These pioneering residents have made small to large ecological improvements to their landscapes and are graciously sharing their contribution with our community.
Past events
Beautiful Rain Garden
May 16, 2010
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Neighbors Chant Eicke, Risa Dotson Eicke, and Sue Campney have constructed a beautiful rain garden between their two yards. The garden captures rainwater from two rooftops and allows it to slowly infiltrate into the ground rather than rapidly running into our urban streams.
Chant and Risa's yard also features a rain barrel, vegetable garden, and composting system.
Kevin Somerville, of Green Castle Organics farms, will showcase one or more custom rain barrel designs that may be available for purchase.
Local experts and participants from the Improve Our Water Quality class will be available to answer questions about the rain garden and rain barrels.
See pictures of their rain garden: http://laughsing.com/RainGarden/Excavation.htm
Learn more about the many benefits of rain gardens: Visit the Backyard Abundance rain garden page
Free. Refreshments provided.
July 18, 2010
This event is divided into two sessions: a presentation and a yard tour. Please attend one or both.
Presentation
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Southeast Junior High School, Band Room (131)
2501 Bradford Drive, Iowa City directions
Cost: Free
Yard Tour
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Yard of Tony Malkusak
Cost: Free
Tony Malkusak designs children’s playgrounds for his living. But it has been a joy, not work, creating a play garden space at his home for his children and their neighborhood friends.
You can learn about ways to create your own nature friendly outdoor play space for your children or grandchildren by attending his presentation at South East Junior High and follow-up yard tour on the east side of Iowa City.
Tony will show you easy ways to get your children outside doing nature art, utilizing loose parts (natural and recycled), building, and much more. Children who play outside regularly are less stressed, have fewer behavior problems and improved attention spans. Bring your children or grandchildren to this Backyard Abundance event and enjoy the fun!
Both events are free. Refreshments provided.
See photos of the playspace: Go to Abundant Landscapes
The design approach for creating these outdoor spaces is promoted by the Nature Explore Classroom project, a collaboration of Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
August 21, 2010
This event is divided into two sessions: a presentation and a yard tour. Please attend one or both.
Presentation
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Robert A. Lee Community Center
220 Gilbert Street, Iowa City directions
Cost: $15 in advance (pre-register), $20 at the door
Yard Tour
2:45 - 3:30 pm - Open to presentation participants
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Open to the public
Yard of Terry Wahls
Cost: Free
Dr. Terry Wahls was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000, slowly losing control over her body in the following years. A change in her diet and physical therapy sessions in which her muscles and nerves were stimulated through electricity boosted Wahls out of her wheelchair. Now she is back to walking and rides her bike 5 miles to work.
During the Presentation
During the presentation, Dr. Wahls will describe the link between food and her recovery to health. Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance, will show how healthy landscapes lead to increases in our health and will provide tips for growing the food in easy and low-maintenance ways.
During the Yard Tour
A tour of the edible landscaping in Dr. Wahls' yard follows the presentation. Her yard features an aronia bush (chokeberry), hardy kiwi, elderberries, currants, apples, strawberries, blueberries, and several low-maintenance leafy green vegetables.
Samples and Handouts
- Small kale plants will be available at the presentation, ready for planting or potting.
- Samples of Dr. Wahls' suggested recipes will be available at the presentation and the yard tour.
- Many ISU Extension publications about growing fruits and vegetables will be available.
View pictures of Dr. Wahls' yard.
Visit Dr. Wahls' website.
Learn about the Backyard Abundance Edible Landscaping class.