A diverse group attended the Ocean Friendly Gardens Basics Class in Santa Barbara on June 11. It was the first component in a series funded by a grant from the California Coastal Commission through the Whale Tail License Plate Grant program. Regular property owners and rents as well as landscape professionals and reps from government agencies and non-profits participated.
The next step in the series is the Hands-On Workshop (HOW) on Site Evaluation. At the HOW, participants will learn how to: evaluate the existing soil, plants and irrigation; calculate current water use, an OFG “water budget” and rainwater capture and use potential; and come up with retrofit design concepts. We chose a public site that resembles a typical, downtown home because we wanted a high-visibility location for the first series.
- When - Sunday, September 11, 10am-1pm
- Where - Spencer Adams Park, 1212 De La Vina St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (pictured at right)
The HOW is open to everyone, not just those who attended the Basics Class. RSVP to santabarbaraofg@gmail.com.
The HOW will be followed over the coming months by a:
One-Day Training for Professionals - it's G3's Core Concepts Workshop, “conducted specifically for landscape, building and planning professionals as well as advanced home gardeners who are interested in grasping the fundamental calculations and communication techniques for sustainable landscaping.” Date - Tuesday, October 25 (changed from the 18th), all day.
Garden Assistance Program (GAP) Workday - returning to the HOW site to transform it into an Ocean Friendly Garden. Date - aiming for early-mid November.
Lawn Patrol (neighborhood walk) - starting at the GAP Workday site, participants will learn how we applied CPR - Conservation, Permeability and Retention - to the site. Then we'll walk the neighborhood to look for landscapes that OFG elements, and see if some of the owners want help to go OFG and build a wave of change. Date - aiming for early December.
In between these OFG series components, check out a couple of hands-on events put on by others:
- Santa Barbara Green Living Co-op is conducting a 10-day intensive from August 19-28 on active and passive rainwater capture and use. They plan to have four events during that time which are open to the public (for a reasonable fee). Contact Co-op coordinator, Barbara Wishingrad, for details (or call her at 805-403-4566).
- G3 will be leading a HOW to install a “sponge garden” (aka, a rain garden) at Carpinteria City Hall - Sunday, September 18. Contact City of Carpinteria's Environmental Coordinator, Erin Maker for details (or call her at 805-684-5405, x415