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Scenes from The University of Rhode Island

Rain gardens, organic landscaping, composting are topics of URI gardening workshops

Media Contact: Todd McLeish, 401-874-7892

KINGSTON, R.I. -- March 27, 2006 -- Three programs remain in the University of Rhode Island’s GreenShare WinterSchool series of gardening workshops, and Rhode Island gardeners anxious to get the season off to a good start are encouraged to register.

The two-hour courses are taught by URI and industry experts and are held at URI’s East Farm in Kingston.

The three workshops are:

- Organic Landscaping for the Homeowner, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to create a beautiful, environmentally friendly landscape. Organic lawn care, sustainable plant selection, landscaping for water conservation, and the basics of backyard composting will be discussed. Instructor: Frank Crandall of Wood River Evergreens.

- From Garbage to Green: How Composting Can Make Your Garden Beautiful, April 6, 6:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to minimize trash sent to the landfill by recycling common items like leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable and plant material into a healthy fertilizer. Instructors: URI Master Gardeners David Hughes and Caitlin Chaffee.

- Rain Gardens, Green Roofs and Other Innovative Ways to Design for Pollution Prevention in the Landscape, April 18, 6:30 p.m. Learn how to manage storm water drainage through the use of rain gardens, vegetated swales, permeable pavements and green roofs. Instructor: URI Extension Staff Caitlin Chaffee.

For information about fees and registration for these programs call the URI Cooperative Extension Education Center at 401-874-2900.