Gardening in a Warming World

Gardeners are keen observers of what is required to grow healthy plants of all types and sizes. New strategies and solutions to the problems presented by cultivating living things are often contemplative acts. These actions will hold gardeners in good stead as we face climate change—an unprecedented phenomenon that amplifies all those conditions that can make or break our gardening success. Deep reflection on our strategies in tending our lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and IPM will be required to manage and adapt to this latest—and biggest—challenge.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer network is working to strengthen understanding and inspire us to take actions in our gardens and communities that will help address the global crisis of climate change. Supporting this effort, we produced this Gardening in a Warming World curriculum for gardeners, homeowners, educators, volunteers, teachers, students and anyone interested in exploring how we might examine our gardening practice through the lens of climate change mitigation and adaptation.  This session will demonstrate how to lead a community conversation on climate change in the garden, with a focus on IPM strategies.
 

This event is part of the Sustainable Landscapes and Integrated Pest Management Conference. 

About the Speaker

Ashley Helmholdt works as the Adult Program Leader for Cornell Garden Based Learning. Ashley’s background is in sustainable planning, environmental education and civic engagement processes, focused on food systems and gardening projects. She has an Urban Planning and Environmental Studies BS from Michigan State University, and an Applied Research in Human Environment Relations MS from Cornell. She’s worked with national and regional non-profits, like Earth Force and the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, as well as with local government sustainability and farmers market management, developing new grants and education programs on food security, climate change and community gardens. She’s excited to support professional development resources for the Master Gardener Volunteer and Seed to Supper programs.

Programs she supports include: 

• Seed to Supper  

• Master Gardener Program