From Cook County Extension - January 13, 2026

University of Minnesota Extension educators are excited to offer the sixth annual Gardening from the Ground Up webinar series, a free weeklong program designed to help gardeners build skills from soil to harvest. Join us online February 16–20 from 1:00–2:30 p.m. each afternoon for five focused, practical sessions led by Extension experts, covering everything from building healthy soil and understanding microbes and product labels, adapting to shifting growing conditions, and harvesting and storing produce for long-lasting quality. 

Monday, February 16th: Inputs and Outputs: Building Healthy Garden Soil

Healthy soil is the key to a thriving garden. Troy Salzer and Robin Trott will explore what makes soil healthy, how to interpret soil test reports, and practical ways to improve soil structure, fertility, and biological activity. Whether you’re new to gardening or experienced, you’ll gain the knowledge to create nutrient-rich soil for beautiful, productive plants.

Tuesday, February 17th – Beneath the Surface: Myth-Busting Soil Microbes and Beneficials

Quincy Sadowski and Tarah Young will dispel the myths around soil microbes and beneficial insects and explore what they actually do. Discover how these tiny allies support soil health, nutrient availability, and overall plant growth.

Wednesday, February 18th – Decoding Garden Product Labels: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Katie Drewitz and Robin Trott will cover common terms like broadleaf, woody plants, grasses, pesticides, weed-and-feed products, and fertilizers. You’ll get practical tips for interpreting labels, choosing the right products, and learn what educators can and cannot say when offering guidance. By the end, you’ll feel confident navigating labels and selecting products that support a healthy, thriving garden.

Thursday, February 19th – The new normal? Air quality, smoke, and shifting growing conditions

Discover how air quality, smoke, and temperature shifts are altering growing conditions across Minnesota. Jillian Patrie and Tarah Young will explore sunlight trends with smoke conditions, USDA zone changes, and what these shifts mean for plants and production.

Friday, February 20th – Enjoying the bounty: Harvest and Storage of Garden Produce 

Which kinds of produce keep ripening after you pick them? Can anything survive a frost? Join Olivia Olson and Sarah Waddle for great tips on how and when to properly harvest your garden produce, maximize your yields with succession planting, and store produce properly to extend its freshness as long as possible. Leave with confidence that you’ll get the most out of your garden produce this season.

Gardeners and landowners across Minnesota are encouraged to attend and may benefit from this series. Gardening from the Ground Up is a collaborative effort by University of Minnesota local Extension educators from across the state, representing Benton, Clay, Cook, Douglas, Filmore, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Otter Tail, Sherburne, Stearns, St. Louis, and Wright counties.

To join us for one or all of these webinars, please register at z.umn.edu/GardenUp. Registering once will provide you access to all five sessions. Pre-registration is required to receive the webinar link. Recordings of the webinars will be sent out at the conclusion of the series.

As a perk of registering for Gardening from the Ground Up, registrants will later be invited to Garden Buzz in the summer of 2026. This opportunity gives participants exclusive access to expert Extension Educators to question their most pressing gardening questions. On the second Tuesday each month, May to October, the Local Extension Educator team will be live to answer your yard and garden questions from 12:00 pm -1:00 pm (Central Time). You can pop in to ask your question and then leave, or stay for the whole time to learn from others. Remember, only Gardening from the Ground Up registrants will gain access to this program!

If you have questions about the webinar series or need assistance with registration, please call your local Extension office. Residents in Cook County may contact Sarah Waddle at [email protected] or 218-387-3015.