SUSTAINING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—THE ART OF CONSERVATION

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Fall Garden and Home Festival abounds with conservation ideas, gardening tips, art and family fun
October 24, 2011 (Rancho San Diego, CA)--The Fall Garden and Home Festival, hosted by The Water Conservation Garden and Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy will take place on Saturday, November 5, 9am-4pm on the campus of Cuyamaca College. 
 
The multi-faceted event takes conservation and sustainable living practices as its central theme—showcasing a water smart plant sale, sustainable homes expo, and sustainable homes tour-- and beguiles with an array of unexpected activities and entertainment for all ages, including an art exhibit themed around water conservation. Admission is a nominal $3, with Garden members and children 12 and under getting in free.

The event is one-stop shopping for fall and winter gardening essentials, boasting the most diverse drought-tolerant plant sale in the County. Vendors will sell shrubs, trees, perennials, succulents and more, and gardening experts will offer free advice for creating both beautiful and sustainable gardens. Jim Mumford, of Greenscaped Buildings will exhibit living, green walls and green roofs, and will make a presentation on these subjects at The Garden at 12:15pm, and courtesy of grant funding from the County of San Diego’s Watershed Protection Program, Landscape Architect Steve Sherman will discuss permeable pavement options at 1:15pm. Other experts will share their knowledge of permeable pavement, native plants, landscape design. 
 
For inside the home, Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy (LRPC)—a new partner to this seventh annual event—will offer a sustainable homes expo to introduce visitors to the many products available for conserving energy inside the home.  Exhibitors will set-up mini installations to allow visitors to experience the products as they would inside a real home, and a furniture restoration activity by local artists will show how to “up-cycle” used furniture. A self-guided Sustainable Homes Tour is another exciting offering hosted by LRPC. For just $20 (includes festival admission), residents can tour homes that include eco-friendly, innovative, and energy saving products, including blue jean insulation, solar panels, straw bale construction, rainwater cisterns, and bamboo flooring. 
 
An art exhibit centering on a water or water conservation theme, will feature 14 sculptures made from repurposed materials. The exhibit is part of an ongoing partnership between The Garden and Art Pulse, and the festival provides people with a last chance to view and purchase the art before the exhibit closes on November 12. 
 
For visitors simply looking for a fun event to bring the kids to, the event features the new Ms. Smarty Plants Kidz Zone--a winding trail dotted with Ms. Smarty Plants scarecrows that offers games, crafts, and a 4-H petting zoo. The Garden’s beautiful outdoor amphitheater will be the stage for a variety of entertainment throughout the day, including the Ms. Smarty Plants and the Magic of Water Show at 10:00am and We Kinda Music, steel drums.  Shoppers will appreciate the hand-made jewelry and pottery available, and animal lovers can find a new friend at the Baja Animal Sanctuary dog adoption booth. And, even foodies will be delighted with cooking demonstrations by the Red Door Restaurant and Wine Bar and The Perfect Blend.   Meals prepared with organic and sustainably grown ingredients will be for sale throughout the day by the solar and vegetable oil powered Green Truck, recently featured on Oprah
 
Workshops and many activities throughout the day are included with admission and parking is free.  A complete program for all activities is available at www.gardenandhomefest.org , including how to register for landscape design consultations and purchase tickets to the Sustainable Homes Tour.
 
About the Water Conservation Garden
Opened in 1999, the Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting water conservation in the landscape through excellent exhibits and programs that educate and inspire the public. The Garden is supported in part by member water agencies, garden partnerships and private donations. For more information, please visit www.thegarden.org or call 619-660-0614 x10.
 
About Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy
Established in 2001, Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the biological integrity and beauty of the San Diego River, while focusing on flood control, water quality, native habitat restoration and recreation along the river trail.  The Lakeside River Park is part of a 52-mile greenbelt intended to run from the El Cajon Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. For information, visit www.LakesideRiverPark.org .
 
 

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