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Dallas Cohousing Planning Meeting - Dallas

Update on July outreach & possible properties; discussion of member roles in moving project forward. Bring a snack to share.

Describing New York City's first cohousing project, a New York Times article said cohousing speaks to people who want to own a home but not feel lost in an impersonal city. That's how we feel. And we want to live sustainably, with a smaller carbon footprint. To know our neighbors, grow some of our own food and use our united buying power to support local farmers and dairies. We want to model a more resilient way of life for the DFW metroplex.

Build an Aquaponic Garden Unit - Dallas

I recently installed a 500 gallon, 80 sq ft super-efficient aquaponic unit at Paul Quinn College (pics to be posted soon). This Meetup will be used to go over the design and construction of that unit, with hands-on training on the various steps in building it out. The same basic design (with minor changes) can be built using one, two, three or four totes depending on the size unit you wish to build, your energy budget, etc. These designs will be discussed and the differences will be explained in full. The unit at Paul Quinn utilizes four 275 gallon IBC totes, and has four gravel grow beds and two raft sections. The unit is simple enough to be built in a day using readily available, low cost components.

Fall Garden Planning & Seed Exchange - Plano

Although the temperatures are anything but "Fall-like" right now, we will actually be able to start planting a limited selection of Fall veggies later this month into early August. The majority will not be planted until September-October, but it doesn't hurt to start preparing now.

Urgent notice: If you are tomato fans (and who isn't), now until mid July is the time to put in your transplants.

Topics for discussion will include:

1. Discussing what's working or not in your gardens right now

2. Pest and disease control

3. Fall bed preparation

4. Planting schedules and crop selection

We will also be exchanging seeds, so bring your stash to share with others, and get some in return.  Only if you have extra you haven't used or want to exchange for something you don't already have! We can share!

 Oh, the rewards of having a Texas-sized growing season! (with an oppressive heat and dry spell in the middle, of course)

Greenweavers Networking Meetup - Keller

“It's good for businesses, consumers, neighborhood, and our environment.”

This meeting's speaker will be Jackie Peal, Master Gardener from Calloway's nursery, and will be speaking on the topics of landscaping with native species and the organic/natural fertilizers. Come out to meet one of the most influential residential landscape design companies, learn something new and meet other folks in the Sustainable culture that can help your business to grow!

Free.

Greenweavers Networking Meetup - Dallas

“DFW Greenweavers is a power group of local, sustainable businesses that have been operating in the Metroplex as experts in their given Green fields.”

We will be following our synergizing format that we did last time. When people arrive you will be broken into three groups:

1) Home and Buildings 

2) Food and Gardening

3) Health and Lifestyle 

The first part of the meeting will be spent socializing with the people in your industry. There has been a great response from people spending time with others that are in their given fields.

After that you will draw a business card from the hat. You will then have a 5 minute 1-1 with that person and you will be giving their 30 second commercial! This was a HUGE success last time. Lots of FUN!

Each meeting will be sponsored by a different business every month. The sponsor will have 10 minutes to talk to the group about what they do. There will be several other perks that go along with sponsorship. The sponsor is paying the $75 room fee so that we can have our own private room that's quiet. Finally!

All-Day Organic Gardening Workshop - Ft Worth

Come to an organic gardening workshop based on Permaculture principles and practices held in Fort Worth to kick-off a non-profit group: Citizen's Gardener. $30 fee. You will leave the class ready to start your fall garden in very little space at home or ready to start a community garden for your church or other group. We have long-time Permaculture instructor and Austin Citizen's Gardener teacher Dick Pierce teaching 1st class on Aug 13.

This all-day workshop also starts a community garden for a Fort Worth school for underprivileged kids, Fortress Youth DC. Dress appropriately, bring water, snacks, and a brown-bag lunch.

Composting 101 - Garland

Making dark, rich, crumbly compost doesn't take much time, work or space. Learn the essentials including the composting process, hands on demonstration of how to build an active compost pile, and how worms can recycle food scraps into rich organic compost. Improve your soil, and your flowers and vegetables will thank you. Ages 16 and up. $20.

Sierra Club Meeting - Ft Worth

Dotty Woodson of Texas Agrilife and former Tarrant County Extension horticulturalist will explain how to conserve water in your home landscape and urban water conservation issues. The third Wednesday of each month we share conservation news, outings info and enjoy a presentation by a guest speaker. Speaker will be followed by refreshments, club business and announcements. Location: Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Moncrief Garden Center, Azalea Room; 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. at University Drive, north of I-30, Fort Worth. (817)871-7686.

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