UGA Extension Barrow County

09/22/2026

Join us at the 3rd annual Oconee County Bat Festival!

It’s a free, family-friendly event all about our native, nocturnal, insect-eating friends: the bats. The festival will have educational talks, local vendors, games, activities, arts & crafts, and food. We’ll also have a plant sale for you to build a bat garden in your own yard. Celebrate the season by trick-or-treating around our booths and participating in our costume contest! We’ll even have Georgia DNR live bat ambassador Commissioner Gordon making a guest appearance! Finally, we'll be finishing out the night by going on a bat walk to listen in on wild bats who call the park home.

The festival will be on Monday, 10/12, at Heritage Park in Watkinsville and will run from 4-8 p.m., with booths and vendors closing at 7:30 p.m. to lead into our bat walk. If you have any questions, please contact the Oconee County Extension office at 706-542-7078.

09/22/2026

What grows in the shade? Part shade, full shade, deep shade- come learn the difference and get your questions answered by Master Gardener Rebecca Adcock.

Come join us for Made in the Shade, talk #3 in the series this Fall. If you need help with shade gardening or just want to learn more, bring a friend and come join us.

Monday September 28- 2:00 PM -O'Kelly Memorial Library in Loganville
Wednesday September 30 - 2:00 PM-Walton County Extension Office in Monroe

09/22/2026

🍂🌻 Don’t miss one of Hall County’s favorite gardening events of the year! THIS WEEK! Fall is the best time to plant!🌻🍂

The Hall County Master Gardeners Fall Garden Expo is back, and whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, there’s something for everyone!

📅 Friday, September 25 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
📅 Saturday, September 26 | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

📍 Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center
1855 Calvary Church Road
Gainesville, GA 30507

🌿 What you’ll find:
🌼 More than 40 vendors offering trees, shrubs, native plants, perennials, annuals, fall vegetable plants, houseplants, garden art, birdhouses, handcrafted gifts, honey, preserves, and so much more!
🌱 Get answers to your gardening questions at our Ask A Master Gardener table.
🎤 Enjoy free gardening presentations by horticultural experts at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM each day.
🎁 Win exciting door prizes awarded every hour!
🌮 Grab a bite from delicious food trucks while you shop.

🎟️ Admission is just $2, and children 12 and under are FREE!

🚜 Complimentary shopping carts are available (while supplies last), but they disappear quickly—bringing your own wagon or cart is a great idea!

☔ Rain or shine! The event is held in a covered arena with plenty of handicapped parking.

🐾 Please note: No pets are allowed. Only service animals that meet ADA requirements may enter.

* Come discover beautiful plants, meet local growers and artisans, learn from gardening experts, and celebrate the joy of gardening with us. We can’t wait to see you there! 🌿💚

09/18/2026

MG Sprouts has local Master Gardeners teaching kids about horticulture!

Come learn about plant life cycles, seed sowing, seed harvesting, and seasons of the garden!

We’ll read the Sunflower House by Eve Bunting and Kathryn Hewitt and make seed tape for participants to bring home and plant.

When: Monday, September 28th, 3-4p

Where: Barrow County Extension office at 90 Lanthier St, Winder GA 30680

How: Free Event, Register at this link: http://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/kuXkHUU9RZ

09/18/2026

Open farm workdays are here!

This Monday kicks off the first of many workdays for our budding flower farm project! Come on by!

09/15/2026

09/15/2026

09/15/2026

Save the date! Our Native Plant Sale will take place Oct. 8-10! 🪴

Join garden professionals at the Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies for on-site plant shopping. Experts will answer questions about incorporating native plants into every space, from large gardens to pots.

Thursday, Oct. 8, is the preview sale for Friends of the Garden members only. Members of the Friends of the Garden will receive a 10% discount and get to shop early.

For more information about Friends membership, visit https://tinyurl.com/3kw225n6.

09/15/2026

🍂 FALL INTO COMPOSTING! 🍂

Ready to dig deeper into composting? Join us for Fall Into Composting, a 3-day composting event bringing together compost enthusiasts, professionals, growers, and sustainability-minded folks!

📅 November 11–13, 2026
📍 Student Learning Center, UGA Griffin Campus

Hosted by the Georgia Composting Council in partnership with UGA Center for Urban Agriculture and the Georgia Recycling Coalition this year's event will feature:

🍃 Compost Facility tour

🍃 Networking opportunities

🍃 GCC's Annual Meeting

🍃 Presentations & panels on compost end use & marketing, soil testing, sustainable landscapes and more!

Come learn, connect, and celebrate the many ways compost can help build healthier soils and a more sustainable future!

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998922985459?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you are needing lodging for the event, the GCC has a room block at the Historic Griffin Hotel. To make your reservation please call the hotel directly at 470-771-3340 and mention the Georgia Composting Council. All reservations must be made by October 11th, 2026.

We can't wait to see you there!