ISU Extension and Outreach - Polk County

ISU Extension and Outreach - Polk County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach connects Iowa State Universityโ€™s research to Iowans through practical, community-based learning.

This page is managed by the Polk County ISU Extension and Outreach Office Polk County ISU Extension and Outreach Office
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach connects the universityโ€™s research to Iowans through practical, community-based learning. This Page is managed by the Polk county ISU Extension and Outreach Office. We serve Polk County by delivering research-based education and resour

ces for families, farmers, youth, and communities. Visit our website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/
Learn more: https://www.extension.iastate.edu

๐ŸŒต ๐’๐ฎ๐œ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ž & ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐ŸŒตJoin us for the basics on succulent care and propagation on June 29 at West Des...
06/05/2026

๐ŸŒต ๐’๐ฎ๐œ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ž & ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐ŸŒต

Join us for the basics on succulent care and propagation on June 29 at West Des Moines Public Library! This program offers a comprehensive guide to growing and maintaining healthy succulents, ideal for both beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts.

Participants design and create a 3 succulent planter for continued care and propagation success at home!

Central Iowa Water Works recently announced Polk County is in Stage 2 of the Water Use Plan. This means that residents,...
06/04/2026

Central Iowa Water Works recently announced Polk County is in Stage 2 of the Water Use Plan. This means that residents, businesses, and government agencies are being asked to voluntarily reduce water use by 50%.

โฌ‡๏ธReducing outdoor water use by 50% helps protect our regional drinking water supply during periods of high demand and challenging water quality conditions. This ask does not include flowers, tress and vegetable gardens; only lawns.

โœ…Small changes make a big difference:
๐Ÿ’ง Skip one day in the even/odd lawn watering schedule
๐Ÿ’ง Make sure sprinklers are watering grass โ€” not pavement or roadways
๐Ÿ’ง Water only the areas that need it most, not those that are shaded

By working together to conserve water outdoors, businesses and residents can help reserve safe, reliable drinking water for our communities. Visit www.ciww.gov for more information.

Help us welcome our incredible summer interns! ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐ŸŒป Our new 4-H interns Keira Olson and Maria Santos-Gamez will spend the...
06/03/2026

Help us welcome our incredible summer interns! ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐ŸŒป

Our new 4-H interns Keira Olson and Maria Santos-Gamez will spend the summer teaching youth programs, day camps and helping at the Polk County Fair.

Ray Rosencrants, our first-ever Polk County Master Gardener intern, will be working on the newsletter, helping with volunteer administration and planning a special event at Easterseals.

If you see Ray, Kiera or Maria this summer, please tell them hello!

Learn more about them: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/three-interns-join-polk-county-office-summer

There's still time to register for this "explosive" opportunity....don't delay!๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฅ An ART EXPLOSION is coming to Polk co...
06/02/2026

There's still time to register for this "explosive" opportunity....don't delay!

๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฅ An ART EXPLOSION is coming to Polk county this summer!! ๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ

Explore all areas of art and creativity at the Art Explosion Day Camp June 5th from 8:30 - 11:30am at our office! ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐ŸŽจ

Campers will bring home art projects from this day of exploring the elements of design, art principles, and different forms of creativity for $25. For kids up to Fourth Grade.

Register today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMUoVBAwTPim6a1iS7OXfa7P_OSQa53v89TtNgPqexsk_2wA/viewform?usp=header

On July 8, Alicia Herzog, Program Coordinator for Iowa State Extension and Outreach, Iowa Master Gardener Program, will ...
06/02/2026

On July 8, Alicia Herzog, Program Coordinator for Iowa State Extension and Outreach, Iowa Master Gardener Program, will present on how donation gardening and community-based horticulture projects can strengthen local support networks and increase access to fresh produce. Participants will learn practical ways to make an impact, donation garden basics, and the basics of partnering with food pantries to get produce to neighbors in need!

Bring your own lawn chair and join us starting at 6PM ๐Ÿ˜„
Discovery Garden Address: 1207 E Iowa St., Des Moines, IA on the Iowa State Fairgrounds

We are partnering with The Rain Campaign, Easterseals Iowa, and Runnells Community Library to host a couple rain barrel...
05/27/2026

We are partnering with The Rain Campaign, Easterseals Iowa, and Runnells Community Library to host a couple rain barrel workshops this summer! โ˜”

๐Ÿ“…Wednesday, June 24
๐Ÿ•›5:30-7:00PM
๐Ÿ“Easterseals Camp Sunnyside
๐Ÿ’ฒ$75
๐Ÿ”— https://go.iastate.edu/LTSTG9

๐Ÿ“…Thursday, July 9
๐Ÿ•›5:30-7:00PM
๐Ÿ“Runnells Community Library
๐Ÿ’ฒ$75
๐Ÿ”— https://go.iastate.edu/QLYRTA

Topic Highlights:
๐Ÿ’งBenefits of rain water harvesting
๐Ÿ’งGeneral installation and maintenance
๐Ÿ’งRebate programs available near you
๐Ÿ’งBuild your own rain barrel to take home

Registration is now open for our first ever Fall Master Conservationist Program!! ๐ŸŒณ๐Ÿ’งMaster Conservationists are individu...
05/23/2026

Registration is now open for our first ever Fall Master Conservationist Program!! ๐ŸŒณ๐Ÿ’ง

Master Conservationists are individuals that share an interest in the sustainability of Iowa's natural resources and in becoming better stewards of those resources. This program consists of approximately 12 hours of online curriculum and several in-person, in-the-field meetings. Graduates of the course learn to make informed choices for leading and educating others to improve conservation in our area.

1:00-4:00 p.m. every Tuesday from September 8 - October 27 ๐Ÿ“…

This is an incredibly popular program and space is limited so register before it fills up! https://go.iastate.edu/AFV8UJ

Polk County Conservation

Looking to expend your houseplant knowledge and collection?? Come to our free Houseplant Propagation Class with West Des...
05/20/2026

Looking to expend your houseplant knowledge and collection?? Come to our free Houseplant Propagation Class with West Des Moines Public Library!

Learn how to keep plants looking healthy and how to start new plants from cuttings. The class will cover types of media to use, methods of propagation, and the environmental conditions needed for propagation.

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ June 22
๐Ÿ•ง 6-7:00PM
๐Ÿ“ West Des Moines Public Library
๐Ÿ”— https://www.wdmlibrary.org/event/houseplant-propagation-121866

Today we say good-bye and good luck to our amazing co-worker Wendy Wiggins. For the past three years, she's warmly welco...
05/20/2026

Today we say good-bye and good luck to our amazing co-worker Wendy Wiggins. For the past three years, she's warmly welcomed our guests and helped connect them with resources, hosted countless Pesticide Applicator Trainings, managed our stellar social media presence, served as our staff photographer, and even tested your canning equipment, just to name a few of her important roles around here. We will miss you Wendy! And wish you the best and much success in your new role as Member Services Coordinator with Choose Iowa at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Our loss is definitely their gain!

We just wrapped up Pathways For Our Future with Stilwell Jr High where over 20 youth and adult participants gathered for...
05/19/2026

We just wrapped up Pathways For Our Future with Stilwell Jr High where over 20 youth and adult participants gathered for a whole family program focused on college and career readiness for middle school youth and their families! ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐ŸŽ“

Each of the six sessions started with a shared meal that encouraged families to reflect on their day and opened the door to have conversations about their youth's future! Other topics covered in the class were finances, career opportunities, how to partner with your school to prepare for the future, and post secondary education options.

This program was provided in Spanish and Arabic through simultaneous live interpretation! ๐Ÿ’ฌ

Address

1625 Adventureland Drive, Ste A
Altoona, IA
50009

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 2pm

Telephone

(515) 957-5760

Website

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