Check out the wonderful new series and resources from KRUU called DREAM GREEN!  Dream Green is a 20-part radio series on Iowa’s energy issues that highlights best energy efficiency practices in the state. Each week listeners learn how Iowans are making sustainability a reality in their homes, communities, and counties.

Dream Green is a project of Fairfield’s community radio station KRUU-FM, the Midwest’s first solar-powered radio station. The series is created and produced by Stuart Tanner and James Moore, the hosts of KRUU’s Tanner & Moore, with funding from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence and 70 individuals, businesses and organizations.

The goal of Dream Green is to act as a hub of information for Iowans to use, share, and pull from for a diversity of projects. Dream Green’s website, www.greeniowa.org, offers downloadable programs, press releases, and transcripts that individuals, teachers, businesses, and news organizations can use as an ongoing resource.

Best,

Scott Timm  ISU Extension and Outreach / City of Fairfield, IA

From Ellen Meyers, check out this free and wonderful workshop this Saturday, June 4 in Coralville.

Scott Timm  City of Fairfield / Iowa State University Extension

RAIN GARDEN SEMINAR

Saturday June 4th 10:00 AM

Presented by: Lucy Hershberger Forever Green Inc.

Location: Forever Green Garden Center

125 Forevergreen Rd. Coralville IA

Cost: Free

Registration: please register in advance

For information contact: Lucy Hershberger at 319-626-6770

Email: lucyh@forevergreengrows.com

Rain gardens are used as a way to manage storm water and improve water quality. The flooding Iowa has experienced demonstrated the need to manage surface runoff to help reduce flash flooding and pollution in our rivers and streams. Historically rainfall was absorbed into the ground as it fell, now roads, parking areas and buildings channel water and the pollutants it carries into storm sewers that drain directly into our rivers, lakes and streams. These storm waters carry pollutants such as chemicals and fertilizers from our lawns and driveways.

Rain gardens absorb most rainfalls and reduce these problems while enhancing the appearance of your yard. This class will offer participants an opportunity to see a rain garden, learn what a rain garden is, how it works, and how to determine the location, size and the best plants to use in their rain garden. We will also discuss other practices such as rain barrels and improving soils and programs that may help pay for a portion of the cost.

Forever Green is proud to have installed a rain garden that is one of the first in our area designed to collect water from the street and channel it into a rain garden reducing the pollutants that flow into our waterways.

Hey Everyone!  The contractor workshop has been moved!  Come one, come all to this unbelievable workshop and help build capacity in our community!

Scott Timm Iowa State University / City of Fairfield

Dates & Times

Tuesday, May 31st – Wednesday, June 1st

8:30am – 4:00pm both days

Lunch and refreshments are included!

NEW DATES! Originally scheduled for May 12-13 – Please join us, now, on May 31-June 1 for this exciting new curriculum for building professionals.

Location

Fairfield Arts and Convention Center

200 North Main Street, Fairfield, IA 52556

About COSC’s Building Rehab Workshop for Professionals

Packed full of practical information on how to incorporate green building science into existing building projects, COSC’s Building Rehab Workshop debuts in Fairfield as the best source for cutting-edge sustainable renovation curriculum. This two-day in-depth workshop is a must for professionals in the building industry. Topics include:

Initial Assessment

Historic Preservation Considerations

Financing Your Project

Structural Integrity

Exterior Finishes

Thermal Insulation

Interior Finishes

HVAC

Marketing

Instructors: Taught by Chaden Halfhill and Bill McAnally, two of the most experienced educators on Green Building Best Practices for Iowa.

Audience: This workshop will prove valuable to builders, architects, realtors, lenders, sub-contractors, inspectors, city staff, developers, students as well as interested home and building owners.

Fee and registration

$20 COSC Members

$40 Non-Members

Contact Carrie Boyle at 515.707.2784 or carrie@icosc.com

Sponsors

City of Fairfield, Iowa

Iowa State University Extension

As James Moore said today, it’s like the finale at the end of the fireworks show!  As we are wrapping up our last two weeks, what an incredible number and array of workshops to attend, most of which are free!

Tonight (Wednesday, 5/18) Russ Tell from the DNR and Dan Miller from Fairfield will talk about what you can do to deal with old wells and cisterns on your property, how to test for water quality, etc.  Thursday a showing of Liquid Assets at the Library, 2pm and 7pm, will help to clarify the real costs of having clean water and what this will mean for your future water bills.  Avi Pogel is back at it with Permaculture Training, a repeat of prior programming – from 9am-4pm on Friday and 9am-12pm on Saturday at 2243 Hwy 34 (next to Parkview).  There will be a hands-on grafting demonstration at these workshops.  Finally (well, for this week anyway), on Saturday after the Permaculture workshop at 2pm will be a Composting Strategies for Homeowners at 906 E Monroe.  Whew!  Stay tuned for next week and our final week of Backyard Conservation!

Scott Timm ISU Extension / City of Fairfield

Backyard Conservation’s workshops are focused on water this week – and what better way to kick off water week than a rain barrel demonstration by John Loin and Ellen Meyers and a visit from the award-winning Conservation Station!?  Find us at the Farmer’s Market tomorrow, and learn more about the impacts of conservation efforts with these two wonderful hands-on demonstrations.  Children and adults alike love the rain simulator and watershed model in the Conservation Station.  Local contractor John Loin will demonstrate how to convert containers to rain barrels, modeling a prototype that Habitat for Humanity is selling at the Fairfield Restore.  Plus, there is a lot more coming up this week…check out www.fairfieldgogreen.com for more details!

Scott Timm ISU Extension / City of Fairfield

The Energy Efficiency Workshop sponsored by COSC will be delayed until May 31st/June 1st.  Please reach out to those in our community who would benefit greatly from this wonderful program to consider attending.  COSC is excited to add this new two-day workshop to its curriculum. It’s packed full of practical information on how to incorporate green building science into existing building projects. Topics include:

Initial Assessment

Historic Preservation Considerations

Financing Your Project

Structural Integrity

Exterior Finishes

Thermal Insulation

Interior Finishes

HVAC

Marketing

Instructors: Taught by Chaden Halfhill and Bill McAnally, two of the most experienced educators on Green Building Best Practices for Iowa.

Audience: This workshop will prove valuable to builders, architects, realtors, lenders, sub-contractors, inspectors, city staff, developers and interested home & building owners.

Scott Timm  ISU Extension / City of Fairfield

Backyard Conservation is at it again – this weekend with some stellar workshops with Bob Yapp on how to retrofit those old windows; and how to restore your old hardwood floors without sanding!  These workshops are a must for several groups of people: contractors who are looking for new green skills and homeowners who would love to restore problems in their old homes!  Bob Yapp is not only an incredible source of information, he is just plain hilarious and a pleasure to listen to.  Workshops begin at the Fairfield Public Library at 9am on Saturday – and are free thanks to the Jefferson County Extension Council and our wonderful sponsors.  If you would like to register – follow the information below.  Walk-ins are certainly welcome.  More information on these and other Backyard Conservation workshops can be found at www.fairfieldgogreen.com.

Presented by Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC) with support from ISU Jefferson County Extension and local Fairfield sponsors. To register, please visit www.icosc.com or contact Carrie Boyle at 515-707-2784 / Carrie@icosc.com.

The direct link to the registration page is:

http://icosc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=300:bobyapp050711&catid=29:upcoming-events&Itemid=76

Scott Timm – Sustainability Coordinator Fairfield/ Iowa State University Extension