Fertility Follows Water. When stormwater (rain that doesn’t infiltrate where it falls) moves quickly through a field, forest, or landscape, it picks up sediment and organic matter, pulling fertility away from the site. When water slows down, it deposits sediment and organic matter, creating pockets of fertility along the way. As we work to create resilient native landscaping and restoration projects, let’s do our best to catch, store, and utilize that water and fertility close to where it falls. We’ll discuss water harvesting principles — and how harnessing the power of stormwater can help us accomplish our habitat creation goals. We’ll see examples of small and large water harvesting projects for homeowners, woodlot owners, and farmers alike.

Some yards have “too much” water, while others dry out quickly.  In this talk we’ll explore why native plant landscapes in the wild don’t need ongoing irrigation — and how features like rain gardens and bioswales can help both wet and dry sites to soak up water, create important habitat for native birds and beneficial insects, and slow down fertility loss — all while beautifying landscapes with privacy, color and edible elements.  Learn why rain gardens are so important and how to put one or more in your own yard. Learn how to best utilize rain barrels, too.  

Small space garden design is a combination of observation and inspiration. In this Love Your Alley event, we’ll gain new insights on both with the help of Permaculture designer Chris Anderson. We’ll discuss water flow, slope, shade and sun, time and energy constraints, and how all of these relate to plant choices and stewardship of neighborhood nooks and community crannies. We’ll discuss great plants and creative solutions for community intersections like alleys. Please measure any space you want to steward, and bring a picture or two.