Urban Sustainability

City of Dallas Water Utilities, city of Dallas Stormwater Management, city of Dallas Park & Recreation, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Dallas County Master Gardeners are teaming up to demonstrate the beauty of Water-Wise and EarthKind gardening with the 20th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour.

The first 100 visitors at each of the three tour headquarters will receive a free hose spray nozzle. Tour is also free. Info: 214-670-3155, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

See website for a map of the self-guiding Water-Wise Landscape Tour. Maps will also be available all tour headquarters.

TOUR HEADQUARTERS

A – CENTRAL: City of Dallas – White Rock Pump Station – 2900 White Rock Road – Dallas, TX 75214

B – NORTH: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center – 17360 Coit Road – Dallas, TX 75252

C – SOUTH: Lake Cliff Park – E. Colorado Blvd. at N. Zang Blvd. – Dallas, TX 75203

TOUR MICROTALKS/DEMONSTRATIONS

The Fort Worth Water Department, BRIT, and NBC5 are partnering to sponsor the second annual EcoScape residential summer landscape contest to find the homeowner with the most creative, attractive, and water efficient lawn in the area. The contest runs from June 14 to August 16 and will be judged on three key criteria:

1.     Design – aesthetic appeal; composition; use of color and plant variety;

2.     Water Conservation – efficient irrigation/water use; use of non-vegetative materials such as fences, walls, walks, etc.; use of native and/or adapted plants; reduced turf area; and use of mulches; and

3.     Appropriate Maintenance – healthy landscape, no weeds; plants pruned as appropriate.

Learn which plants grow best in the company of others, while some plants can actually deprive their neighbors of soil nutrients and sunlight. $35.

Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday evening each month, except for November and December.

Social and snacks @ 6:30 pm, educational lecture @ 7 pm.

Annual Leaf Reunion at Autonation. Free charging and light lunch provided.

Presenter Howard "Scot" Arey, chair of the Texas Solar Energy Society, was a career Army officer, with much of his time spent at Fort Hood. After he retired, he joined Nexolon America in San Antonio where he first served as the Chief of Staff and was then promoted to executive vice president. There, he helped commence Nexolon's efforts to manufacture high-quality, high-yield solar modules for San Antonio. He serves on the Texas Solar Energy Society board of directors, and was elected Chairman through 2015. Arey has a bachelor of science from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master of science in manufacturing from East Carolina University.

Spend time outdoors with your child to learn the basics of holistic living where nature is the classroom. We'll hike, forage for nutrient-rich edibles, have a delicious lunch and learn plants' natural gifts of healing to treat illness and diseases.  

Meet under pavilion. Bring: note taking, water, dress for heat/hat, wear bug repellent and camera. Rain or shine, bring umbrella.

$25/includes gate fee & lunch. RSVP: Ms. Robles, 940-293-3873.

This is a hands-on class; seating is limited. Preregistration required. Free. Info: 972- 742-2296.

 Renewable energy sources or RES capture their energy from existing flows of energy; from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, wave power, flowing water (hydropower); biological processes such as anaerobic digestion; and geothermal heat flow.

The most common definition is that renewable energy is from an energy resource that is replaced by a natural process at a rate that is equal to or faster than the rate at which that resource is being consumed. Renewable energy is a sub-set of sustainable energy.

This class will help students understand renewable energy, with an emphasis on solar and wind, as it relates to the residential sector and will provide resources for further exploration. Free. Info: 972- 742-2296.

Participants will learn how to maintain their landscape with minimal water usage during the hottest part of the year. Students also will learn basic indoor and outdoor water practices what will help cut back on the summer water bill. Speaker: Barry Allen, City of Irving, Water Utilities Department. Free. Info: 972- 742-2296.