(In response to the January 14th Washington Post article on Habitat Gardening and Don B's comments on potential partnerships)
Not long ago, our nonprofit environmental organization, The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, received a grant to work with a local community garden and plant a BayScape demonstration garden- promoting environmentally sound landscaping practices that create wildlife habitat, conserve water, and prevent pollution for the benefit and restoration of local waterways including the Chesapeake Bay. Native plants and organic methods were used and it was not only an opportunity to create habitat but also a powerful community education tool. We held a Community Work Day in conjunction with the BayScape garden planting and delivered some community watershed education discussing the impact of impervious surfaces and stormwater runoff on the water quality of local streams and rivers. We discussed the concept of a watershed and how we "'all live down stream"- what ever we do in our gardens (excess fertilizers, pesticides) and other consumer choices we make ultimately effects the water quality of our local streams and rivers and drinking water. We also discussed other stormwater management techniques such as rain gardens, rain barrels, grass swales, porous alternatives to impervious surfaces etc. As well, we installed an information sign in the BayScape demo garden with a discussion of the philosophy of BayScapes and where folks can go for further info. I think there is a great opportunity for community gardens to partner with local watershed organizations and Friends of groups (local rivers, streams, bays etc.) to incorporate this holistic watershed education, using native plants to create wildlife habitat and reduce water usage, integrated pest management, etc. while making the connection that ultimately the efforts of the community garden, not to mention a myriad of other social/community/health/spiritual benefits, also contributes to cleaner water in creeks/streams/rivers/bays/oceans and drinking water supplies! Hadley Milliken Program Associate Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay P.O.Box 1981 Richmond, VA 23219 Phone 804.775.0951 Fax 804.775.0954 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website www.AllianceChesBay.org ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
