Pollinators, People and Place
2026 UVM Extension Master Gardener Conference
Pollinators, People & Place
Saturday, December 5, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET
Offered Online via Zoom
“Anyone who thinks they're too small to make a difference has never met the honey bee.” – anonymous
This year's annual conference explores how pollinator habitats can support healthier ecosystems, more resilient landscapes, and thriving communities. Drawing on the expertise of Desirée Narango of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Laura Johnson of UVM Extension and others, participants will learn about recent and upcoming Vermont research and practical approaches to creating and managing habitat in gardens, yards, farms, and other managed landscapes. Discover how supporting pollinators and other beneficial insects strengthens the ecological relationships upon which wildlife, food systems, and people depend.
Registration opens soon...
2026 Conference
Featured Speakers
Laura Johnson is the Pollinator Support Specialist with UVM Extension, where she works with farmers, researchers, and community partners to promote pollinator-friendly practices that support both agricultural productivity and biodiversity. Her work combines education, applied research, and on-farm technical assistance to help create healthy, resilient habitats for pollinators across Vermont.
Desirée Narango is a conservation biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies whose research explores how native plants can create healthier habitats for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. She works closely with communities and landowners to apply science-based strategies that support biodiversity and resilient landscapes.
Conference Details
Conference Details
Registration Fees
The registration fee covers your cost to participate in the live broadcast of the conference as outlined in the agenda below, plus access to recordings of the presentations after the conference until the end of 2026.
Conference rate: $50 per person.
Discounted Rate for Active Volunteers
We are offering a discounted registration rate of $25 per volunteer for active UVM Extension Master Gardener (EMG) and Vermont Master Composter (VMC) Volunteers and Interns. This rate is available to volunteers and interns who have donated volunteer hours to our program in 2026. Please use the discount code provided to active volunteers via email.
Location
The conference will be held online over Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link and other conference information on December 4, 2026.
Accommodations
Thanks to Interpreter Services provided by the UVM Center for Academic Success, conference presentations will be live captioned. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Deb Heleba at debra.heleba@uvm.edu or 802-656-1777.
Refund Policy
Cancellation requests must be made in writing to University Event Services registration team at eventregistration@uvm.edu. Requests made by December 3, 2026 will receive a refund minus a $5 cancellation fee. No refunds are available after the close of registration at midnight ET on December 3, 2026.
UVM Extension Master Gardener & Composter Hours
Certified UVM Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter volunteers may claim Continuing Education hours for this conference. For volunteers who lead small group sessions, we will provide your registration at no cost and you may earn volunteer hours for your time leading the session.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Deb Heleba by email at debra.heleba@uvm.edu or phone at 802-656-1777.