For immediate release
May 17, 2016
Contact: Michael Brown
Phone: (309) 454-3169
Please join the Ecology Action Center for its 14th annual Yard Smart Garden Walk on Saturday, June 25, 2016. 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 2.5-mile driving tour takes place from 9:00 am – 12:00 p.m. and will start and end at the 1 Normal Plaza Shelter. This year’s walk focuses on native plants in private gardens and invasive plant management in natural areas. Special focus will be given to the EAC’s new Sugar Creek Stewards program which is focused on improving the riparian habitat along Sugar Creek in Bloomington-Normal. The EAC encourages participants to carpool to the Shelter and during the tour to reduce pollution and conserve energy.
As in the past, this event includes a McLean County Freecycle plant and garden tool exchange. The EAC encourages participants to donate and take away garden tools and/or labelled, potted plants at the free exchange.
The Yard Smart Garden Walk is free and open to the public; however, a $5 donation to offset the cost of lunch is appreciated. Water will be provided, and participants should bring their own reusable water bottles. The lunch is a zero waste event. Registration is available online at ecologyactioncenter.org or over the phone at 309-454-3169 x.15; please RSVP by June 18.
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 on the Yard Smart program as well as a set of free resource fact sheets is available at yardsmart.org.
The Ecology Action Center is a not-for-profit environmental agency with a mission to inspire and assist residents of McLean County in creating, strengthening and preserving a healthy environment. The EAC acts as a central resource for environmental education, information, outreach, and technical assistance in McLean County.
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