Grass to Garden: A Guide to Growing Community-based Gardens

Grass to Garden: A Guide to Growing Community-based Gardens

Thursday, September 4 | 12pm-1pm 

AAARCC (915 5th Street) 

Session Description:

This session offers an overview of Purdue Extension's Grass to Garden Signature Program, highlighting key steps for transforming unused green space into a thriving, shared garden. Learn what it takes to build support, plan for long-term success, and grow more than just vegetables - learn how to cultivate a stronger, more connected community. 

Speaker:

Karen Mitchell is the Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist at Purdue University. Her passion for plants led her to earn degrees in Horticulture and Botany, both from Purdue. She began her career as a County Extension Educator in Tippecanoe County, supporting local horticulture education. Now based on Purdue's campus, she leads statewide Extension programs focused on community gardens and home horticulture, helping gardeners across Indiana grow sustainable landscapes. 

Flyer: https://purduediversity.smugmug.com/AAARCC/Fall-2025-Flyers/i-rKpvC4F/A  

AAARCC Fall 2025 Lunch & Learn Series

The AAARCC hosts a Lunch and Learn guest speaker series each semester on Thursdays from 12pm-1pm at the AAARCC (915 5th St.) or a campus specific location (listed for each session). Each Lunch and Learn features diverse faculty, staff, and students sharing their research or expertise. We believe each Lunch and Learn session poses a valuable opportunity for students to learn from experts and engage in meaningful discussions.  

This event starts promptly at 12pm. This is a hybrid event. In-person seating is limited to the first 50 attendees. Please consider joining us over Zoom at: https://bit.ly/aaarccLL 

If you have feedback about our Lunch and Learn series, please consider filling out this survey to let us know: bit.ly/aaarccLLsur 

AAARCC programs are free and open to all students. Here are ways to support our programming initiatives: 
1) Attend and promote AAARCC programs within your networks, classrooms, and listservs by downloading our flyers from our website. 

2) If you are a class instructor, assign our events as part of required or extra-credit activities for your class. If your whole class is interested in attending AAARCC events or volunteering for a class assignment, please email us at aaarcc@purdue.edu and we’d be happy to help coordinate this learning opportunity. 

3) Partner with us in co-planning events or provide co-sponsorship. If your department or organization is interested in partnering with AAARCC for an event or activity, please email us at aaarcc@purdue.edu. We believe that by working together, we can create even more enriching experiences and make a broader impact on campus life. 

4) Give to support our initiatives and encourage others to make financial gifts to the AAARCC. If you are interested in financially supporting AAARCC programs, please use this link: bit.ly/givetotheaaarcc 

All AAARCC programs are free and open to all students. These gatherings provide valuable opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to engage in meaningful dialogue and build connections within our vibrant community. In accordance with Purdue policies, all persons have equal access to Purdue University’s educational programs, services and activities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or status as a veteran. See Purdue's Nondiscrimination Policy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance at vpec@purdue.edu or 765-494-5830.