{BB} Landscapes You Can Eat! All Over Our City!

[Bountiful Backyards]

Hey Folks,

On Saturday July 11th in the "Garden of Eatin' " at the Durham's Farmers Market, 25 of Durham's finest residents came together to plant ten Southern Highbush Blueberries.  Within 3-5 years there will be about 300 pounds of fruit each June in our burgeoning edible forest garden, which is growing up as a sort of "really really free market", adjacent to the farmers market.  Thanks for your support of the BB / SEEDs planting workshop, here are a few pictures.

We envision these "Edens" not only at individual residences, but also in public parks and vacant lots, neighborhoods, on roof tops, as streetscapes, in subdivisions, on sustainable farms, and anywhere that wasteful lawns attempt to hide!  Through deeper collaborations with allies throughout the Triangle, many exciting opportunities are presenting themselves.

For example, our next collaborative public project is an educational garden, part of a larger "Edible Schoolyard" project at George Watts Montessori Public School in Durham.  Anyone who wants to learn about rain gardens and planting perennials is invited to this hands on learning opportunity.  Come ready to work, share, and learn!

Beginning August 1st, at the school, we will be building a "bioretention system" - basically a large rain garden.  We will utilize soils and useful herbaceous plants to filter storm water runoff from the school's large roof, which feeds into the Ellerbe Creek Watershed (and eventually Falls Lake).  By capturing the stormwater we will replenish groundwater for edibles in the perennial garden, attract beneficial insects and wildlife, and provide an outdoor classroom for the children.  The edible perennial gardens will be planted on Aug. 8th.

We invite anyone interested in getting their hands dirty to join us on one or both workdays, click here for details from the chair of the GW Montessori PTA Edible Schoolyard Committee, Alice Baumgarner.  Feel free to send Alice questions or let her know what days you plan to volunteer. 

What: Bioretention / Rain Garden & Perennial Garden Hands-On Workshops

When: 8/1 and 8/8  8am-1pm

Where: George Watts Montessori School, 700 Watts St, Durham, NC 27701

Cost: suggested donation of $25

August is just around the corner, we hope you are planning for your fall garden :)

It'll be fun, we promise,
BB Crew

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Bountiful Backyards
Landscapes You Can Eat!
www.bountifulbackyards.com
723 North Mangum Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919)-619-9862