County and Water Providers Promote Ocean Friendly Gardens Program

On Saturday, June 11, 2011, a “Basics Class” will be held as the first in a series of events in the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program. The program provides education and hands-on training in establishing gardens that apply “CPR”: Conservation of natural resources, Permeability of soils, and Retention of rainfall. The Santa Barbara County Water Agency and local water providers, including the City of Santa Barbara and Goleta Water District, are promoting Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program as part of their water conservation program for residents and landscapers. The Basics Class will be held from 10am to 1pm at the Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De La Vina Street in Santa Barbara. Those interested can register by emailing santabarbaraofg@gmail.com. This class will be the first of its kind in Santa Barbara County and signals the launch of the Surfrider-Santa Barbara Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program.

The Basics Class will be followed on other dates by: a Hands-On Workshop to evaluate a traditional garden for water use, runoff and rainwater capture; a Garden Assistance Program Workday to turn that site into an Ocean Friendly Garden; and a Neighborhood Walk starting at the new garden. The Santa Barbara area series is funded through a California Coastal Commission grant to Surfrider Foundation. The grant also funds The Green Gardens Group to lead the series’ events including a one-day training and certification for landscape professionals. This training will help build a cadre of professionals trained in Ocean Friendly Gardens to serve those who cannot do it themselves.

For more information, see www.oceanfriendlygardens.org, and visit our regional water conservation website www.sbwater.org. Questions regarding the basics class or the Ocean Friendly Gardens program should be addressed to Surfrider’s National OFG Program Coordinator, Paul Herzog, at (310) 439-2500 or santabarbaraofg@gmail.com.