Xeriscaping: An Approach To Water Conserving Landscapes - Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre

1. THEThe Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre EDUCATION CENTRE
GREATER VICTORIA COMPOST Spring 2001
SPRING 2001
XERISCAPING
AN APPROACH TO WATER CONSERVING LANDSCAPES
by David Lewis
What is xeriscape? trees that may compete for grouped together according to
The word xeriscape is derived moisture. If the ground is sloped, their sunshine and watering
from the Greek word “xeros”, place the most drought tolerant needs. In this way it is possible
meaning dry, and was coined by plants at the top of the slope and to have a garden that has sunny
the Denver Water Board when the moisture loving plants at the and shady areas, dry and moist
promoting a water conservation base. The soil should be well areas, which can be watered
program in the 1970s. accordingly. Mulch reduces
Xeriscaping combines the use of evaporation from the soil surface
drought tolerant plants, while conserving moisture
extensive mulching and efficient Efficient watering, within the ground for use by the
watering techniques, to create an mulching, and plants. Make sure you have a
attractive low maintenance careful plant layer of mulch that is at least 2
garden. A xeriscaped garden may to 3 inches deep.
still require some watering selection make How can I conserve water
during the summer months, but it possible to elsewhere in my garden?
much less than a typical garden. Efficient watering, mulching,
Why create a xeriscape garden?
reduce water use and careful plant selection make
A xeriscaped garden is much in many parts of it possible to reduce water use in
better in withstanding a sudden the garden. many parts of the garden.
decrease in available water. Mulches are very attractive on
Mulch significantly reduces flower and shrub beds and at the
water evaporation from the soil base of trees. Placement of
while effectively smothering drained. If there is heavy clay moisture loving plants in
weeds. The garden requires less soil, incorporate sand and naturally damp parts of the
maintenance. gypsum lime to help break it up. garden reduces the water they
How do I create a xeriscaped All soils will benefit from need. Remember that deep,
garden? additions of organic matter infrequent watering will
A good site has an appropriate (compost, well rotted manure, conserve water while helping
mix of sun and shade to suit the etc.) which is excellent at plants to become more drought
plants in the landscape plan. It retaining water. tolerant.
should be sheltered from strong When designing a xeriscaped If you wish to contact David
drying winds, and not too close garden consider using drought- Lewis you can E-mail him at
to the roots of mature shrubs or resistant plants. Plants should be david-e-lewis@home.com.
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2. The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre Spring 2001
Victoria Compost and
Conservation Education Society
Water Use
Board of Directors
Katherine Cook
Restrictions
Compiled by the CRD Water Department
Angela Deering
Farheen Haq Victoria relies on rainfall to grass will help to shade the soil
Maria Miller fill our reservoirs. This year the and reduce water evaporation.
Donna Sanford precipitation has been 50% of • Water around the base of plants
Tom Watkins the usual. To manage this slowly and deeply, moistening
Staff shortfall the CRD Water the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.
Geoff Johnson Department has implemented an
Lynn Marie
outdoor water use by-law. Private Car and Boat Washing
Kristin Meissner
Currently the Capital Region is • Hand washing of cars or boats
Steve Young
under Stage 3 water restrictions. is permitted only when using a
In this stage, the goal is to hand-held hose with a spring-
Newsletter Layout reduce water consumption by 25 loaded shut-off valve or with a
Alex Ball to 30%. Below is a summary of hand-held container.
the Stage 3 water restrictions.
Contributors This Issue
Other Outdoor Uses
Alan Ginsworm
Landscape Watering • Residential swimming and
Geoff Johnson
• Drip or micro irrigation that wading or hot tubs may not
David Lewis
operates at low pressure (under be filled.
Lynn Marie
25 psi) and supplies less than 20 • Exterior building surfaces,
Kristin Meissner
gallons of water per hour is parking lots, driveways or
Steve Young
permitted. sidewalks may not be washed
Published four times annually in • Hand watering with a hand-held with a hose.
winter, spring, summer, and fall. container or with a spring-loaded
shut-off valve is permitted. General Guidelines
Submissions to the newsletter • Decorative fountains may • No person shall damage or
can be brought or mailed to the be operated if they use re- allow the deterioration of any
Compost Education Centre, circulated water. appliance that will result in a
1216 North Park Street • Soaker hoses and sprinkler waste of water.
(at Chambers), watering is not permitted. • Restrictions do not apply to
Victoria, BC V8T 1C9; • Lawn watering is not permitted outdoor areas that may be
by fax at 386-9678; or at any time. required by law to be cleaned so
e-mail to info@compost.bc.ca. • New sod or newly seeded lawns as to comply with health or
Our website is may not be watered at any time. safety standards.
www.compost.bc.ca. • Water restrictions do not apply
Our telephone number To help conserve water in to water from private wells or
is 386-WORM. the garden consider these private irrigation water sources,
Deadline for submissions for the suggestions: however facilities that have such
summer issue is July 13, 2001. • Using a thick mulch (5 to 10 sources are encouraged to post
cm) on the garden will help to signs indicating their water source.
Unless otherwise noted, articles reduce soil moisture loss and
appearing in this newsletter may moderate soil temperatures. The goal of the by-law is to
be reprinted only in other not-for- • Weeding regularly will reduce stretch the remaining water
profit publications, with credit competition for precious water supply and to maintain the high
given to the author (when named) in the soil. quality of water available to all
and The Latest Dirt. • Raise your lawn mower height citizens. If we each save a little,
to its highest level. The taller we all save a lot.
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3. The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre Spring 2001
On the Air and In the News
Now more people will be turning compost accompanied the
Support these retailers
who support composting in
our community. Show your
made aware of the Greater article. An abbreviated version of membership card and
Victoria Compost Education the article was also featured in the receive a discount on your
Centre, thanks to a public Esquimalt News on the same day. purchases.
service announcement produced We are hoping that all the
by Camosun College student publicity will attract more
Christina Rawn. The awareness to the importance of
Dig This
announcement was produced as composting and to the programs
Bastion Square,
part of her media course at the offered at the Compost Broadmead Village, and
college and can be heard on AM Education Centre. Our presence Sidney
900 The Village, the Camosun in the local media is paying off Big Barn
College radio station. Thanks to as we hear more and more folks Garden Centre
Christina for producing an telling us that they found out
excellent commercial. about us when they read the Borden Mercantile
The Centre’s Geoff Johnson and articles and the advertisements.
Steve Young were featured on the Danica Nurseries
CFAX Open Line Gardening GardenWorks
Show on Sunday, May 6th. In Blenkinsop, Oak Bay, and
addition we were featured on The Old Island Highway
Q’s Environmental Page and you Many thanks to
may have seen Steve on Gordie’s the City of Victoria Hooked On
World, shown on CHEK 6 News for donating Water Gardens
on Wednesday, May 2nd. several yards
The Centre was the subject of a of leaf mold The Garden Path
front-page article in the April 18th
to the Centre.
Organic Plant
edition of the Saanich News. A Nursery
terrific photograph of volunteer
Angela Hunter hard at work Lynne’s Little Elf
Garden Centre
Meadow Oak
Upcoming Compost Club Lectures Nursery
All lectures take place at the Centre in the Straw Bale Building Thanks to these merchants
unless otherwise noted. Workshops start at 7 pm. for their support.
Some restrictions may apply.
Wednesday, June 13
Hot Composting with John Stonehouse
Not enough compost? If you are looking for a way to speed up
nature’s process to yield more compost in less time, then hot
composting is for you. Join John in this informative talk on We would like
building a hot compost pile and producing compost in five weeks! to thank the
Wednesday, August 8 Fernwood
Winter Veggie Gardening with Gillian Elcock
Yes, it is possible! Don’t let this season go to waste. Learn the
Community
basics of starting your own winter veggie garden and extend your Association for
gardening season for yummy healthy vegetables.
their support.
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4. The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre Spring 2001
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Worm on
Our AGM was held on February We are pleased to welcome
26th at the Cornerstone Christian
Church in Fernwood. Despite a
Farheen and Katherine to our
Board and we extend our thanks
the Web
light turnout of members we to outgoing Board Member
enjoyed a productive and Dianne LeFebvre. It has finally happened! Our new
informative meeting. Thanks to our Compost website www.compost.bc.ca is
Most of our present Board Educator, Geoff Johnson, for an up and running. We hope you
members were re-elected by enjoyable and informative slide will “surf-on-in” and check out
acclamation and two more have show on the topic of some of the new features. Sign
been appointed. Here is our “Permaculture and Sustainable our Guest Book and let us know
present Board: Living.” what you think of the site. Your
President Maria Miller Thanks also to Sandy at The comments will help to ensure
Vice President Tom Watkins Parsonage Café for donating that we are providing the kinds
Treasurer Donna Sanford coffee, tea and providing us of information that you are
Secretary Farheen Haq with delicious sandwiches and looking for. As always our
Director Angela Deering dessert treats. friendly worm presides over the
Director Katherine Cook site, making sure that there is
lots of “ wiggle room”. Thanks
to Tom Spetter of Cyan Design
Thanks to Gillian and the UBC Campus Sustainability Office for this: for donating his time to design
and build our site.
ODE TO A WORM
by Alan Ginsworm
Oh wiggly, squiggly, squirming worm
Most brilliant creature under terra-firm
Builder of tunnels so exquisitely round
Creator of dirt so deliciously ground
Engineer-builder without college degree
You eat up your work — and you do it for free.
Introductory
Composting OUTREACH
Course Our mobile displays have been
This summer we will be offering visiting shopping malls and
a scaled-down version of our retail centers all over Greater
Master Composter Volunteer Victoria. So far almost 2000
people have stopped to pick up
Training Program. It is designed
to introduce newcomers to the art information about composting Name That
and science of composting and we
hope it will enable more folks to
and to ask questions. Thanks to
all the volunteers who have been Worm Contest
become avid backyard composters staffing the displays and special Last call for entries! Contest
as these volunteers go out and thanks to Lynn Marie for closes June 30th. If you haven’t
spread the dirt on composting. coordinating all the events. already come up with a name for
The course will be offered on In June look for us in Oak our new mascot then you should
the weekend of July 7th and 8th. Bay, in July we will be in hurry. Grand prize is a worm
For further information, please Esquimalt and in August we will composting kit valued at $43.95.
contact the Centre at 386-WORM. be on the Saanich Peninsula. Send in your entry today!
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5. The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre Spring 2001
Site Update OPEN HOUSE
Approximately 170 people
by Geoff Johnson (VCEC site educator)
attended our open house in early
Now that spring has fully sprung, the Greater Victoria Compost May. Thanks to all our staff and
Education Centre has once again become a lush urban oasis, bursting volunteers who worked so hard
with vegetative vitality. Camas is blooming, fava beans are forming, to make this event a success.
and fig leaves are unfurling. It is also a critter fest around here. Blue Congratulations to the winners
orchard mason bees abound, lady bugs are looking around for early of our door prizes.
aphid appetizers, and the worms in our slowly warming earth machine Megan Halstead and M. Berry
are now almost as feisty as our super-senior MCP volunteer, the both won a watering wand/nozzle
incredible John Lee. combination. Paul Galewitz
Despite the water restrictions, this water-wise site is flourishing. The received a hanging basket soaker
combination of drought-tolerant native plants, drip irrigation, a rain kit. Nancy Prescott won veggie
catchment system, and heavily mulched, compost-rich soil will ensure garden soaker kit. And Barb
a lasting lushness for months to come. Bennett took home the grand prize
As for the organic veggie demo garden, most of the plentiful winter of a backyard composter.
produce has been harvested and we are well on the way to cultivating Thanks to Kevin Hale at The
compost-fueled abundance for the late spring. My experiments with zero- Home Depot for generously
tillage in one of the beds have proven an awesome success, and anyone donating the prizes.
wanting to learn (or share) about this or any of the basics of organic
gardening should come out to our weekly drop-in gardening sessions Special thanks to these
on Friday evenings 5:00pm - 7:00 pm. members who have donated
to the Compost Centre.
Neil and Pat Boyle
Angela Deering
Volunteer Update Jeannette Funke-Furber
FD Grady
by Lynn Marie Eithne Hogan
Holy composting cow patties! In the few short months since Myrna Ladouceur
completing the Master Composter Volunteer Training Program, our Colleen Loader
volunteers have contributed over 170 hours of their time. Staggering! Marlene Lovell
Their efforts have included site and office work at the Centre, school Walter Meyer zu Erpen
programs, mobile displays, banner making and work at our open Darlene Monkman
house. Thank you! We were especially appreciative of the hours spent Alison Phosy
at our mobile displays. This season was very busy with our outreach Donna Sanford
events and we couldn’t have done it alone! Our open house was a Leslie Wicks
success thanks to those who shoveled compost, constructed worm bins,
greeted visitors and staffed the kids’ corner. The volunteer smoothie A special thanks also goes
party was a nice finish for all the hours dedicated that week. to Wes-Tech Irrigation who
Congratulations and thanks go to Sam Kohn and John Lee for generously donated $230.00
earning their Master Composter Certificates by donating over 30 hours worth of irrigation supplies.
of their time and talents. Sam was invaluable in the office and at our These drip irrigation systems
mobile displays, while John (now nicknamed “the Machine”) donated are on display in the
his muscles and endurance at Springride Commons and in the Compost demonstration gardens.
Centre gardens. Nice work! A big cheer also for Chris Wells, Leona Thanks also to RMX for
Smith and Melissa Jozwiak who are following closely with their hours. rocks and C&F Gravel Mart
Thank you to past Master Composters, the Garth Homer Groups, and for their rock donations to
Board members who continue to volunteer. We value your time and Spring Ridge Commons.
commitment!
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6. The Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre Spring 2001
WormCycle
PARTNER’S PLACE Rides Again!
How would you like a free
In recognition of those composting. All vegetables at compost evaluation? You can get
business partners who support The Garden Path are open one this summer thanks to funding
the Compost Education Centre pollinated so that you can start from the BC E-Team. Once again
in a variety of ways we would your own seeds. The Garden our popular WormCycle program
like to share some information Path is hosting a number of will be offering free compost
about them and urge you to workshops this summer: evaluations to residents of
patronize their businesses. Victoria and surrounding areas.
Tree Fruits for Vancouver If you wish to learn about
The Garden Path Organic Island with Bob Duncan improvements to your composting
Plant Nursery Saturday, June 9th, 10:30 am system or practices you can get a
If you are seeking unusual, Native Habitats for Home free compost evaluation simply
heritage, or old-fashioned Landscapes with Susan Bastin by calling the Centre and booking
plants, Carolyn Herriot, owner Saturday, June 16th, 10:30am an appointment. Our bike-riding
of The Garden Path is the Bamboos for our Coastal specialist will visit your home,
person to see. Carolyn’s Region with Doug Box assess your compost and make
generosity has been of great Saturday, June 23rd, 10:30am recommendations. Call the
benefit to the Compost composting hotline at 386-WORM
Education Centre and we All workshops are $7.50 and to book your appointment. Be sure
appreciate her on-going will be held at The Garden to call soon as this is a popular
encouragement and support. Path Nursery, 395 Conway program!
The Garden Path is Victoria’s Road. For details you can
only organic plant nursery contact Carolyn at 881-1555.
with two acres of organic Special thanks to
gardens, where you will see Thanks to The Garden Path the CRD and
lots of evidence of good soil- Organic Plant Nursery for the City of Victoria
building practices including their continuing support of the
compost bins and windrow Compost Education Centre. for their ongoing
funding and support.
Name:
Address:
City: Postal Code:
Phone (home): (work):
Date:
New Renewal
Senior, Student, Unwaged $8 Individual $10 Family $12 Group/Corporate $30
I would like to increase my support for the Victoria Compost Education Centre's work.
Enclosed is my tax deductible donation for:
$20 $35 $50 $100 $
Total amount enclosed $
Drop off or mail completed forms to the Compost Centre, 1216 North Park Street (at Chambers), Victoria, BC V8T 1C9.
All memberships run one year from date of purchase. Receipts for donations under $20 will only be issued upon request.
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