2026 AMGA Conference

Atlantic Master Gardeners Association

From the Ground Up

Thursday, 28 May & Friday, 29 May 2026

Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture

MacRae Library

Truro, Nova Scotia

Schedule at a Glance

Thursday, 28 May 2026

8:30 am Meet & Greet (Coffee & Tea available)

9:00 am Welcome

9:05 am Charlie Baird - Growing a Better Tree

10:40 am Rhea Lumactud - Weather Whiplash in the Garden: How Soil Biodiversity Builds Resilience

Noon Lunch

12:45 pm Andrew Stewart - Tour of the Alumni, Herb, and Community Vegetable Gardens

1:30 pm Matthew Roy - Year-round Greenhouse Utilization, and Growing Saffron

3:00 pm Neil Kirk Hillier - Hemlocks at a Crossroads: The Future of Nova Scotia’s Forests

2026 AMGA Award Banquet

Riverview Room, Jenkins Hall, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

6:00 pm Cocktail Reception

7:00 Pm Dinner

8:00 pm Awards

Friday, 29 May 2026

9:00 am Rosmarie Lohnes - Roots & The Magic Under Our Feet
A Full-Day Experiential Workshop on Soil, Roots, and Ecological Gardening

Thursday, 28 May 2026

9:05 am Charlie Baird - Growing a Better Tree

Owner/Operator of 'Charlie the Tree Guy' commercial nursery

Charlie Baird started out working on a local dairy farm and 40 years ago started a logging company specializing in selection cutting around northern Nova Scotia.

Over the last 20 years his hobby of growing trees has grown into a full-time nursery with over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs located in Old Barns, Nova Scotia. The Tree Guy sells most kinds of fruit and shade or flowering trees and shrubs from seedlings up to 2” caliper trees. Whether you are thinking about adding some leafy shade to your backyard or dreaming of a fruit orchard boasting a variety of delicious fruit, at Charlie The Tree Guy they are committed to helping you find the perfect trees and shrubs based on sound knowledge and expertise.

10:40 am Rhea Lumactud – Weather Whiplash in the Garden: How Soil Biodiversity Builds Resilience

Rhea Amor Lumactud is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture. Her research explores how soil biodiversity, including bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, shapes plant health, nutrient cycling, and soil resilience under land management and climate stress. Her lab combines soil food web ecology with microbiome approaches, including synthetic microbial communities, to develop practical strategies that support sustainable and resilient agroecosystems.

12:45 pm Andrew Stewart - Tour of the Alumni, Herb, and Community Vegetable Gardens

Andrew has been interested in plants and gardening as far back as he can remember. Growing up in Truro, he often helped his grandmother in her flower garden and his grandfather helped him plant his first tree and vegetable garden.

By age 12, Andrew was busy providing lawncare and garden maintenance. Arriving at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Andrew’s outlooks changed. He quickly became fascinated with ornamental plants and horticulture. He would receive a bachelor of science in agriculture, with a certificate in genetics and molecular biology. Graduating in 2020, Stewart had worked part time with the Botanical Garden Unit since 2017, and in the spring of 2021, he was hired full time as a landscape technician.

Andrew will be doing a guided tour from the MacRae Library to the Herb, Alumni, and Community Vegetable Gardens.

1:30 pm Matthew Roy - Year-round Greenhouse Utilization, and Growing Saffron

Matthew Roy is the owner of Coastal Grove Farm in Upper Port La Tour, Nova Scotia. Coastal Grove Farm was established in 2020 and produces tea, saffron, and mixed vegetables.

Matthew, who has been farming for nearly 30 years, holds a B.A. in Ecological Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with an added credential in Sustainable Food and Farming from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also holds a certificate in Permaculture Design through Colby Sawyer College as well as a Master Gardener designation through the University of Minnesota Extension. Matthew is Vice President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and President of the Yarmouth/Shelburne County Federation.

He also serves on the board of Greenhouse Nova Scotia and just stepped off the board of Organics Nova Scotia. Matthew is also included in the first cohort of Nova Scotia journeymen to provide students with apprenticeship opportunities in the province's new farm technician program.

3:00 pm Neil Kirk Hillier - Hemlocks at a Crossroads: The Future of Nova Scotia’s Forests

Neil Kirk Hillier is a Professor of Biology at Acadia University and Director of INSECTA and the Acadia Agri-Tech Laboratory. His work explores how insects and other arthropods sense and respond to their environment, and how this knowledge can be turned into practical solutions for real-world problems. He develops new technologies for sustainable pest management, helping reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemicals while protecting biodiversity, food systems, and human health.

In recent years, his research has focused on managing the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, a serious threat to eastern hemlock forests in Atlantic Canada. This work includes studying natural enemies used in biological control, evaluating the ecological risks and benefits of different management approaches, and supporting science-based decisions for forest protection. Through close collaboration with government, industry, and community partners, his work aims to safeguard forest ecosystems while balancing environmental responsibility and long-term resilience.

Rosmarie Lohnes, EP, BA is an ecological landscape designer and Environmental Professional with over 20 years of experience working with soil, roots, and living systems across Atlantic Canada. She is the founder of Helping Nature Heal and is known for her hands-on, sensory-based approach to teaching gardeners how to read landscapes from the ground up.

Friday, 29 May 2026

9:05 am Rosmarie Lohnes - Roots & The Magic Under Our Feet

Workshop Description

This full-day workshop provides Master Gardeners with an in-depth, applied understanding of soil as a living system and roots as the foundation of plant health. Through guided sensory observation, scientific discussion, and hands-on investigation, participants develop advanced diagnostic skills and practical strategies for protecting and restoring soil and root systems in garden and community settings.

1. Soil Science & Soil Health

Participants explore soil texture, structure, aggregation, pore space, biological activity, and water movement. Emphasis is placed on recognizing healthy versus degraded soils and understanding how gardening practices influence long-term soil vitality.

2. Plant Growth & Development

The workshop focuses on root morphology, function, and response to environmental conditions. Participants learn how root systems influence plant stability, nutrient uptake, water relations, and stress tolerance.

3. Sustainable & Ecological Gardening Practices

Participants examine low-disturbance, soil-first gardening practices including mulching, mycorrhizal support, planting techniques, and soil protection strategies that align with ecological and regenerative principles.

4. Diagnostic Skills & Problem Solving

Hands-on root and soil analysis builds participants’ ability to diagnose plant stress and soil limitations. Root systems are used as diagnostic evidence to inform appropriate gardening interventions.

5. Environmental Stewardship & Public Education

The workshop encourages Master Gardeners to act as informed advocates for soil health in gardens, communities, and public spaces, supporting AMGA’s educational and stewardship mandate.

Conference COST

AMGA Member Non-Member

Cost per Day $125 $150

Banquet $55 $55

Payment via E-Transfer

atlanticmastergardeners3@gmail.com

Lunch & Break Snacks are included in cost

Accommodations

Inn on Prince Hotel & Conference Centre

437 Prince Street, Truro, NS, B2N1E6, 902-895-1651

A block of rooms is being held for attendees (27 May & 28 May nights) at a rate of $149.00 per night plus HST.

- Price includes complimentary hot breakfast buffet, free wi-fi, parking and access to the pool and fitness center.

- All rooms must be booked by 27 April, after which they are subject to availability and rate change.

- Call to reserve, please specify Group Block Name “Atlantic Master Gardeners Association” to insure preferred rate

902 895-1651 or 902 893-9455

Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture Residences

20 Horseshoe Crescent, Truro, NS, 902 893-3103

Rooms are available at the Chapman House Residence on campus.

Single - $46; Double $61; and Deluxe Double $70 per night plus HST.

Rooms can be booked online at ( https://stay.dal.ca/).

Group's promotional code is “Atlantic Master Gardeners Association 2026”

- Reservations must be confirmed no later than 29 March

MacRae Library

135 College Rd, Truro

Free Parking in front of

MacRae Library