Weekend Sustainability Conference in Athens

Sustainability: Bring It Home!
Friday evening – Sunday afternoon, November 12-14
members $175; non-members $200 (includes lunch on Saturday)

“Sustainability: Bring It Home!” is a weekend workshop for people who want to transform their home into a fun and practical part of a more ecological world. This comprehensive workshop is filled with interactive presentations and hands-on sessions that educate and inspire participants to create home systems to meet their needs for food, water, and energy as locally, sustainably, and economically as possible. Topics will include: Home Energy Alternatives; Home Orchards and Forest Gardens; Annual and Perennial Vegetable Gardens; Soil Health and Composting; Raising Animals at Home; Natural Building; Creative Erosion Control; Rainwater Catchment; and Creating an Ecological Neighborhood. Visit our website at www.uga.edu/botgarden/educationalevents.html for registration and the complete workshop schedule.

AGENDA
Friday
7:00 – 9:30 pm The Foundations of Sustainability
Challenges to Sustainability: Peak Resource Extraction, Climate Change, Economic Instability
Solutions: Permaculture, Transition Strategies, Transition Homes & Neighborhoods

Saturday
9:00 am – 12:30 pm The Toolkit
Nine Permaculture Principles
Designing an Integrated Home System
12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 3:45 pm The How To’s
Presentations and Hands-On Projects (Choose One)
Presentation: Annual and Perennial Vegetable Gardens-----Hands-On: Mulch Bed/ Herb Spiral
Presentation: HomeEnergy/Alternatives-----Hands-On: Building a Solar Water Heater
4:00 – 6:00 pm The How To’s
Presentations and Hands-On Projects (Choose One)
Presentation: Healthy Soils-----Hands-On: Compost Bins, Worm Composting, and Composting Toilets
Presentation: Natural Building-----Hands-On: Building with Cob

Sunday
9:00 am – Check-in
9:30 – 11:45 am The How To’s
Presentations and Hands-On Projects (Choose One)
Presentation: Home Orchards and Forest Gardens-----Hands-On: Planting a Polyculture
Presentation: Water in Your System-----Hands-On: Erosion Control/ Rainwater Catchment
11:45 am – 12:45 pm The How To’s
Presentations (Choose One)
Creating an Ecological Neighborhood
Animals and Aquaculture in Your Home System
12:45 – 1:45 pm Potluck Lunch
2:00 – 5:00 pm Design Teams: Students, in small teams, create sustainable home system designs on miniature landscapes; presentations to whole group
5:00 -5:30 pm Summing Up, Next Steps, Conclusion

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:

Dennis Hoffarth is a civil engineer with extensive experience in home energy efficiency and passive solar designs, as well as home construction, sanitary systems, and home renovation. He has worked as a consultant in bicycle and pedestrian-based community design. He holds an advanced permaculture design certificate, and has taught many workshops and classes on passive solar design, community planning, and alternative transportation.

Sharon Bagatell is a teacher and farmer with an advanced permaculture design certificate. A former elementary school teacher, she is the author of several environmental education curricula, including a permaculture curriculum for children. She has worked extensively with urban and suburban communities on bicycle and pedestrian planning and education. Sharon is also co-owner of a small organic farm where she is developing a food forest.

Big, Big News!

This week we spent an afternoon with artist Andrew Crawford to finalize plans and select locations for The State Botanical Garden of Georgia's first art exhibition within the gardens. We're so excited! Andrew is working on 6 gates that will be placed in the Visitor Center, International Garden, Heritage Garden and Flower Garden in March and stay in place throughout 2011. There will be an exhibit of drawings, video and sample pieces in the Visitor Center lobby during March and April. There will also be special events, talks, trips, contests and gift shop items - all celebrating this wonderful exhibition of metal garden gates that will range from about 5' to 10' tall. You'll hear more soon, but for a glimpse of what's coming look at Andrew's facebook page (Andrew T. Crawford Ironworks) and a few videos on his website (www.ironisking.com/media).

Sunflower Concert Series Celebrates Athens Music in a Garden Setting

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia announces its 10th annual Sunflower Music Series. Each concert will be performed on the stage of the new Flower Garden, a terraced garden between the Day Chapel and the Visitor Center and Conservatory, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The relaxed, beautiful garden setting creates the perfect outdoor summer event. Bring a blanket and picnic, kick off your shoes, and enjoy an evening in the Garden with friends or family.

Performing this year are:

June 22: Randall Bramblett, with Rick Fowler opening.
Randall Bramblett is a singer-songwriter who recently released his 7th solo album and has performed with the Allman Brothers Band and Widespread Panic. “He’s one of Georgia’s musical treasures…Guaranteed to improve your day!” – Dave Schools (Widespread Panic).

July 13: Bloodkin, with Winfield Smith (from Stewart and Winfield) opening
A rock ‘n’ roll band formed in 1986, the Drive-By Truckers and Widespread Panic have both cited Bloodkin as a chief influence. Bloodkin released its 8th album in 2009 and it was named Album of the Year at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards. “Bloodkin are at a hot peak in their odyssey!” – David Fricke (Rolling Stone).

August 24: Grogus, performing two sets
A crowd favorite from the 2009 Sunflower Music Series, Grogus plays Latin jazz, traditional Cuban and Caribbean styles, and funk versions of jazz standards. They have won the Flagpole Athens Music Award in both the Jazz and World Music categories.

Tickets are $15 each ($10 for members of Friends of the Garden, $5 for children ages 6-12). Each concert includes beverages and light snacks and people are encouraged to bring blankets and picnic suppers to enjoy in the Garden. Concerts will be held inside the Visitor Center & Conservatory if weather necessitates. Lawn chairs are not allowed. Call 706-542-1244 for more information or tickets.

The Sunflower Music Series is sponsored by Friends of the Garden, R.E.M., Northeast Sales Distributing, Inc., Athens Coca-Cola, Musicians Warehouse, WUGA 91.7 FM, Flagpole and AthensMusic.net.

Not sure what all the fuss is about invasive plants and how they really affect the environment?

Well, you’ll know much more after spending a Saturday morning in this class: Invasive Non-native Plants.
This course is an introduction to the problem of invasive, non-native plants in Georgia, taught by Connie Gray, M.L.A., a consultant in natural area restoration and management. Students will learn how to identify the major offenders, their current ranges and habitats, and how these plants impact natural plant communities. Basic management and control strategies will be discussed and demonstrated. Most of the class will be indoors, but we will venture outdoors to see some of the plants in the wild and visit sites where control efforts are underway.
This is an elective in the Certificate in Native Plants Program (http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/educnp.html), but you do not have to enroll in this program to take this class. You may, however, decide to take more classes in this program after this class.
This will be an eye-opening class for landowners, land managers, outdoorspeople, gardeners, and others who care about Georgia’s natural habitats. Register under the ‘Certificate Programs’ at http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/eduregister.html. This 5 hour class on June 5, 2010 is $45 ($40 for SBG members) and runs from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens. Bring a sack lunch.

Tours!

We've been happy to see lots of visitors and tour groups in the Garden this May, celebrating spring and admiring the beauty. The photo above shows Belinda leading a tour of National Garden Club members in Georgia for the NGC Annual Convention in Atlanta. Notice that a group of schoollchildren are passing by. Our tour guide volunteers and Education staff have mastered the skill of coordinating groups and tour routes. When things get really busy I may get a call to lead a tour, which is always fun. Last week a group of Master Gardeners from Greenville, SC started their 2-day tour of Athens' gardens and nurseries at the State Botanical Garden. We hope the Garden Club members and Master Gardeners - and all of our visitors - had a great visit last week. And we hope to see you at the Garden soon!

If you are interested in a tour, call Andrea at 706-542-6195.

We suggest a late morning tour, ending with lunch at the Gardenside Cafe.

Interim Director Shirley Berry was a 'driving force' during the NGC tour.

- posted by Connie.

How Can I Support Public Gardens?

It's National Public Gardens Day!

Here are 4 ways to support public gardens:
- Become a member of their suport organization. For us it is Friends of the Garden. This supports the garden financially, but also keeps you informed of the garden's accomplishments and how you can be involved (events, classes, volunteering, plant sales and more). A gift membership to a local public garden would be a great housewarming or wedding present.
- Introduce a friend to the garden. Have lunch in the cafe or stroll through the gardens. Invite someone to attend an event or take a class with you.
- Volunteer! This can benefit you as much as the garden - you'll learn so much and make new friends. Our volunteers work beside curators, help run special events, staff the gift shop and library, lead tours, help with educational programs, and more.
- Donate. Donations support the gardens and surrounding communities. Money can be given as gifts to the garden, presented in honor of friends and loved ones, or written into a will.

Come visit us! We'd love to see you here!

Classes and Events in April!

Gardening 101
Monday, April 5
5:30 – 7:00 pm
members $10, non-members $12
Visitor Center, Classroom 2
Amanda Tedrow, ACC Cooperative Extension, UGA
New to gardening or Georgia? This quick start class will teach participants the basics of home gardening. The class will touch on the topics of testing and preparing the soil, sunlight and water requirements, planting tips and yearly maintenance. Amanda will provide basic zoning information to help participants plant and maintain annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees in their yard.

Spring Plant Sale!!!
Saturday, April 10
8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Beekeeping for Beginners: Units 4-6
Unit 5: Installing Bees/Spring Buildup
Friday, April 9 or Saturday, April 10
1:00 - 3:00 pm members $40; non-members $45
meet at Shade Garden Arbor
Dan Harris, Beekeeper
Have you ever wanted to harvest honey from your own beehive? Would you like to collect beeswax to make candles or soap? Do you have a touch of ‘backyard biologist’ in your blood? If so, these workshops, covering the fundamentals of beekeeping, may be for you. Weather alternative dates will be scheduled if necessary. Completion of the Unit 1 – 3 is not required to attend. However, a protective veil and gloves are required for Unit 4 and 5. In Unit 5, Dan will demonstrate how to install a package of bees into a new hive. He will also open an existing hive and compare it to the previous inspection from Unit 4.

Basic Botany
(a Certificate in Native Plants Core Course)
Saturday, April 10
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
members $90, non-members $100
Visitor Center, Classroom 2
Robert Wyatt, Adjunct Professor of Ecology, University of Georgia
Basic Botany provides an introduction to general plant anatomy, morphology, and physiology, with an emphasis on relating form to function. Using live material and slides, students will make detailed observations of root, stem, and leaf tissues and discuss the processes of water and nutrient movements. The mechanisms of flower pollination, seed dispersal, and germination will be explored, along with the basics of plant genetics, photosynthesis, and evolution.

Spring Wildflower Ramble
Saturday, April 10
10: 00 am
Free
meet at Shade Garden arbor
Heather Alley, Conservation Biologist, SBG
It’s springtime at the Garden! Enjoy a promenade around the Native Flora Garden and discover the many interesting wildflowers blooming this time of year.

Spring Wildflowers of the Granite Rock Outcrops of Georgia
(a Certificate in Native Plants Elective Course)
Saturday, April 17
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
members $40; non-members $45
Visitor Center, Classroom 2
Linda Chafin, Conservation Botanist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Students will be introduced to the ecology of Piedmont granite outcrops and their flora in the classroom, then visit Rock and Shoals Natural Area to learn to identify the species that characterize Georgia’s granite rock outcrops and surrounding plant communities.

Botanical Garden Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, April 17
10:00 -12:00 noonmembers $8; non-members $10 (per team)
Meet in front of Visitor Center
SBG Education Staff
What better way to get to know the Garden than to become an explorer! Throughout history and even today, explorers have traveled the globe in search of plants that could be used for food, medicine, shelter, and much more. In the process, they often moved plants from their original location to the one where they are found now. Did you know our own Georgia peach originally came from China? Each team (no more than five) will work together to complete a list of Garden explorations, finding plants and forests treasures and documenting their uses and native regions. Teams must stay together during the hunt. Prizes will be awarded to the first five teams to finish. This program is designed for families but others are welcome as well.

Vegetable Papermaking
Monday, April 19
9:30 am – 12:00
noonmembers $24; non-members $27
Visitor Center, Classroom 2
Cindy Bowden, Director of the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum
Join the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum and the Georgia Museum of Art for a morning of papermaking and fun. We will be making paper from abaca (banana leaf fiber), recycled cotton and linen rags, daylily fibers, and leeks. Wear washable clothing, tour the garden to identify potential fiber sources for papermaking and make your own sheets. Fee includes materials. Class is designed for adults and limited to 25 participants.