Climate Change in Your Backyard: Join us for a free event to answer your questions on Idaho gardening
Climate change is no longer an abstract idea happening at the polar ice caps. It’s right here in the Treasure Valley. There is evidence in what we can see and what we can feel, and it’s changing how we interact with the environment around us — including in our backyards.
Our Idaho’s Changing Climate series explores all aspects of how shifting temperatures affect our planet. Now, you can meet our reporting team, Nicole Blanchard and Ian Stevenson, at an event that’s closer to home.
We’ve brought together a panel of experts in everything from water use to planting, pruning to pest control. Join us at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at Boise Urban Garden School, 2995 N. Five Mile Road, to learn tricks and tactics to manage your Treasure Valley garden and yard. You can ask our panel questions, drink coffee and stick around to help the BUGS team plant sunflowers.
More about our panel
Megan Heryet is the Executive Director of Boise Urban Garden School. She started gardening as a teen and studied horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She’s an Oregon State University Master Gardener and has given presentations on a variety of topics, including therapeutic horticulture. Prior to starting at BUGS, she worked at various non-profits and volunteered with an organization that provided indoor gardening to seniors in memory care.
Sierra Laverty is a 6th generation Boisean. She earned her bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Oregon State University and her masters in entomology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sierra is an “everything around the plant” professional, from soils to plant pests. Her consulting business, Idaho Plant Doctor, helps diagnose and solve plant problems across Southwest Idaho. She now teaches horticulture full-time at the College of Western Idaho.
Daniel Roop received his bachelor’s in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and his Master’s in Environmental Engineering from the University of Idaho in Moscow. For the past decade, Danny has worked for the City of Boise Parks and Recreation. In 2019 he took on the position of Sustainability Specialist. In this position, he manages water, pesticide, and fertilizer use for the department. He also administers the department’s Pesticide Reduction Program for city parks.
Nicole Blanchard is part of the Idaho Statesman’s investigative and watchdog reporting teams. She also covers Idaho Outdoors and frequents the trails around Idaho. Nicole grew up in Idaho and graduated from Idaho State University. She earned her master’s in journalism from Northwestern University.
Ian Max Stevenson covers the city of Boise and climate change at the Idaho Statesman. He has a degree in English from Brown University and has been at the Statesman since March 2021.
Space is limited so register here for free to reserve your spot.
Panelists
Megan Heryet, BUGS Executive Director.
Sierra Laverty, owner of IdahoPlantDoctor.com, faculty at College of Western Idaho.
Daniel Roop, Sustainability Specialist for Boise Parks and Recreation Department.
Idaho Statesman reporter Nicole Blanchard writes about Idaho Outdoors, the environment and more.
Idaho Statesman reporter Ian Stevenson writes about climate change and Boise city government.
