Keynote Speakers

Ed Lyon

Image
Ed Lyon

Ed Lyon has spent over 20 years in the public garden field; his current role is director of Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University. He holds a M.S. in horticulture and is the proprietor of Spellbound Garden Writing & Consultation, through which he presents gardening topics to public and professional audiences. He wrote the book Growing the Midwest Garden in 2015 through Timber Press. He is as passionate about education as he is horticulture. Most importantly, he is a life-long gardener with dirt under his nails.

Michael Washburn

Image
Michael Washburn

Michael Washburn, Seed Savers Exchange Preservation Director, oversees the department’s preserving and distributing a collection of over 20,000 heirloom seed varieties and their stories. Passionate about traditional farming techniques, he has worked in both urban and rural farm settings, including work with rare and endangered heirloom varieties.