Integrated Pest Management Workshop

From the hum of bees drifting between blossoms to the quiet soil life working beneath the surface, a healthy garden is a living community. Yet when pests begin to damage plants, it can be difficult to know how best to respond.

Integrated Pest Management offers a thoughtful framework that helps you observe carefully, prevent problems before they spread, and support natural systems that keep gardens in balance.

Whether you’re tending vegetables, flowers, or native plants, this hands-on workshop introduces practical, organic approaches for managing pests while protecting pollinators, soil health, and the broader ecosystem.

• Pest Identification & Prevention: Learn to recognize common Pacific Northwest garden pests and understand the conditions that allow them to thrive.
• Integrated Pest Management Strategies: Explore ecological solutions that work with nature, including beneficial insects, mechanical and cultural controls, and safe organic alternatives to pesticides.
• On-Farm Examples: See practices in action across Oxbow’s diverse growing spaces, from agricultural production fields and the native plant nursery to raised garden beds.

Jacob Tracy (he/him) grew up in the forests and vineyards of Napa Valley. Attending farm camps as a child turned environmental education into a lifelong passion. During his studies at Quest University Canada, he hosted garden parties and fell in love with wild foods. He went on to manage the kitchen garden for the Culinary Institute of America, where he now holds a graduate degree in sustainable food systems. He has built and installed a free seed library, led countless edible school tours, and founded the grassroots Napa Farmers Guild. He moved to Seattle to serve with AmeriCorps as the community agriculture specialist for King Conservation District, where he supported food security programs with public, tribal, and refugee agencies, and designed the online community agriculture map.

Jacob is thrilled to find new roots at Oxbow, helping the next generation explore what it means to be in relation with land and each other.

We’re excited to offer this workshop at just $5, thanks to generous funding from 4Culture’s Doors Open grant! This experience is valued at $20, but the grant helps us make it accessible to more of our community.

We’re deeply grateful for this support, which allows us to connect more people with outdoor learning experiences.

All participants must register in advance—spaces are limited!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center