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into Great Gardening With Our Classes!
Look at your landscape and yard trimmings in a new way! Join us for the following classes.
 WORM COMPOSTING 101:
09/16/08
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Don't let the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out, put them to work! We'll teach you to use specialized red worms to compost your food waste. Then use their waste as a fertile soil amendment to benefit your plants. Learn to set up and maintain a worm bin, and to harvest and use the worm castings. Class will meet at the Environmental Discovery Center, 4100 West Plano Parkway.
COMPOSTING 101:
09/20/08
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Is your yard work piling up? Let it! Learn the basics of turning that garden debris into garden gold through composting. We cover what to put in, what to leave out, and how to mix, moisten and manage your way to successful soil enrichment. Wear your best diggin' duds to pitch in to build a compost pile. Class will meet at the Parkway Service Center, 4120 West Plano Parkway.
FAMILY WORM COMPOSTING:
09/20/08
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Start a family hobby! See Worm Composting description above. This class is designed to get the whole family involved.
YARDWISE SERIES
Come learn a simple four-step program to help maintain a healthy yard with less cost, work and waste. Sign up for one or all of the workshops to learn how to improve your landscape. All classes will meet at the Parkway Service Center, 4120 W. Plano Parkway. You have the option of registering for all four for the fee of $15 (Plano residents) or $19 (non-residents).
 YARDWISE 1: HEALTHY SOILS AND PLANTS
09/04/08
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Tired of mucking around in 'clay gumbo' or hard-pan soil when you're trying to plant? Learn about Plano soils and how to improve soil fertility through yardwise practices that include composting, grasscycling, and mulching.
YARDWISE 2: GREEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
09/11/08
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Create a beautiful and healthy landscape by learning to put the right plant in the right place. Learn about water-saving practices for the landscape, and how to incorporate design principles emphasizing the use of native and adapted plants. 
YARDWISE 3: PLANTS, SHRUBS & TREES
09/18/08
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Choosing Texas friendly plants and trees well adapted to our area and weather conditions will make a big difference in the success of your landscape. In this class, best plant, shrub and tree selections will be showcased through slides, and their cultural requirements discussed.
YARDWISE 4: FRIENDLY PEST CONTROL
09/25/08
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
No yard is without some type of pest problems. Learn how IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies can help you manage pests using the most environmentally friendly means.
Plano residents may register for these classes through the Parks and Recreation Department beginning August 16, 2008. There is a $5 fee for each class. Non-residents may register beginning August 18, 2008. The fee for non-residents is $9 for each class. Call (972) 769-4234 or visit www.planoparks.org to register.
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City of Plano MASTER COMPOSTER TRAINING
Purpose:
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To develop a corps of volunteers knowledgeable about the methods, benefits and uses of compost and vermi-composting, municipal waste reduction through yard trimming diversion, soil management, the sevent steps to a Texas SmartScape, native and adapted plants for the North Central Texas region and the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in residential pest control.
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To provide an opportunity for Live Green in Plano Volunteers to become certified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as Master Composters.
Requirements:
Master Composter candidates will attend the following:
- Compost 101 2 hours
- Vermi-composting 2 hours
- Yardwise Class Series 8 hours
(covers soil, SmartScape design, native plants, IPM)
- Municipal Waste Segment of Live Green in Plano
Volunteer Training 2 hours
- Presentation Skills Segment of Live Green in Plano
Volunteer Training 2 hours
Total 16 hours
Complete 4 hours of additional education through: fieldtrips, research, reading and lectures.
Complete 40 hours of volunteer work in compost related activities such as working at the Environmental Discovery Center, staffing an exhibit or compost special event, making a presentation, preparing teaching materials, or hosting a backyard compost talk.
Incentives:
Upon completion of the 16 hours of classes listed above: Participants will receive a compost bin, Master Composter T-shirt and Rodale's Book of Composting.
Upon completion of an additional 4 hours of study and 20 hours of compost-related volunteering: Participants will receive a certificate from the TCEQ, and a Master Composter hat.
Upon completion of 40 hours of compost-related volunteering: Participants will receive a compost thermometer and a discount on Texas Pure products.
Please contact Erin Hoffer, Compost Education Coordinator at (972) 769-4228 or erinhof@plano.gov to register for this training. |
For more information on educational programs, please contact Erin Hoffer, Compost Education Coordinator at (972) 769-4228 or erinhof@plano.gov. |