Sunlit garden with a gravel footpath and plants in ceramic and metal containers at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden.

Dirt Works

Demonstration Garden, Composting Demonstration, Food Bank Garden & Plant Sale Nursery
WSU Extension > Thurston County > Gardening > Demonstration Gardens > Dirt Works
Wood chips in the demo garden

Dirt Works is located on Olympia’s west side within Yauger Park at 530 Alta Street SW, Olympia WA.

Dirt Works Garden is open only for workshops, events, and by appointment. The garden is also open to the public when the volunteers are having their service parties (March-October).

More information – WSU Thurston County Master Gardener Program

Dirt Works garden was developed through a partnership with the City of Olympia and is located inside Yauger Park in West Olympia. Dirt Works highlights garden examples as well as yard waste and worm composting operations. Garden examples include water-wise, native, mixed border, shade, rose, fruit, vegetable, rain and sensory gardens.

On average 2,500 pounds of food is grown yearly from 35 raised-beds, a berry patch, small orchard and grape arbor. The bounty raised from the garden is donated to the Thurston County Food Bank.

Dirt Works Garden hosts our summer Children’s Program for children ages 4 to 12. Visit our Children’s Garden page of this website to learn more.

It is also home to our plant nursery. Volunteers host twice a month plant sales, a fundraiser of the Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County. Great plants are available at great prices, and all proceeds from the sale go toward supporting the WSU Master Gardener and Thurston County Master Recycler Composter programs. More information about the Plant Sale. 

Sunlit plants on nursery tables at the Plant Sale Nursery at Dirt Works Demonstration Garden.
Master Recycler Composter volunteer showing children's garden participants the worm bin at Dirt Works.

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Cori Carlton at cori.carlton@co.thurston.wa.us at least two (2) weeks prior to the event or application deadline.