The Kansas Expocentre will be hosting their annual Topeka Garden Show Feb. 17-19.

The garden show offers a variety of local vendors from different spectrums of lawn and garden needs to encourage the public to get involved in the hobby and assist them in starting or continuing their own gardens.

In light of the environmental issues that have presented themselves in the past decade or so, many people are striving to do their part in the community. Gardening offers a chance for people to grow and maintain their own produce and to make a positive impact on the environment. In this way, gardening is able to become not only a hobby and favorite pastime, but a way to strive for better living.

“As I read more about the mass consumption of food, the impact it had on the environment really encouraged me to grow and produce my own food and do it the right way,” said Erica Gruebler, senior economics major. “And it makes me really happy to watch what we’ve grown progress and see people enjoy eating something I have personally grown.”

Gruebler has been able to create a sustainable ecosystem within her garden without using any pollutants. She also sells quality fresh produce at the local farmer’s market. She expressed that one of her hopes is to simply get the community involved in obtaining knowledge about the environment and encouraging them to buy local.

Washburn faculty and students work to promote gardening and the environment by maintaining a greenhouse located in Stoffer Science Hall. This is Washburn’s small step toward helping the environment and promoting healthy ecosystems through gardening and production.

“I think it is important that we start taking a stand now and really start thinking about food production and where our food comes from,” said Gruebler.

Whether it be for the health of our environment or a leisure sunny day activity, gardening has had tremendous growth throughout Kansas in the past few years.

The Topeka Garden Show is just one way to get people excited about taking care of their lawn and garden and helping Kansas and the world’s ecosystems stay green.

Tickets will be sold for $6 to visiting adults and children under the age of 12 get in for free.

The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 17 and 18 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 19.