Education | Breakout Sessions
Three breakout sessions will run concurrently within an hour, allowing registrants to attend 3 of the 9 sessions.
Friday, September 6 | 8:30 - 9:30AM
Peaks and Pitfalls of Self-publishing by Susan Betz & Carol Michel
Is self-publishing your book a good option for you? Carol Michel, author of four books, including the 2018 GardenComm Gold Medal for best overall book, Potted and
Pruned, and Susan Betz, author of two books, most recently Neighboring with Nature, will examine all facets of self-publishing. They’ll cover upsides and downsides of
self-publishing based on their own experience, including the ways that traditional and self-publishing have changed dramatically over the past few years. Learn about multiple publishing
platforms and services to guide and assist you in getting your book to print and market and what to expect along the way.
Mind and Find Your Words! by Debra Knapke
Our medium is words. Our palette is shades and tones of meaning that we shape into concepts for our audiences. There are sensual words, scientific words, enticing words, and
of course, colorful words. It’s time to deal with terms like bushes, dirt, mildews, organic, nativars and more. Debra Knapke and Jan Johnsen will lead serious discussions about
meaning and use, there will be fun interactive activities that will get your creative communication processes working.
Intro to Macro Photography of Insects and Plants by Bill Johnson
Build your photography skills with nature stock photographer Bill Johnson. Learn which camera equipment is needed to get really close images of elusive insects, how to find the subjects, what
to do and what not to do when you find them, and resources for identifying the insect you photographed. He’ll teach you techniques used to get high magnification images of plants and
insects, including “stacking,” and, for the really adventurous gardener, shooting at night using an ultraviolet light, a.k.a. “blacklighting.” Bill’s work has
been published in over 1,000 national publications, including magazines, books, and journals. He’ll share his best tips for macro photography, including lessons learned the hard way.
You’ll leave the session with many new techniques to try.
Friday, September 6 | 9:45 - 10:45AM
Brand Building Through Storytelling on Social Media by Summer Rayne Oakes
You can’t run a successful business without social media. But how do you choose which channels to build your presence, and how do you connect your effort across
channels? Summer Rayne Oakes, GardenComm member and founder of Homestead Brooklyn, has built a YouTube Channel with nearly 80,000 subscribers, an Instagram with a similar following, has been
featured in O Magazine, and the New York Times, all as a result of her social media brand building. In this session she’ll explain how to use social media channels to reach people who
are interested in what you do and why you do what you do. She’ll cover where to focus your effort, how to have productive conversations online, techniques and strategies for getting
attention, and how to field and structure compensation deals.
Turn Nuggets of Inspiration into Gold by Eva Monheim
If you get stuck trying to figure out what to write about, Longwood Gardens and former Temple University lecturer Eva Monheim’s session is for you. She will teach
techniques used with her university students that have helped them create engaging presentations and research posters. Eva, herself, uses these techniques for brainstorming ideas for short
stories, articles, book topics, and presentations, and you will too, once you learn how.
Reinventing the Wheel When It Goes Flat on You by Denise Schreiber
How do you reinvent yourself after life changes such as job loss or retirement? How do you move in a new direction? In this session Denise Schreiber, author of Eat Your
Roses, former greenhouse manager and grower for Allegheny County Parks, and writer for trade and consumer magazines, will teach you how to examine your skills, good and bad, evaluate how
you want to move forward, and what “success” will look like to you in the end. You’ll learn how to identify what you need to do to get where you eventually want to be.
Recommended to new GardenComm members looking to find their niche.
Friday, September 6 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM
Promoting Gardening Like the Earth Depends On It by Pamela Berstler
Research shows that regenerative gardening is a key factor in pushing back against climate change, yet many garden communicators experience some anxiety about too closely
linking horticulture and gardening with global warming and weather. In this session, Pamela Berstler, the GardenComm Green Medal recipient in 2018, will share a clear context for confidently
communicating the positive effects of regenerative and sustainable gardening on local and global weather, reduction of environmental pollution, promotion of biodiversity, and the overall
health of the Earth and the people inhabiting her.
How to Conduct Successful Interviews by Randy Schultz & Teresa Watkins
Do you want rock the airwaves? Do you get nervous and jittery when asked to be in radio or television interviews? Lose sleep over how to prep for an interview? Have you had an
interview that didn’t go as well as you wanted? As a host, do you know what questions and protocols to provide your guests so that you have a smooth, conversational, and interesting
experience? Whether you’re the host or guest, Randy Schultz, owner of Schultz PR and founder of Home, Garden and Homestead, and Teresa Watkins, owner of SHE Consulting and host of the
In Your Backyard Radio Show will show you what you need to know to prepare for, conduct, and “knock it out of the park,” successful interviews every time, whether you’re on
the air or interviewing a source for a story.
Exploring the Business of Garden Tourism by Tony Bloom & Gloria Day
Tony Bloom, owner of Bloom Horticulture, and Gloria Day, Pretty Dirty Ladies, Inc., teach you how to grow from garden communicator to garden tour leader. Beginning with the
organization of a simple one day bus tour, and expanding into local or regional garden tours involving hiring and coordinating transportation and culminating into an overseas
multi-destination tour including hotels and historic sites and exclusive private gardens, you’ll learn how to create your own tours, from concept, making connections, to the fine
details and cost analysis. Learn how to attract your attendees and what to avoid in planning and organizing. You’ll hear six steps for conducting a successful tour and how to introduce
yourself, connect with your audience, and manage questions while guiding tours.
