Location(s)

Intro to Permaculture: Ecological Edible Landscapes
An OEFFA workshop

Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Classroom A
1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle, Cleveland OH 44106-1767
Saturday, Sept 20 - 9am-5pm

Join us as we explore the basics of permaculture, a system of design that uses principles and processes found in nature to create food, fuel, and fiber for people, while caring for the earth and its inhabitants.
We’ll focus on edible forest gardens; gardens which look and function like forests and provide food for people in urban and rural homes alike. From the design through planting and care, expert designers Josh Beniston of Habitats Landscaping and Brett Joseph of Conneaut Creek Farm will teach us how to create such a garden anywhere. We’ll top it all off by getting our hands dirty and installing a garden within walking distance of the workshop. $45 OEFFA members/
$60 non-members. Class size is limited so sign up early! Please bring your own brown bag lunch.

To register, send your check, along with your name, address, phone number and email to:
OEFFA Workshops, 41 Croswell Road, Columbus OH
43214.
Questions can be directed to laura@oeffa.org or 614-421-2022.

What's your idea for reusing vacant land in Cleveland?

Neighborhood Progress, Inc. is working with the Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio on strategies to put vacant land in Cleveland back into productive use. They held a charrette in May where planners pinpointed ideas—from test plots of plants that remove Lead from soil, an urban tree nursery, or growing food—for further exploration.

Read the summary of ideas from the Cleveland Land Lab charrette here.

Location(s)

Organic Pest and Critter Control Management Seminar

Saturday, June 21st, 11:00a.m.

Speaker:

Dan Norris (Service Consultant, Certified Turf Grass Professional) - Good Nature Lawn Care

Topics Include:

Location(s)

Learn the basics of sheet composting and asphalt gardening while while helping to create a new community garden. Bring your shovels and join this garden workshop run by Maurice Small of CityFresh. Rain or shine. Call 761-7935 or 220-5532 for details. http://www.gotthenac.org

Location(s)

Natives, annuals, perennials, grasses, hanging baskets, 'Home-Grown' plants and more. Shop or pick up pre-sale orders from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Call (216) 321-5935 for information.

Location(s)

In addition to the diverse selection of vegetable and flower varieties (all grown at Crown Point), events include farm tours, mini gardening workshops and children's activities.

Location(s)

In addition to the diverse selection of vegetable and flower varieties (all grown at Crown Point), events include farm tours, mini gardening workshops and children's activities.

Location(s)

Areas landscaped with perennial native plants that don’t mind getting “wet feet”, rain gardens are an attractive way to reduce the impact of stormwater on streams and Lake Erie. Rain gardens are designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as rooftops and driveways. Learn about these systems and take home a guidebook containing information on how to select a site, construct your own, what type of plants work best and more.

Visit www.oldwomancreek.org or call (419)433-4601 for more information.

What does your yard say about you? Do you desire big, showy flowers that crave lots of attention (and make the water department happy)? Or are you satisfied with subtle variations of green or maybe hardier plants that are native to the region?

The good news is, you can have it all—avoid the energy-intensive managed landscape while crafting an attractive, resource efficient yard.

Start thinking about how with this page, “Tips for more sustainable landscapes”.

The following "Tips for more sustainable landscapes" come from Salsbury-Schweyer, an Akron landscape design company.

Plantings

• Select the plants best suited to the site and soil conditions
• Plant for diversity using variety; avoid monocultures
• Incorporate native/indigenous plants
• Design for energy conservation (i.e. windbreaks, shade trees).
• Avoid use of invasive plants such as English ivy, purple loosestrife, barberry, privet, Norway maples, and some euonymus, especially near natural areas

Lawn

• Reduce amount of lawn and consider alternatives
• Fertilize and water minimally
• Adjust your attitude...tolerate a few weeds instead of heavy pesticides
• Mow high (3") and leave clippings

Provide for ecosystem

• Recycle organic material and create healthy soil using compost
• incorporate water, food and habitat for wildlife

Conserve resources

• Water deeply and infrequently
• Slow flow of, or retain, rainwater on site. Consider rain barrels, rain gardens or roof gardens
• Reduce paving and lawn, which encourages runoff
• Avoid use of mowers, blowers, hedge shears, etc.

Use eco-friendly materials

• Use compost instead of topsoil to improve soils
• Avoid toxic pesticides, use an integrated pest management approach to pest control
• Incorporate recycled materials, local materials and easily re-used materials
• Consider what "environmental footprint" results from the manufacture/disposal of product material

Create long-term value