The 34th Annual American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) Conference is coming to Seattle from August 8 to 11. Hundreds of people from around the US and the world will be converging on the University of Washington campus to share and learn about urban agriculture and community gardening. Of course, the P-Patch Community Gardening Program and its partners will have the opportunity to “wow” the attendees with the progressive activities and techniques used across this region. Just recently, the public has been invited to participate in the workshops and tours.
On the tours, participants can visit innovative sites, learn about community orchards, even study garden design and art while meeting people from around the world who are involved in community gardening. Most tours occur on Saturday, August 10 from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. All tours cost $40 and include lunch and transportation. To view the tour descriptions and to register, visit the ACGA website.
Community members can also attend conference workshops and functions a la carte with more than 50 topics to choose from. Conference sessions are as follows:
- Friday – Keynote speaker, lunch, and workshops from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for $75
- Friday night – Gala Dinner and Silent Auction for $85
- Saturday – Workshops from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for $40
- Saturday and Sunday – Workshops, tours, and closing panel from 8 a.m. – 12 noon for $80.
Workshops are conducted by experts in urban agriculture, community gardening, and associated topics. Topic sessions include:
- Horticulture, permaculture, and city livestock
- Garden/farm to table to compost to garden/farm
- Health, prevention and therapy
- Cultural, social, and environmental justice
To learn more about each day’s activities, view the conference schedule and register here for the a la carte sessions. The conference will be held at University of Washington’s Gould Hall (3949 15th Ave NE).
The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Community Gardening Program is a host of the ACGA Conference. For more information on the workshops and tours, contact Sandy Pernitz at sandy.pernitz@seattle.gov.
