This event will be rescheduled at a later date.

 

Are you interested in becoming part of the solution? Permaculture is applied ecology; founded by Australian agronomists Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the late 1970s, it is now a worldwide movement promoting ethically grounded gardening and landscape design—working with nature, rather than against it. The Mid-Willamette Permaculture Guild sponsors monthly meetings featuring films and lectures on all aspects of permaculture design and related topics pertaining to restorative and regenerative gardening and agriculture.

This Second Wednesday of March (March 11) our guest speaker will be Dr. Roberta Bigelow, presenting on the topic of backyard habitat design. Roberta retired from Willamette University in 2015 after teaching physics for nearly 30 years. She took the Master Gardeners’ Trainee course as soon as it was available, becoming a Master Gardener in 2016 and the MCMGA Treasurer in 2017. Along with Master Gardeners Karen Freeman and Carol & Bill Sutkus, Roberta taught a class on Backyard Habitat gardening–the gardening practice that seeks to provide natural habitat for wildlife.

Backyard Habitat Gardening

We are currently living in a time where the loss in biodiversity is becoming known as the sixth extinction, the sixth time in world history that many species have disappeared at a rapid rate, but this time the cause is clearly human activity. The reasons for this rapid decline in biodiversity are complicated but among them are habitat degradation and loss. The principle of Backyard Habitat gardening is to create natural, low-maintenance gardens that support people, wildlife, and the planet. We do this through removing invasive weeds, using native plants when possible, reducing pesticide use to a minimal level, managing water appropriately, and providing wildlife habitat. In this presentation, Roberta will talk about practical ways to make your yard attractive to wildlife, mainly insects and birds.

Held in Salem every 2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm At Salem Friend’s Meeting House, 490 19th Street NE (19th and Breyman) For more information: 971-218-4772/ dianedalychavez@gmail.com or 971-701-6965/ tiellis@gmail.com