools, supplies, artwork, experiences and more. MainStreet Bookends of Warner will also be on hand selling garden-related books, including those written by some of the speakers.
The Spring Garden Symposium is an important fundraiser for the NH Master Gardener Alumni Association, with proceeds supporting Extension Master Gardener projects across New Hampshire such as educational, community, food pantry and therapy gardens at schools, youth centers, historic museums, nature centers and libraries.
Proceeds support Master Gardener programs | New items added often
See items at the Symposium after noon on Saturday, March 22. Auction ends at 3:00 p.m.
Symposium attendance or registration not required to bid or win.
Schedule
Friday, March 21, 2025 (Fully on-line)
12:45 – Open the Zoom meeting
1:00 – Welcome to the Symposium
1:15 – Emily Baisden – Cultivating Community through Seed Saving
2:30 – Break, check out the on-line silent auction items
3:00 – Jennifer Jewel – Cultivating Community and Place through Gardens
4:15 – Wrap up
Saturday, March 22, 2025 (Hybrid event – live at SNHU, live stream option)
Master Gardener Interest Group Discussions – ONSITE ONLY
8:45 AM – Check-in for in-person interest group discussion attendees
Breakout Sessions ARE FULL - you can still register for the day.
9:15 AM – Session 1
A: Native Plants & Their Benefits to Wildlife
B: Herb Gardening & Gardens for the Senses
10:15 AM –Break with refreshments for onsite attendees
10:30 AM – Session 2
C: Pollinator Gardens – More than Nectar Plants
D: Historic Gardens – The Stories they can Tell
11:30 AM - Lunch - available in the SNHU Cafeteria (buffet $15), pay on site
12:15 PM – Check-in for in-person attendees
12:45 PM - Check-in for on-line attendees
1:00 PM – Welcome
1:15 PM – Sean O’Brien and Community Garden Panel – Gardening in and for Communities
2:30 PM – Break: silent auction, book sales, displays, refreshments
3:00 PM - Auction closes
3:15 – Barbara Young – Designing Gardens to Foster Community
4:30 – Silent auction and wrap-up
2025 Presenters
Emily will address best practices for wild and cultivated seed saving. She will discuss the benefits for plant diversity and how seed saving can enhance wild and cultivated communities.
About the Presenter
Emily Baisden, Seed Center Director with the Wild Seed Project. Learn more about Emily Baisden.
Jennifer will share her vast knowledge about how gardens provide communities with local food and are integral to deepening community and neighborhood connections. She will also describe the significance of plants, seeds, and gardens to our personal and shared connections with culture and our ecology.
About the Presenter
Jennifer Jewell, author, gardener and founder of the podcast Cultivating Place. Learn more about Jennifer Jewell.
Sean will engage a panel of Community Garden leaders from around the state as they share how these gardens are examples of growing plants and connections that make communities stronger. Benefits and challenges of community gardening will be addressed.
About the Presenter
Sean O’Brien, UNH Extension Home Horticulture Program Manager. Learn more about Sean O’Brien.
Barb will provide considerations and examples for designing garden features that embrace natural and human communities in public and private garden settings. She will explore practical ideas for including diverse stakeholders and building gardens that bring wider communities together around shared goals.
About the Presenter
Barb Young, Owner of The Big Little Garden and garden coach. Learn more about Barb Young.
Click here to register for one or two days
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | in-person* or remote
$45 per session or $70 for both. NH Master Gardener Alumni Association members receive a discount.
*In-person location on Saturday is University of Southern New Hampshire in Manchester/Hooksett
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact [Ruth Smith, ruth.smith@unh.edu, 603-351-3831] prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.
