Please join the Ecology Action Center for its 13th annual Yard Smart Garden Walk on Saturday, June 27, 2015. This free event features beautiful and functional gardens in our community that protect the environment, create a healthy and inviting space for people and animals, and use little or no synthetic chemicals.
The morning walk takes place from 9:00am – 12:00p.m. This year’s walk focuses on public spaces. Bill Davison, U of I Extension Educator, will speak about plants that attract beneficial insects. He will also answer any gardening questions you might have. Lunch will be provided.
As in the past, this event includes a McLean County Freecycle plant and garden tool exchange. We encourage participants to bring plants or garden tools to give away and to take any of the donated items they want. Native Plants of Illinois Nursery will have native plants for sale after lunch.
The Yard Smart Garden Walk is free and open to the public; however, a $5 donation to offset the cost of lunch is appreciated. Registration is available online or over the phone at 309-454-3169. The registration deadline is June 25.
Participants should bring reusable water bottles for the lunch and presentation. The lunch is a zero waste event. We encourage participants to carpool during the tour to reduce pollution and conserve energy.
The garden walk promotes the Ecology Action Center’s Yard Smart program, which encourages local gardeners to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, to conserve natural resources such as water and fossil fuels, and to make room for wildlife in their yards. Yard Smart Certification recognizes the efforts of those in the community who use ecologically sustainable practices to maintain their yards, and who realize their lawn, garden, and landscaping decisions affect the health of the entire community.
More information is available on the Yard Smart program as well as a set of free resource fact sheets.
