The Surfrider chapters, volunteers, students and advisors that make up the Ocean Friendly Gardens Program undertook an awesome effort to both educate the public about OFG and conduct hands-on training to build Ocean Friendly Gardens during 2012. A total of 23 chapters or school clubs offered a sprectrum of activities.
Even more interesting than the activities or garden builds is what chapters are doing through their events to:
Several programs are highlighted in the Report through case studies. One program, run by the Ventura County Chapter, has partnered with the City of Ventura and contracted with G3/The Green Gardens Group on two professionally led “series” of programs that resulted in beautiful gardens. The second series included an in-classroom workshop for training professionals, helping to meet the increasing demand for OFG-oriented landscape pros. Just as interesting was the cutting of the parkway curb and creation of bio-swales at the 2nd site. Hard surfaces like roads, parking lots and driveways contribute the bulk of urban run-off. The City of Ventura is offering a no-cost curb cutting permit as long as the applicant hires a licensed contractor to cut the curb and follows the G3-developed design. To our knowledge, no other city in the country offers a similar no-cost permit.
The Program is partially supported by several generous funders, which we are grateful for.
Click here to download the OFG 2012 Annual Report.