Friday, October 30, from 1-4pm @ Posner center in denver

Join The Urban Garden Project and easyDacha Gardening App for an afternoon of discussion about ways to thrive as we experience climate change.  We'll cover topics from the role of gardening in strengthening the social fabric to adapting gardening practices for hotter, drier growing seasons, and finish by hearing from key voices in the Denver Community Gardening ecosystem about their role and the outsized benefits of community gardening to a resilient city. 

Stay after for happy hour and learn more about easyDacha.

AGENDA

1:00-1:15 Welcome and Stage Setting

1:15-1:30 TED-Style Talk

Community Gardens as Essential Infrastructure for Thriving Cities

A TED-style talk on how community gardens contribute to food access, stronger neighborhoods, education, climate resilience, and healthier urban environments.

     Linda Appel Lipsius

     Founder | Executive Director

     The Urban Garden Project

1:30-2:30 

Panel: High Desert Gardening in the Time of Climate Change

A discussion on how heat, drought, water stress, and changing growing conditions are reshaping gardening in Colorado and what adaptation can look like.

- Moderator:

     Robert Sakata, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner

     Colorado Department of Agriculture

- Panelists:

     “Jungle Judy Elliott”

     Compost & Garden Education Director, Denver Urban Gardens

     Brian De Courte

     Owner, Ver De Terre Compost

     Diana Denwood

     Water Conservation Supervisor, Aurora Water

     Sally Herbert

     Founder, Altius Farms

     Andrew Hough     

     Owner, Colorado Fruitscapes

     Gardener Scott 

     Colorado garden educator & YouTube Creator

BREAK

2:45-3:45

Panel: Strengthening the Community Garden Movement - Stakeholder Voices 

- Moderator:

     Jill Litt, PhD

     Professor, The University of Colorado

- Panelists:

      Dan Goldhamer

      Director of Programs for The Office of Engagement & Extension (CSU Spur)

     Nessa Mogharreban

     Executive Director, Denver Urban Gardens

     Michelle Graham Rodriguez

     Climate Resiliency Senior Specialist

     Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) 

     City and County of Denver

     Chris Woodburn

     Sustainability Program Manager, Denver Public Schools

3:45-4:00

Reflection and Q&A

BREAK

4:00-6:00

Happy Hour & Poster Session

- easyDacha Live Gardening Tool Tab

☕️🫖🥕🍎🍪 Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided

🧭 The Posner Center is at 1031 33rd Street Denver, CO 80205