Visit the Conservation Station and Rain Barrel Demonstration at the Farmer’s Market
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
Contractor Workshop Delayed two weeks
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
Old Window Retrofits and Passive Wood Floor Restoration Workshops with Bob Yapp
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
Hightunnel and Greenhouse Tour, Square Foot Gardening, Edible Cityscape Project This Weekend
We have another great weekend of Backyard Conservation-sponsored workshops! The Edible Cityscape Project is in their second weekend of sales, with more and new varieties. More information can be found here:http://ediblecityscapes.wordpress.com/. Square foot gardening is a wonderful technique for small-space and low-maintainence gardening – Sunday morning (9am) at the SLC SEED Center. And if you’ve ever thought of setting up a season-extending greenhouse or high tunnel – why not attend our panel on Sunday at the Library at 1pm and check some out around town on a self-guided tour? All workshops are free thanks to our wonderful sponsors! Find more information at http://www.fairfieldgogreen.com/backyard-conservation/
Best,
Scott Timm - ISU Extension/City of Fairfield
Edible Cityscape Sale
It’s round two, and the Edible Cityscape Project is ready for another big weekend! Check out their new varieties. My family came home with a truckbed load of the nicest plum, apple and pear trees I’ve seen in quite awhile. I cannot wait to get my chestnut and aronia’s in either. Life is good! The event starts at 9am at the SLC SEED Center. Check out their site that contains all the information you need: http://ediblecityscapes.wordpress.com/
Scott Timm ISU Extension/City of Fairfield
Community Gardening Organizational Meeting Tuesday, 4/26, 5pm
| April 26, 2011 | ||
| 5:00 pm | to | 7:00 pm |
Growing your own food has become quite popular within the past few years. The Jefferson County Hospital will be sponsoring a community garden on the hospital grounds this summer. For more information on the community garden an organizational meeting will be held 5:00 pm, Tuesday, April 26th at the Jefferson County Extension Office. Anyone who is interested in having a plot in the garden should attend this meeting with questions and concerns. We will be discussing size of space, cost and location. For more information you can contact Kim Keller at 472-4166.
Scott Timm – ISU Extension / City of Fairfield
Garlic Mustard Pulling Delayed
Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the late notice – but the Garlic Mustard Pulling workday must be postponed. Due to a cooler spring, the mustard isn’t far enough to make it easy to pull. SO – check in later next week, and we’ll tentatively reschedule for 4/30 9am-12pm.
Warm Regards,
Scott Timm
ISU Extension – City of Fairfield Sustainability Coordinator
Backyard Conservation Workshops this Week
This week we have THREE wonderful workshops to attend. On Thursday, from 5-6pm at the Fairfield Middle School, hear about how our wonderful Middleschoolers, with the help of Urban Conservationist Wayne Petersen and Science Teacher Cory Klem, installed a 4-celled raingarden at the middle school. This project was a partnership effort involving the Fairfield Community School District, City of Fairfield, Fulbright Canada, Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District and Pathfinders RC&D. Sixth grade science students planted more than 1,400 native plants into the rain garden and the project will divert more than 1.86 million gallons of rainwater each year away from Indian Creek. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments provided.
On Saturday, join us at Jefferson County Park for a Garlic Mustard Pulling workday. Help rid our beautiful park of these invasive plants! This is a great event for the whole family.
And third – don’t miss the Third Annual Edible Cityscape Sale, at the SLC SEED Center. This is your chance to pick up great quality fruit trees, bushes, etc at unbelievable prices. All information can be found here: <http://ediblecityscapes.wordpress.com/>
More information on all these events can be found at www.fairfieldgogreen.com
Scott Timm
ISU Extension and City of Fairfield Sustainability Coordinator
Free Workshops: Seed Savers Exchange, Gardening for the Farmers Market
Are you interested in preserving seeds, growing heirloom veggies and flowers, and have ever dreamed of selling your goods at the Farmer’s Market? If so, then this week’s Backyard Conservation workshops are for you! Seed Saver’s Exchange will be presenting at the Jefferson County Extension Office on Friday at 7pm – talking about the Biology and Ecology of saving seeds. On Saturday, a panel of Farmer’s Market veterans will share secrets to their success at the Sustainable Living Coalition campus (find map here), with a catered lunch for just $7 (To guarantee your lunch, call 641-472-4166 ). More information on each of these events can be found on the City’s Go Green website, www.fairfieldgogreen.com.
Free and Fantastic Backyard Conservation Workshops This Weekend
How dependent are we as a planet on our pollinators? What kind of an impact to invasive species have on our local ecosystems – and how does that affect us? How can I attract and encourage pollinators in my backyard and garden to their and my benefit? How can I support native species in my community? Answers to these questions and more will be delivered at our first Backyard Conservation workshops this Saturday. If you want to attend both, no worries! Pollinator workshops will be delivered on the hour every hour (starting at 9am) with rotating topics, including opportunities to order bees at noon and 4pm. The Invasive Species workshop will be at 1pm at the Library. More information on these workshops and our Backyard Conservation series can be found on our website, tell your friends! http://www.fairfieldgogreen.com/backyard-conservation/
Best,
Scott Timm
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Fairfield/ISU Extension