DUG’s Volunteer Appreciation is an annual celebration of our community volunteers, from Garden Leaders to SPOT volunteers, and everyone in between. It’s an opportunity to connect before the season’s end and wintertime rest.

Want to sponsor Volunteer Appreciation? Email DUG’s Director of Development, Nessa, at nessa@dug.org to get going!

The post 2026 Volunteer Appreciation first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Español abajo

PLEASE NOTE: This event is only for Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers for the 2026 growing season and is not open to the general public.

Join DUG for the 2026 Symposium, our annual convening for Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers. The day will include peer-to-peer brainstorming, workshopping for the upcoming gardening season, a panel discussion, breakout sessions, access to free seeds, DUG giveaways, and more! 

Registration for Symposium is required and is only available for 2026 Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers. Please note that unlike past years, Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers have different arrival and dismissal times to accommodate for a shorter, focused day.

Snacks, coffee, and a full lunch will be provided for all site leaders. Please plan to bring a reusable water bottle, something for note-taking, and a phone or mobile device if you have one. 

Accommodations are available upon request, including but not limited to transportation reimbursement, language interpretation, front-row seating, large-print materials, and more. Please request accommodations in your registration or by email to gardens@dug.org. 

The following schedule is subject to change as event details are being finalized. 

Schedule: Garden Leaders

7:45am • Doors Open 

8:00 – 8:30 am • Breakfast & Welcome Remarks

Grab a bagel and a coffee and join DUG’s opening remarks, including the 2025 year in review, what to look forward to in 2026, our land acknowledgement, and housekeeping.

8:35 – 10:20 am • Programming 

Join small groups of Garden Leaders for a peer-to-peer brainstorming session one. 

10:30 am – 11:30 pm • Food Security Panel with Q&A

As financial and food access challenges rise, we’re welcoming community partners to discuss how DUG gardens can advance food security through intentional partnerships, well-organised donation practices, and ideas for growing foods that are most needed in Denver communities.

11:30 – 12:20 pm • Lunch & DUG Expo

Lunch provided by Illegal Pete’s. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Other dietary accommodations are available upon request in your registration or via email to gardens@dug.org.

12:20 – 1:05 pm • Programming, Garden Leaders + Tree Keepers 

Meet Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers who live in your area. This session will be split into the following regions: North, West, East, South, and Central.

1:00 pm • Garden Leader Symposium Track Ends 

Schedule: Tree Keepers 

(Optional) 10:30 am – 11:30 pm • Food Security Panel with Q&A

11:30 – 12:20 pm • Lunch & DUG Expo

Lunch provided by Illegal Pete’s. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Other dietary accommodations are available upon request in your registration or via email to gardens@dug.org. 

12:20 – 1:05 pm • Programming, Garden Leaders + Tree Keepers 

Meet Garden Leaders and Tree Keepers who live in your area. This session will be split into the following regions: North, West, East, South, and Central.

1:00 pm – 3:50 pm • Programming 

Join topic deep dives for Tree Keepers. Topics will be announced on February 1st, 2026. Propose a topic here.

3:50 pm • Happy Hour and Small Bites

NOTA: Este evento es solo para Líderes de Jardinería y Cuidadores de Árboles de la temporada de cultivo de 2026 y no está abierto al público en general.

Únase a DUG para el Simposio 2026, nuestra reunión anual para Líderes de Jardinería y Cuidadores de Árboles. El día incluirá intercambio de ideas entre compañeros, talleres para la próxima temporada de jardinería, una mesa redonda, sesiones de trabajo, acceso a semillas gratuitas, obsequios de DUG y mucho más.

Es necesario inscribirse para el Simposio y solo está disponible para Líderes de Jardines y Cuidadores de Árboles de 2026. Tenga en cuenta que, a diferencia de años anteriores, los Líderes de Jardines y Cuidadores de Árboles tienen horarios de llegada y salida diferentes para adaptarse a una jornada más corta y enfocada.

Se ofrecerán refrigerios, café y un almuerzo completo para todos los líderes de sitio. Por favor, traiga una botella de agua reutilizable, algo para tomar notas y un teléfono o dispositivo móvil si tiene uno.

Hay adaptaciones disponibles previa solicitud, incluyendo, entre otras, reembolso de transporte, interpretación, asientos en primera fila, materiales en letra grande y más. Solicite las adaptaciones al inscribirse o por correo electrónico a gardens@dug.org.

El siguiente horario está sujeto a cambios a medida que se ultiman los detalles del evento.

Horario: Líderes de Jardines

7:45 ​​a. m. • Apertura de puertas

8:00 a. m. – 8:30 a. m. • Desayuno y bienvenida

Disfrute de un bagel y un café y participe en las palabras de apertura de DUG, que incluyen el resumen del año 2025, qué esperar en 2026, el reconocimiento de nuestras tierras y la limpieza.

8:35 a. m. – 10:20 a. m. • Programación

Únase a pequeños grupos de Líderes de Jardines para una sesión de intercambio de ideas. Los temas se anunciarán el 1 de febrero de 2026. Proponga un tema aquí.

10:30 a. m. – 11:30 p. m. • Panel de seguridad alimentaria con preguntas y respuestas

Ante el aumento de los desafíos financieros y de acceso a los alimentos, invitamos a los socios comunitarios a debatir cómo los jardines de DUG pueden promover la seguridad alimentaria mediante colaboraciones intencionales, prácticas de donación bien organizadas e ideas para cultivar los alimentos más necesarios en las comunidades de Denver.

11:30 – 12:20 h • Almuerzo y Expo DUG

Almuerzo proporcionado por Illegal Pete’s. Opciones vegetarianas, veganas y sin gluten disponibles. Se pueden solicitar otras adaptaciones dietéticas al registrarse o por correo electrónico a gardens@dug.org.

12:20 – 13:00 h • Programación: Líderes de Jardinería + Cuidadores de Árboles

Conozca a líderes de jardinería y cuidadores de árboles de su zona. Únase a pequeños grupos de líderes de jardinería para una segunda sesión de intercambio de ideas. Los temas se anunciarán el 1 de febrero de 2026. Proponga un tema aquí.

13:00 h • Fin del Simposio de Líderes de Jardinería

Horario: Cuidadores de Árboles

(Opcional) 10:30 a. m. – 11:30 p. m. • Panel de Seguridad Alimentaria con Preguntas y Respuestas

10:45 a. m. • Inicio del Curso de Cuidadores de Árboles

Si no asistirá al panel de discusión, por favor, planifique llegar entre las 10:45 a. m. y las 11:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m. • Palabras de bienvenida

Participe en las palabras de apertura de DUG, incluyendo el resumen del año 2025, qué esperar en 2026, el reconocimiento de tierras y la limpieza.

11:30 a. m. – 12:20 p. m. • Almuerzo y Expo DUG

Almuerzo proporcionado por Illegal Pete’s. Hay opciones vegetarianas, veganas y sin gluten disponibles. Se pueden solicitar otras adaptaciones dietéticas al registrarse o por correo electrónico a gardens@dug.org.

12:20 – 13:00 • Programación

Conoce a Líderes de Jardines y Cuidadores de Árboles de tu zona. Únete a pequeños grupos de Líderes de Jardines para la segunda sesión de intercambio de ideas. Los temas se anunciarán el 1 de febrero de 2026. Propón un tema aquí.

13:00 – 15:50 • Programación

Únete a las sesiones de profundización de temas para Cuidadores de Árboles. Los temas se anunciarán el 1 de febrero de 2026. Propón un tema aquí.

15:50 • Hora feliz y aperitivos

Want to sponsor DUG Symposium? Email DUG’s Director of Development, Nessa, at nessa@dug.org to get going!

Thank you to event sponsors, Davita and Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR)

The post 2026 DUG Symposium first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

THANK YOU for making DUG’s 40th anniversary an incredible year!

We’re celebrating DUG volunteers with an end-of-season celebration at Meow Wolf Denver on Saturday, November 1st from 10am-12pm. You’ll experience surreal, walk-through art and interact with their incredible pieces with fellow volunteers and DUG staff. Plus, we’ll have Volunteer Awards (with prizes) and a costume contest!

Snacks and beverages will be provided!

Guests

Plus one guests (+1s) are welcome, but they must purchase their own ticket here.

Parking

Free street parking is limited, and we recommend rideshare / light rail to reduce your environmental footprint (and the hassle). Paid parking at Meow Wolf will cost you $15 – we will not validate parking.

Cancellation

If you can no longer make it, please let us know ASAP so someone else can take your place. Spots are limited, and we want them all to be filled with our amazing volunteers and their guests.

About Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf is an immersive art adventure – step inside, explore, and uncover the unexpected. Meow Wolf started in 2008 as a small collective of Santa Fe artists sharing an interest in publicly displaying their works and developing their skills together. This collaborative approach blossomed into Meow Wolf’s distinctive style of immersive, maximalist environments that encourage audience-driven experiences. Learn more here.

Spots are limited and registration is required. 

Thank you to our event sponsors!

The post Volunteer Appreciation Fest first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Irrigation systems and water turn offs are hot topics this time of year. DUG’s infrastructure will train garden leaders on everything you need to know about your gardens’ irrigation systems, water turn offs, and options for extending the season.

The location may change – reach out to taylor@dug.org with questions.

The post Need-to-knows about Irrigation and Water first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Stop by the DUG office to ask any questions you have, provide feedback on your community garden, learn more about DUG’s programs, or share anything else that may be on your mind!

The post DUG Office Hours first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Gardens are great spaces for education, play, and relaxation for kiddos and young adults. Join DUG’s education team as we explore DUG’s best practices for creating garden spaces that are welcoming, kid-friendly environments. Together, we’ll also reflect on how to engage energetic young people in positive ways, especially in cases where garden vandalism may be linked to teens seeking connection and activity.

The post Welcoming kiddos and young adults in the community garden! first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

As we near the end of August, many gardens are bursting with produce and our gardeners are eager to share. Whether your garden has an established donation system or has never formally donated before, we’d love to invite you to the San Rafael Community Garden to skill share, explore food donation options, and talk all things food access in Denver!

The post Your Garden’s Options for Produce Distribution and Community Food Access first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

July’s Garden Leader Training focus will be in Planning Garden Events and Workdays! By this time of year, you likely have a good understanding of how many gardeners you have, who your active vs passive participants are, and what projects still need to get done. Keeping momentum this time of year can be difficult, but bringing everyone together is so rewarding.

At this training and discussion, we’ll discuss best practices for planning events, increasing community engagement, tracking giveback hours, and will spend time problem-solving your pain points!

The post The Successes and Challenges of Garden Events and Workdays first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Register Here

The post DUG Office Hours first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.

Register Here

The post Garden Leader Training: Conflict Resolution first appeared on Denver Urban Gardens.