Events and Outreach

Our programs will be tabling at the following Thurston County Farmers Markets and Community Events in 2026. Bring your gardening, composting, and recycling questions.

Saturday April 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fuchsia Saturday at Lacey Fred Meyer, 700 Sleater Kinney Rd SE, Lacey, WA 98503

• WSU Master Gardener volunteers and Master Recycler Composter volunteers will be available to help answer your gardening, composting, recycling, and waste reduction questions. WSU Master Gardener volunteers will also be potting plants for customers participating in the Fuchsia Saturday event.

Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nisqually Spring Expo at Yelm Middle School, 401 Coates Ave NW, Yelm, WA 98597

• WSU Master Gardener volunteers and Master Recycler Composter volunteers will be available to help answer your gardening, composting, recycling, and waste reduction questions. There will be fun activities and educational activities at our booths for adults and kids.

Past outreach: 

Saturday March 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thurston Conservation District Plant Festival, Thurston County Fairgrounds

Saturday March 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lacey Cultural Celebration, find us in the Worthington Center of the Pavilion at St. Martin’s University (FREE!)

Friday March 27, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., A Garden Trinity: Soil Pollinators and Plants Workshop, REI @ Capital Mall,  625 Black Lake Blvd SW Ste 410, Olympia, WA 98502 (FREE!)

Saturday March 28 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Sunday March 29 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Ask Your Local Experts, Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd SW, Olympia, WA 98502

More events will be posted here as they are confirmed. Stay tuned!

MG and MRC Volunteers at Thurston Conservation District Sale

Free Composting Workshops

For more information visit the Thurston County Master Recycler Composter Composting Workshops webpage

NOTE: Provided seating is limited for workshops hosted at Closed Loop Park Demonstration Garden. To guarantee a seat, please bring your own folding chair.

Free Gardening Workshops 

Check out free gardening workshops in the Demonstration Garden Events tab.  These gardening workshops take place at one of our 3 demonstration gardens in Thurston County.

Visit our Demonstration Garden webpage for more information about the three Demonstration Gardens in Thurston County.

Directions to Demonstration Gardens – Visit our Demonstration Garden webpage for directions and further details about the gardens.

Free events at Closed Loop Park

Open to all. No advance registration required, just show up.

All workshops lead by WSU Master Gardener and Thurston County Master Recycler Composter volunteers unless noted in the event listing.

Pruning for Novices, April 18, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The workshop will focus on the basics of pruning various ornamental plants. The following will be covered:

-The methods of pruning for different plant types (trees, shrubs, multi-stem)
-Pruning tools
-The different pruning cuts (good and bad ones)
-The steps of pruning

Meet at the Gazebo

Identifying Garden Weeds: Friends or Foes?, April 18, 11 a.m. to noon

You will learn about common garden weeds:

* What they tell you about the soil they thrive in.

*Learn best methods & tools for removal.

Weeds are the plants a gardener spends the most time with!J oin us for a cool discussion! Handouts provided!

Meet at Gazebo.

Introduction to Peonies with Steve Smith, President of the PNW Peony Society, May 16, 11 a.m. to noon

The workshop will cover many topics about the different types of peonies, an overview of the flower forms and best times for planting and care tips.

Meet at Gazebo

Gardening with an edge: use and maintenance of garden tools, June 20, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The discussion will focus on the basics of tools and care including:

• Top five garden tools
• Cleaning and sharpening techniques

Meet at the Nisqually Shed.

Lawn to Prairie Garden, June 20, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Learn how to replace your lawn with local native plants that need less water and fertilizer while benefiting pollinators! We will talk about:

• Techniques for removing lawn
• Optimal native plants
• Maintenance requirements
• How they benefit the environment

Meet at the Gazebo.

Events at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden

Directions to Demonstration Gardens – Visit our Demonstration Garden webpage for directions and further details about the gardens.

Children’s Garden @ Dirt Works Demonstration Garden 

More information on the Children’s Garden page. 

Dirt Works Open Gardens

Open Gardens are a time to take a stroll in beautiful surroundings, chat with WSU Master Gardener and Master Recycler Composting volunteers, and learn more about gardening and composting. View the schedule of open gardens at  Dirt Works. 

Directions to the Demonstration Gardens are provided on the Demonstration Garden webpage.

Events at Olympia Farmers Market Demonstration Garden

The Olympia Farmers Market Demonstration Garden is open to the public every day of the year.

Directions to Demonstration Gardens – Visit our Demonstration Garden webpage for directions and further details about the gardens.

Please visit the MGFTC website for the most up-to-date information about their events, including the Plant Sale Nursery and Fall Fundraiser.

MGFTC.ORG