Seminars

2024 Calendar of Events

February 10, 2024, 10 am-12:00 pm - American Chestnuts

Dr. Martin Cippolini will host a seminar on the American Chestnut restoration efforts. His talk will include their methodology and plantings across the state. This event is sponsored by the North Georgia Mountains Chapter of the Native Plant Society. This event will be held at the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center auditorium at 195 Georgia Mtn Exp St. Rd., Blairsville GA 30512.

June 1, 2024, 8am-1 pm - Beef Day at the Union Cty Farmers Market

Stop by and see our GMREC booth to learn more about the center and how we serve producers across the state, and region.

June 14, 2024, 10am-1 pm - Gardens Grand Opening and Seminar on Deer Resistant Plants

Kellie and Tim Bowen own Full Bloom Nursery. They have 25 years of experience in the horticulture industry with a background in landscape design and installation, plant propagation, nursery and garden center management. Kellie and her husband Tim started Full Bloom Nursery in 2003 and it has grown to 4 acres of plant material and 10 greenhouses. They are open to the public and have customers from all areas of northeast Georgia. Their presentation will focus on deer-resistant varieties that are non-invasive that you may use in your landscape. This event will be held at the historic community cannery, adjacent to the ethno-botanical gardens at GMREC. More information about Full Bloom Nursery. Come to GMREC at 195 Georgia Mtn Exp St Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512, and follow the signs to the gardens. Enjoy touring the gardens after the presentation.

July 24, 2024 Georgia Mountain REC Agriculture Field Day

This event will showcase the many Scientists and projects that GMREC supports. Pesticide Credit in categories 10,21,22,23,24,27 and GCLIP credit will be offered. Participants will take a tram to the research areas and hear directly from the scientists about their work. Lunch provided.
REGISTRATION CLOSED, maximum capacity has been reached.

August 24, 2024, 10am-1pm, Ancient Tomatoes at the Farmers Market

THIS DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO AUG.24. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BUT OUR PLANTS NEEDED MORE TIME TO PRODUCE.

For years we have supported UGA researcher Esther van der Knaap with this unique project. The scientists, graduate students, and GMREC personnel will be on hand at the Union County farmers market where the public can learn more about this unique project. Participants will be able to taste the many types of tomatoes and learn more about the history of tomato agriculture and how UGA is using this project to improve commercial varieties.

August 23, 2024, 10am-1pm - Great Southeastern Pollinator Census

Come and join us in the GMREC Ethno-botanical Gardens for the citizen science project that started right here at GMREC. Community & School Garden Coordinator Becky Griffin designed this citizen science project five years ago to increase awareness of all of our pollinators and increase entomological literacy. Attendees will be given instruction and materials before counting in our ethno-botanical gardens. Use the Pollinator link to learn more.

2025 Calendar of Events

February 21, 2025, Heritage Apples and Grafting (registration only)

Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the 138 heritage apple varieties on the GMREC campus and learn how to graft and take home their own. The trees were found/reclaimed from old nurseries around the southeast and were once favored for the adaptability. There will be (2) sessions: 9am-11:30am and 1:30pm-4pm. Details on how to register will be posted on this page 4 weeks before the event. A cleared check reserves your registration and will get you (4) MM111 rootstock to graft your tree with heritage scion provided. Limited to 25 per session.

March 1, 2025, Learn & Burn Seminar

Learn & Burn- The US Forest Service and partners will conduct a live "control burn" on the GMREC campus to give the public an opportunity to learn about the benefits of this practice. Participants will be involved in creating a burn plan, installing firebreaks, using a drip torch, and burn safety while interacting with forestry professionals utilizing industry equipment. The exact time of the event will be posted here (1) week prior to the event.

June 6, 2025, 10am - Foraging and Wild Harvesting Short Course & Gardens Grand Opening

Holly Campbell is a Public Service Associate with the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, where she is an instructor of several undergraduate courses and also provides community forestry, arboriculture, dendrology, wild harvest, and wildland fire instruction to public and professional audiences outside of the university. In 2021, Ms. Campbell delivered a popular wild harvesting webinar series that led to the development of the UGA undergraduate course, Wild Harvesting in Georgia. Her webinar series and subsequent workshops also inspired several statewide collaborations over the last several years, including the Georgia Master Forager program (Spalding County Cooperative Extension), a wild harvest publication series, and several workshops and webinars across Georgia. A tour of the GMREC ethno-botanical gardens right after.

July 11, 2025, 10am - Snakes Alive! Program

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will have a program on Snakes. This is for those new to our area so they can be informed about our venomous and non-venomous snakes and what to do should you encounter one. More program details to come later.