Workshops and Outreach

Check back in 2023 for gardening and composting events.

Free lecture: Dividing Peonies 

Saturday September 24, 2022, 11:30am-12:30pm

Closed Loop Demonstration Garden (see the Directions to Our Demonstration Gardens for directions to Closed Loop Park.

-Come learn from peony expert Frank Dickson on how to divide and take care of your peonies.  Check out over 70 varieties at our Demonstration Garden.

-Free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Be prepared to stand or bring your own chair.

Dividing Peony Workshop Flier (pdf)

Free Composting Workshops

Click here for more information about our free Composting Workshops

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

2022 Composting workshop flyer (PDF)

Learn in the Garden Series: Open Garden & Classes

Dirt Works Demonstration Garden, see below for directions to demonstration garden

Dirt Works Summer Evening Open Garden Flier 2022 (pdf)

Check back in 2023 for an updated calendar of Outreach at community events and farmers markets. 

Our programs will be tabling at the following Thurston County Farmers Markets and Community Events in 2022. Bring your gardening, composting, and recycling questions.

Community Events

Thurston Conservation District Plant Sale, Saturday March 3

Olympia Home and Garden Show, Saturday April 23

Yelm Home and Garden Show, Saturday April 30

YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Briggs YMCA, Saturday April 30

Lacey Fun Fair, MRC Program only, Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22

Griffin Neighborhood Association Picnic, Saturday June 25, 12-4pm

South Sound BBQ Festival, MRC Program only, Saturday July 9

Thurston County Fair, July 27-31

Farmers Markets

Olympia Farmers Market, 10am to 3pm

• Friday July 8
• Sunday August 21

Yelm Farmers Market, 10am to 3pm

• Saturday July 9
• Saturday August 20

Tumwater Farmers Market, 11am to 3pm

• Sunday June 12
• Sunday July 10

Tenino Farmers Market, 10am to 3pm

• Saturday July 23

Directions to Dirt Works Demonstration Garden: (open for events only and by appointment)

• From I-5 take HWY 101 towards Shelton. Get off at Black Lake Blvd. exit and at the bottom of the ramp turn right. Get in your left lane and make a left onto Cooper Point Road. Follow this until you reach Capital Mall Drive. Make a left onto Capital Mall Drive and follow it until you see Alta Street. Turn right onto Alta Street. Follow this road into the park and drive through the parking lot until it ends. The garden entrance is located at the end of the parking lot.
• If you use Google Maps, search for “dirt works demonstration garden”.

Directions to Closed Loop Park Demonstration Garden: (Open year round, same time as the Waste and Recovery Center)

• Located just inside the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE.
• Once you are at Waste and Recovery Center entrance follow the road in and take the first right into the parking lot. This lot is for garden and dog park visitors. Closed Loop Park demonstration garden is all the greenery adjacent to the parking lot and to the left of the dog park entrance. Composting workshops are held in the composting area next to the gazebo. The gazebo is located on the opposite end of the dog park entrance.

Directions to Olympia Farmers Market Demonstration Garden: (Open year round)

• Located on the east side of the Market on the north end of Capitol Way in downtown Olympia.

MGFTC.ORG