Urban Sustainability

Monthly volunteer workday held the second Saturday of each month. Info: 214-379-5457 or hkoski@pqc.edu.

The all-day conference features George Bandy, Jr., vice president of sustainability at Interface, and Michael Cain, executive director of Earth Day Texas.

The breakout sessions feature three tracks, saving the people, planet & money, with speakers from the cities of Dallas, Cedar Hill and Lancaster, medical organizations, non-profits and churches of southern Dallas.

Texas A&M Agrilife Research, North Texas Renewable Energy Group, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Urban Acres and Fossil Rim are also participating. Free. 

The last couple of years have seen the Dallas environmental scene blossom and mature. Now many of us want to take the next step by forming a city-wide “Dallas green alliance.” We plan on creating a 501(c)3 arm and a 501(c)4 or even a PAC that will have the political power to build it, election by election.

Author and permaculture expert Nate Downey will host the all-day workshop, focusing on harvesting rain water in storage tanks. Downey, who has been designing and installing cistern systems for two decades, will talk about the components of a successful system that can turn storm water into an actual resource. $99.

Author and permaculture expert Nate Downey will speak on the water-harvesting industry as an economic engine that will drive the country toward real sustainability. Part of DCCCD's Clean economy series. $10. 

Downey will also host an all-day workshop on June 28.

The locally produced movie focuses on the rally in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17, 2013, where 50,000 people from around the country came in freezing weather and said NO to the Keystone XL pipeline. It includes footage on the Texas bus that traveled 34 hours to the rally, along with exclusive footage and interviews with residents affected by the devastating oil spill in Mayflower, Arkansas. Refreshments. Free. 

READ THE GSDFW ARTICLE.

Patrick Dickinson, urban water program coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas, will present a general overview of various water conservation methods including drip irrigation; new water conserving technologies; cycle and soak; lawn care during drought; foundation watering; tree watering; irrigation scheduling; and rainwater harvesting. Learn how to conserve water in your landscape and lower costs. The program is open to the public. Free. Registration is requested. Info: 972-874-6165 or fmpl@flower-mound.com

Walk among free-flying native butterflies and other pollinators. The butterfly house includes native species and a butterfly garden, filled with host plants that naturally attract these lovely creatures. This area is also a great setting for nature photography.   

Included with general admission: $7-$10.

This educational seminar will feature tips for protecting pets from coyotes, reducing coyote attractants in neighborhoods and advice on how to haze bold coyotes. Coyote hazing helps restore the fear of humans for habituated coyotes and involves the systematic use of deterrents such as noisemakers, projectiles and water hoses. Communities such as Denver have achieved remarkable success using non-lethal deterrence programs.

Free. RSVP. Info: Lynsey White Dasher at lwhite@humanesociety.org

Fifth annual conference hosted by  Coastal Prairie Partnership and Native Prairies Association of Texas. This year's conference will focus on challenges to conserving, restoring and educating about prairies.

Audience: Resource professionals, private landowners, volunteers (including Texas Master Naturalists), educators, landscape architects. 

Cost: Field experiences (May 29) - $30 each; Indoor Presentations (May 30 & 31) $150; $75 for students. Free post-conference field experience also available.

Topics: Prairie restoration, prairies and water/energy production, prairies and climate change, managing for biodiversity, prairie bird conservation, social media and conservation, conservation agreement for landowners, teaching about prairies, creating grassroots campaigns, and more.

Field Experiences (May 29 and June 1): This year's conference will include a varied mixture of free and paid field experiences throughout the DFW area.

Indoor Presentations (MAY 30 AND 31) at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens: