Are you interested in doing something fun and free while learning something in the process and receiving free environmentally-friendly items? Make plans for a Saturday morning, May 2,
June 6 or July 11, register and attend Compost, Microirrigation and Rainwater Harvesting workshops at the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Workshops are free for Hillsborough County residents, one time only, one free item per household and pre-registration is required.
If you want to learn how to create your own compost, attend the Compost Happens workshop and learn how to turn trash into treasure. This workshop teaches attendees to recycle kitchen and yard waste, while creating a rich soil amendment. Compost adds nutrients to the soil and retains moisture in the root zone where it can be used by plants. Instead of hauling your yard waste to the curb to be transported to a county yard waste processing facility, compost it on site. Receive a free compost bin and thermometer.
Come to a Water-Wise (Microirrigation) workshop which teaches you how to have a healthy and attractive lawn and landscape while conserving water. Tips on installing and using microirrigation are presented. This miroirrigation method not only conserves water, but is less restricted by current water restrictions than inground irrigation. Receive a free microirrigation kit.
Learn how to harvest rainwater with a Rain Barrel, made from a 55-gallon plastic food-grade drum. This type of recycling of food grade barrels is useful for collecting rainwater for ornamental plant irrigation, while reducing erosion and stormwater runoff. One inch of rain on a 1,000 sq. ft. of roof provides 623 gallons of water. In our area, we receive 50-52 inches of rain per year. This means all of us could harvest in excess of 31,000 gallons of water to use for landscape irrigation instead of using potable water. Receive a free rain barrel, drilled and spigoted.
A non-Hillsborough County resident commented, “I wish these workshops were free in my county. Love the information and presentations are enlightening.” Expand your environmental conservation education and have fun while learning something new by attending one, two or all three workshops. To register, go to:
http://hillsborough.ifas.ufl.edu/calendar.shtml. Workshops are sponsored by UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay Water, City of Tampa Water Department and Hillsborough County Public Utilities.
For more gardening information, contact or visit Hillsborough County Extension,
744-5519, or visit us at 5339 C.R. 579 in Seffner.
