The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach 2026 Seeds for Thought Garden Symposium will be held on Saturday, October 10, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Grinnell College Humanities and Social Studies Center, 1226 Park St., in Grinnell. For 2026, this popular annual event moved from Jasper County (Newton) to Poweshiek County (Grinnell) and from spring to fall.

The event will feature two keynote speakers. In the morning, “Midwest Gal” Lisa Hinzman Howard will present “Cheap-Tricks Gardening: ‘Cause You Don’t Need to Spend a Fortune for Fabulous.”  The afternoon keynote features Dan Fillius, ISU Extension Commercial Vegetable Crops field specialist, presenting “Understanding Iowa Weather.”

Open to all, this educational program will offer a variety of breakout session topics sure to match any gardener’s interests.

Breakout-session presentations include “What’s Wrong With My Plants? Scouting for Vegetable Pests and Diseases” with Dan Fillius; “Soil Testing and Interpretation of Your Soil Test” and “The Difference Between Soil, Potting Mix, and Other Bagged Amendments” with Ray Kruse, Dubuque County Extension horticulturist; and “Other Fruits to Try Growing in Your Yard” and “Shedding Some Light on Plant Lighting” with Randall Vos, Commercial Fruit Crops field specialist.

Registration fee is $45 and includes the keynote presentations, two breakout sessions, and lunch. The registration deadline is October 8.  After October 8, please call Poweshiek County for availability at 641-623-5188. If space is available, a late fee of an additional $15 will be charged.

Details and registration here.

Sponsoring organizations include Grinnell College, Farm Credit Services, ISU Extension and Outreach from Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, and Poweshiek Counties.