Sustainable Landscapes Workshop Offers Guidance for “Greener” Gardens Feb. 15

City and County Combine Forces to Offer Environmentally Friendly Guidance; Registration Deadline is Feb. 8

DURHAM, N.C. – Next month, gardeners interested in learning how to create productive garden beds while protecting Durham’s water quality at the same time will get their chance at a workshop focusing on sustainable garden management techniques.

On Monday, February 15, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., workshops participants will learn about a wide variety of techniques to help protect Durham’s water sources, such as how to manage soil for best results; smart watering techniques; how to install rain gardens; and how to create raised vegetable beds.

The workshop will be held at the Durham County Cooperative Extension, located at 721 Foster Street, Durham.  The cost to attend is $25 per person, which includes lunch.  The registration deadline is Monday, February 8.

According to Michelle Wallace, an agent with the Durham County Cooperative Extension, this workshop will teach tips to support local, healthy systems of food and water resources.  “Interest in gardening has grown in the past year as people try to stretch their household budgets,” Wallace said. “Consumers are also paying more attention to where their food comes from, with local and organic being key factors.  By learning how to implement simple and effective techniques at home, our participants will enjoy greener gardens straight from their backyards.”

According to John Cox, water quality manager with the City of Durham’s Stormwater Services Division in the Public Works Department, sustainable gardening also protects local water resources. “Teaching our residents to apply the proper amounts of slow-release fertilizers in their gardens is key.  Too many lawn and garden nutrients end up washing down into our creeks and then into Falls and Jordan Lakes, which we all end up paying for with increased water pollution,” Cox said. Cox and other water quality watchers hope that Durham residents curb their fertilizer use and add rain barrels and rain gardens to their landscapes, which will ultimately benefit the water quality of Durham’s local streams and lakes.

To register for this workshop, contact Pana Jones, program assistant for the Durham County Cooperative Extension, at (919) 560-0525 or via e-mail at prjones@co.durham.nc.us.

About the North Carolina Cooperative Extension

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension gives residents easy access to the resources and expertise of N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension field faculty deliver unbiased, research-based information to North Carolina citizens. To learn more about Durham County’s Cooperative Extension, visit http://durham.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=site.

About the Stormwater Services Division, Department of Public Works

The Stormwater Services Division with the City’s Department of Public Works provides services related to the management and improvement of surface water and drainage infrastructure.  Activities include design and review of stormwater systems; investigating drainage concerns; investigating and eliminating illicit stormwater connections and illegal stormwater discharges; education and outreach; floodplain management activities; enforcing ordinances and regulations; and stream monitoring, restoration and watershed master planning.  To learn more about this division, visit www.durhamnc.gov/stormwater.  

###