On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Association of McDowell County is hosting a garden symposium, Gardening Outside the Lines, for county residents and other regional gardeners. This symposium will bring together backyard gardeners and gardening professionals for a day of insightful presentations featuring dynamic speakers who are leaders in their field. Topics will focus on eco-friendly gardening.

Register now for Gardening Outside the Lines.

Our symposium will feature presentations led by experts in the field:

Brie Arthur

Bestselling author and gardening personality, Brie Arthur is widely known for her leadership with the national Foodscape movement and her lively, information packed presentations. With more than two decades of professional horticulture experience she isa long-time contributor on the Emmy award winning PBS Television show “Growing a Greener World”. You can follow Brie’s gardening journey through her website, BrieGrows.com or her social media and YouTube channel, Brie the Plant Lady.

Basil Camu

Basil Camu pursues his purpose and passions as the co-founder of Leaf & Limb and Project Pando. He is a Treecologist, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist, Duke graduate, Wizard of Things, and author of the book, From Wasteland to Wonder - Easy Ways to Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape. The mission of Leaf & Limb is to preserve, plant, and promote trees in a manner that attempts to maximize positive benefits for members of all ecosystems. They are the first company in the tree service industry to become a Certified B-Corp, which means they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.

Felder Rushing

Felder Rushing  is an 11th- generation* American gardener who has traveled to all fifty states (lectured in 36) and across five continents looking for interesting gardening angles to share via his extensive lecturing, writing and broadcasting. The graduate horticulturist and free-thinking university professor has written syndicated newspaper columns for 40 years and hosted a live radio program for nearly that long, including 15 years now as the weekly host of The Gestalt Gardener, one of National Public Radio‘s most popular
gardening programs.

The presentations scheduled are:

• Seeds of Enchantment: Cottage Gardening from Seed
• Bountiful Containers: Foodscaping in Pots
• From Wasteland to Wonder: Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape
• Slow Gardening North Carolina Style
• Over and Under the Fence

Along with this amazing lineup of talent, attendees will be provided a top quality lunch, including vegetarian and gluten free options. There will also be time to shop at local vendor booths, including the opportunity to buy books from the speakers.

Registration is available through Eventbrite and will be a great gift for the gardener in your life. Mark your calendars.