Phipps Conservatory and Penn State Extension to Host In-Person Summer Short Course

For Immediate Release: Mon., June 24
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org

Phipps Conservatory and Penn State Extension to Host In-Person Summer Short Course
In-Person Event on the Science of Composting and Soil Health

Pittsburgh, PA —  On Tues., July 30, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Penn State Extension invite gardening enthusiasts to explore composting at this year’s annual Summer Short Course. With a robust line-up of local experts, attendees will learn about topics like composting principles, common contaminants in urban soils, using compost and so much more.

Summer Short Course sessions will include the following:

• Composting Principles for Organic Plant Production | Lily Means and Jesse Barrett
• Soil Texture, Soil Structure, and Compost | Margaret Sams
• Community Composter School | Dora Walmsley
• Digging into Common Contaminants in Urban Soils | Hayly Hoch
• Using Compost | Dr. Elsa Sánchez

Summer Short Course, presented by Phipps and Penn State Extension, will be held in-person on Tues., July 30 from 9 – 3:30 p.m. Registration costs $95. This event will be held in the Special Events Hall at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This conference counts for Master Gardener Continuing Education credit, and elective hours for Phipps certificate programs: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape and Garden Design.

For more information and to register, visit phipps.conservatory.org/ShortCourse.

###

About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.

Phipps is proud to be a 2024 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.

Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.