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Upcoming Events...
Watershed-friendly Landcare Workshop II
Scroll down to find a description of the talks, speaker bios and directions to the site.
Click HERE to download a PDF copy of this flyer!
Talk Descriptions and Speaker Bios:
Pre Program
Ray Manacas & Bill Day, Threefold Educational Center - Raingarden Talk & Tour
The 2004 renovation of the Hungry Hollow Co-op food market was done with a commitment to ecologically sound landscaping practices. These practices are based on the use of native plants combined with landscaping that replicates the functions of natural swales and wetlands. At the Co-op, a 3,000-square-foot raingarden collects runoff from the parking lot and roof, while upland plantings closer to the building replace conventional turf grass lawns. In this presentation, Ray Manacas and Bill Day of Threefold Educational Center will show how ecological landscaping principles can be put into practice - while covering raingarden design, construction, and maintenance.
BIO: Ray Manacas is the Executive Director and Bill Day is the Development Coordinator for the Threefold Educational Center, a non-profit that develops and supports a wide range of educational activities that explore and enrich the human body, soul, and spirit. Based in Chestnut Ridge, NY, the Center manages 140 acres, using biodynamic methods. The raingarden at Hungry Hollow Co-op, part of the Threefold community, was featured on Bergen SWAN's 2009 Watershed-wide Eco Tour, in which Ray and Bill acted as guides for the site.
Main Program
Bill Kolvek, BK Perennials - Low Water & Water-retaining Landscaping
Proper moisture assessment of a planting area and selecting appropriate plants is half the battle for success in landscaping. We will investigate a pallet of good garden plants that perform well on dry sites. We will discover and highlight certain plants that actually prefer low amounts of water. Participants will be given strategies for using these and other plants as alternatives to the conventional lawn.
BIO: Bill Kolvek is owner of BKP Perennials in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, which supplies plants to county and town parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, schools, businesses, and garden lovers in Bergen and Rockland counties. BKP has provided non-profits with affordable, healthy, native plants for raingarden and xeriscape projects. The company has locally grown perennials, grasses, ferns, vines, and woody plants since 1987. Bill lectures about ornamental grasses at the NY Botanical Garden. He presented at Bergen SWAN's 2008 Battle of the Botanicals, 2009 Watershed-wide EcoTour, and June 2010 Watershed-friendly Landcare Workshop I.
Rob Schucker, R&S Landscaping - Water-efficient Irrigation Techniques
An inefficient irrigation system can waste water and money each month, but did you know it can also cause plant and lawn disease problems? We will explain how you can avoid these costly situations by providing tips on when and how much to water to use to maximize the health of your plants. We'll explore the benefits of using low-cost, water efficient drip irrigation systems and discuss when and where to use this technique. Participants will also learn about water-saving devices for a sprinkler system that can take the guesswork out of watering.
BIO: Rob Schucker is the president and founder of two environmentally-conscious landscaping firms - R&S Landscaping and Eco Earth Design of Midland Park, NJ. Rob's companies are comprised of Design/Build, Property Maintenance, Plant Health Care, and Irrigation & Lighting divisions. At his home in Blairstown, NJ, he and his wife Mila raise llamas and goats. Rob is a Certified Landscape Professional, Green Roof Professional and New Jersey Certified Irrigation Contractor. He also served as a raingarden tour guide during Bergen SWAN's 2009 Watershed-wide Eco Tour
Closing Remarks
Jack Daly, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County - How to Engage Family, Neighbors, Friends, and Elected Officials in Water Conservation Efforts
Jack Daly is a volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension, specializing in water management and ecology. He served as an instructor for CCE's 40-hour AmeriCorps training week, and he is an adjunct professor in Sustainability Studies at Ramapo College.
Directions:
Hungry Hollow Co-Op is located at 841 Chestnut Ridge Road, Spring Valley, NY 1097,
The Threefold Auditorium is jsut around the block on Hungry Hollow Road as shown on the campus map shown below.
Click HERE for an interactive map to the sites.
Threefold Community Campus Map
Hackensack River Story Night!
Click here for a downloadable copy of this flyer.
Hackensack River Watershed Story Contest!
To download a copy of the flyer and contest rules shown below and to download an application form click HERE
Hackensack River Watershed Story Contest!
To download a copy of the flyer and contest rules shown below and to download an application form click HERE
Past Events...
Watershed-friendly Landcare Workshop
Click HERE to downoad the Watershed Friendly Landcare Workshop flyer and list of workshops & speaker biographies - also shown below.
Click HERE for an interactive map and directions to the location of the event, or see the directions and map below.
A downloadable and printable copy of this flyer can be obtained by clicking HERE! .
Click HERE to download a Volunteer Sign Up sheet.
Please fill out the form on your computer and email to us at: bergenswan@sprynet.com.
You can also print out the form and mail it back to us at PO Box 217, Westwood, NJ 07675
Thanks!
Project Details...
We will be planting a 10,000 square foot area around the central pond.
We will have a tent set up not far from the entry area, which is where we will gather on both days. This will serve as home base for instructions, supplies, food, and information.
We are looking for a handful of experienced hands that can act as Team Leaders, and be present for meetings in advance of the event and on the site prep/training on May 13-14.
We will work all day on Saturday, and hopefully for only part of Sunday.
Regular "worker bee" volunteers should show up at the park on Saturday, May 15, starting at 8:30 AM. Sunday, May 16 will be our day for any overflow work and cleanup. We will try to give participants a break and start somewhat later on Sunday, depending on the workload.
Volunteers will be provided with breakfast and/or lunch - whichever of these meals for which they are present.
Volunteers can contribute as little as two hours' work or as much as two days' work - but we prefer those who can put in a solid 1/2 day or more of their time.
We will be circulating a registration sheet for each volunteer to complete. (Note: this form will be posted on our website by mid-April.)
The planting will take place regardless of the weather.
Volunteers should wear seasonally- and weather-appropriate, comfortable, breathable clothing that they do not mind getting muddy, and bring a slicker in case of rain. They should wear comfortable, waterproof, non-slippery shoes that they do not mind soiling.
Volunteers with physical limitations can help with lighter tasks.
We will be planting seeds, plugs, container plants, and large balled & burlapped trees. We will be working with a landscape contractor in advance of the event to prep and stage the grounds. The landscaper's crew will make the ground ready and dig larger holes.
Pascack Brook County Park is located in the Borough of Westwood. The entrance to the park is on Emerson Road in Westwood, between Old Hook Road and River Vale Road.
Click HERE for an interactive Google Map
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