Laura Irish Hanson

Laura Irish-Hanson is the statewide Extension Educator for Resilient Managed Horticultural Landscapes. She is a leader for promoting managed horticultural landscape systems through multiple perspectives in collaboration with property owners, community organizations, urban stakeholders, and others at the University of Minnesota. Focus areas are climate adaptation and gardening, lowering expenses through efficient inputs and maintenance, underutilized native and resilient plants, and ecosystem support. Laura regularly appears on the WCCO Radio Smart Gardens show from 8–9AM on Saturday, dial in to AM 830 or listen on your favorite podcast app. She offices at the Farm at the Arb in Chaska.

Prior to joining UMN Extension in 2024, Laura has over 9 years of experience in traditional horticulture-focused classroom and laboratory teaching, involvement in a multidisciplinary extension program between SNAP-Ed and the Iowa Master Gardener program, and a Master of Science in Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture from Iowa State University.