Would you like to do more with less – watering, that is? If so, you might want to attend a free workshop that offers demonstrations on how to harvest and conserve water.
“Water in the Drylands” – one of a series of Moab Bee Inspired Gardens workshops – will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Utah State University-Moab’s pergola, 125 W. 200 South.
Topics include green infrastructure and stormwater management; techniques to maximize water efficiency in the drylands; and the use and utility of supplemental drip irrigation.
Founded in 2014, Bee Inspired Gardens is a collaborative group that includes representatives from the Bureau of Land Management, the City of Moab, Community Rebuilds, Grand County Conservation District, Moab Charter School, MoaBees Beekeepers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah State University-Moab’s Extension Sustainability office, Wildland Scapes and the Youth Garden Project.
The group seeks to encourage wise water use with demonstration gardens, workshops and classes that deal with pollinator health, community food systems and water conservation.
For the Aug. 31 workshop, “We’re looking specifically at how to manage water in a dry landscape,” said Jeremy Lynch, a presenter and owner of In Transition Permaculture.
For the past few years, Lynch has been working on developing “rain gardens” at Utah State University–Moab’s campus. He created a permaculture garden on campus consisting of fruit trees, shrubs and medicinal plants – a garden that is largely rain-fed by water diverted from the rooftop.
“That garden is a model of what you can do and what it will look like (after) a few years – that’s what I’ll be speaking to,” Lynch said.
Rainwater harvesting became legal in Utah in 2010, and each single residential lot can now harvest and hold up to 2,500 gallons of water at any given time.
Jeff Adams, who owns the ecological design and education firm Terrasophia, will join Lynch for the first half of the workshop.
Both Lynch and Adams will talk about how to “read the landscape and understand how rain falls and moves through,” as well as “the different opportunities for beneficial use on-site,” Adams said.
After about 45 minutes, participants will meet at the home of Wildland Scapes owner Kara Dohrenwend. On a strip of land between the sidewalk and street, Dohrenwend created xeriscape landscaping that she said she seldom waters.
Dohrenwend will talk about drip irrigation, planting native and edible species, and building ponds for water storage. She’ll show people different options for setting up irrigation systems, she said.
“We will expressly be looking at drip irrigation layout and zoning for efficient watering,” Dohrenwend said.
Registration is not required to attend the workshop, and participants can show up the day of the event.
Bee Inspired Gardens offers free workshop at USU-Moab on Aug. 31
We’re looking specifically at how to manage water in a dry landscape.
What: “Water in the Drylands” – a workshop about water harvesting, conservation and use
When: Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m.
Where: Utah State University-Moab pergola, 125 W. 200 South
Cost: Free
Information: beeinspiredmoab@gmail.com; 435-260-8931
