Gardening Authors Headline Educational Symposium on EcoSavvy Gardening ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Gardening authors Steven Carroll and Donald Leopold will be among the experts presenting a day-long EcoSavvy Gardening Symposium, "Techniques for Keeping our Planet Healthy."
Green Spring Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardeners will host the symposium at Green Spring Gardens Horticultural Center, Saturday, February 26, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Registration is $35.00. A box lunch is available for an additional $10. To register, call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. Credit cards are accepted over the phone. Please specify vegetarian or non-vegetarian lunch preference. Register early, as space is limited. Green Spring Garden is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA, located just north of the intersection of Braddock and Little River Turnpike Roads. Steven Carroll will address the topic, "Ecology for Gardeners: Keeping our Gardens Green." Carroll is an ecologist at Truman State University where he teaches ecology and botany. He notes in his book by the same name that, "Even a relatively small garden is a miniature ecosystem. It includes a surprising diversity of organisms that interact in a myriad of ways." Donald Leopold will discuss "Native Plants for the Northeast: The Best Plants for Difficult Locations." Leopold is Distinguished Teaching Professor at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York in Syracuse. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, he researches the biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems. His new book, "Native Plants for the Northeast" is being released this spring. Copies will be available to purchase. Plants thrive in diverse ecosystems that are healthy. Lonnie Heflin of Chesapeake Organics will address this important aspect of gardening in his presentation, "Bay Friendly Gardening: Healthy Soil Makes Healthy Plants." Asad Rouhi of the Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District will discuss one of the more critical challenges facing gardeners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region, "Rainwater Runoff and Erosion Solutions." With gardening becoming the number one recreational activity in the Washington metropolitan area, the topic of EcoSavvy Gardening is timely. Green Spring Master Gardeners are developing criteria for an EcoSavvy Gardening Certification for Fairfax County citizens. In the upcoming months, local citizens can apply to be certified as EcoSavvy Gardeners by adopting specific EcoSavvy Gardening techniques in their home landscape. Green Spring VCE Master Gardeners are volunteer education partners with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), dedicated to community outreach that encourages and promotes environmentally friendly gardening techniques. For more information on the Green Spring Master Gardeners program, contact Sandy Flowers at Green Spring Gardens Park, 703-642-5173. ______________________________________________________ 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
