Join gardening experts Steve Koontz and Emily Kresca on the fascinating journey of indoor gardening. From soil-less techniques to plant care with a scientific basis, you will walk away inspired to start your own garden.

During the workshop, Steve Koontz will share about soil-less gardening including how to plant seeds and the different systems that are available. During this workshop, you will get to sample lettuce and herbs grown in a Tower Garden at the Lilly Center.

Emily Kresca will tackle the plant science basics and the essential principles of plant care in an indoor environment. Topics will include understanding light requirements, choosing the right soil, and proper watering techniques. Practical tips include selecting indoor-friendly plants, managing common pests, and troubleshooting plant issues.

About Steve Koontz:

Steve Koontz is an indoor gardening specialist. This includes taking care of potted plants in businesses, plantscape consulting, and growing edibles on a soilless gardening system called a Tower Garden.

Over 20 years ago, Steve received a free packet of gourd seeds and planted them in a small patch of ground in the front of his house. Not only did the seeds sprout, but the gourd plants took over the driveway and wound themselves into the screen door. That was when his passion for gardening first took root.

In 2012, he moved into soilless gardening with a Tower Garden – a soilless gardening system that works well indoors and out and he discovered more about the unique processes behind successfully growing edibles indoors. Since then, he’s helped schools in Indiana and across the country purchase Tower Gardens and has trained teachers on how to effectively use them in their classrooms.

“The Tower Gardens have been a wonderful educational tool for our classrooms,” says Dr. Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools, “and I appreciate Steve’s work greatly!”

Steve became a Master Gardener in 2015 and began specializing in indoor gardening, which includes potted plants and plantscape consulting, helping people enjoy an inviting atmosphere using plants without the worry of plant maintenance.

In the same way Steve believes God provides the resources in a seed to produce a plant, He’s also providing the resources for him to combine the gardening he enjoys with the teaching he loves.

About Emily Kresca:

Emily Kresca is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Purdue Extension Educator for Kosciusko County. She was born and raised in Ohio, where she attended The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. She then received a Master’s Degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. During her time at the University of Tennessee, she worked with Organic Dairy Producers on improving and sustaining their milk quality. Emily began her career with Purdue Extension in 2020 as a 4-H Youth Development Educator.

Even though she was not raised on a farm, Emily has had a passion for agriculture since a young age. Being a part of Purdue Extension allows her to continue to pursue that passion for agriculture and share it with the community in Kosciusko County and in the State of Indiana.

This event is sponsored by the City of Warsaw Stormwater Utility.