The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), together with the OSU Extension Service, the McKenzie Watershed Council, and the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is hosting an ‘educational series’ on sustainable landscaping and home maintenance.
Three informational classes will be held in Leaburg during May and June on the following topics: creating healthy riparian areas, healthy lawns and weed and pest management, and home maintenance, septic systems and hazardous waste disposal. These classes are loosely based on the OSU Extension Service’s sustainable landscaping series but will be shorter and more focused on issues related to the McKenzie and on rural living. They will cover topics including learning about addressing invasive species on your property, planting appropriate native species, the importance of riparian buffers to water quality, reducing pesticide and fertilizer use, enriching soil quality through composting and mulching, weed and pest management, managing moss, creating wildlife habitat, properly maintaining septic systems, and how/where to dispose of household hazardous waste. More efficient use of resources can lead to lower power, water, and waste bills.
The schedule of classes is as follows:
Wednesday, May 16th: Healthy Riparian Areas: where your land meets the water
Wednesday, May 30th: Healthy Lawns; Weed & Pest Management
Tuesday, June 12th: Home Maintenance, Septic Systems & Hazardous Waste Disposal
All classes are free of charge and will be held from 3pm to 5:30pm at the Leaburg Training Center. There will be a short open house afterwards where people can talk to staff from each agency/organization and obtain additional information. Pre-registration is requested but not required.
These classes are designed to promote sustainable landscaping and water quality protection throughout the McKenzie Watershed. Resources and financial incentives will be available to homeowners wishing to pursue these practices on their properties.
For more information, please contact Nancy Toth (541-685-7438) or Karl Morgenstern (541-685-7365).
Oregon Tilth’s 2012 Organic Landcare Accreditation Course is next week, Monday, January 23 – Friday, January 27, 2012. This five-day training for landscape professionals will focus on organic practices including Integrated Pest Management (IPM), soil building, sustainable landscape design, organic weed management, marketing organic land care, storm water management, tree care, sustainable resources and more.