You Can't Grow That Here!

And Other Garden Myths Worth Breaking

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“You can’t grow that here!” Sound familiar? In this lively talk, Marion Owen takes on five stubborn garden myths—from sterile seed-starting soil to composting rules, and even whether AI really knows best. Drawing on more than 40 years of hands-in-the-dirt experience, she shows how breaking a few so-called rules can lead to surprising breakthroughs—giving you better harvests and greater confidence in your garden.

WHO IS MARION OWEN?

Marion Owen is an organic gardening educator based in Kodiak, Alaska, with more than 40 years of hands-in-the-dirt experience. She writes a weekly gardening column, co-authored the New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, and teaches gardeners how to grow better plants—and a healthier you—using plain-spoken, Reader’s Digest–style explanations that actually make sense. After a family medical emergency, Marion adopted a plant-based diet, deepening her interest in the powerful connection between soil health, food, and human well-being. Through years of outreach, including her YouTube channel and Instagram (@theupbeetgardener), she's a popular speaker and podcast guest, known for busting common garden myths, lively storytelling, and a good sense of humor. And yes—she’s the one whose Instagram post of leopard slugs mating somehow racked up more than 5 million views.

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