Coming Up In WC: Getting to Know Our Local Creeks, Ponds and Waterways

This spring, in partnership with the City of Walnut Creek, The Gardens at Heather Farm invites families to enjoy a fun and informative series of FREE classes about our local watershed and preserving environmental resources. The series, Getting to Know Our Local Creeks, Ponds and Waterways, encourages both adults and children to participate.

Adults will hear from six local experts while kids enjoy interactive, hands-on activities specifically designed to engage younger audiences. In addition to classes held at The Gardens, the program also features local family field trips.

Topics will focus on the exploration of waterways and how those environments affect plants and wildlife in our area. Adults will learn about the challenges of maintaining our local watershed and how best to manage floods during “El Nino” weather, and kids will investigate where water goes when it rains.

The whole family will enjoy discovering the plants and wildlife that live in our nearby creeks and ponds, taking a family hike along the trails of a nature preserve, and learning about warm-weather vegetable gardening and the different plants that wind up on our dinner tables. Adults will pick up tips on how to avoid contaminating sensitive water ecosystems with pesticides, while kids can learn how to make garden-friendly pest control potions and bring beneficial bugs to your backyard.

All classes in this series are FREE, but registration is required for all participants.

Saturday, April 9 • 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Introduction to Our Local Waterways with Mike Carlson from Contra Costa Flood Control District (Adult)

Where Does Water Go When it Rains? with GHF Education Staff (Youth)

Saturday, April 16 • 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Water & Wildlife Field Trip with GHF Education Staff (Adult/Youth)

Saturday, April 23 • 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Vegetable Gardening in a Changing Climate: Water-wise Tips for Backyard Gardening in Very Warm Weather with Lara Hermanson from Farmscape (Adult)

Where Does Our Food Come From? with GHF Education Staff (Youth)

Saturday, May 7 • 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Managing Pests: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly with Tanya Drlik from IPM Contra Costa County & Beth Baldwin from Contra Costa Clean Water Program (Adult)

Native Plants, Native People with GHF Education Staff (Youth)

Sunday, May 15 • 10 – 12:30 p.m.

Discover Walnut Creek’s Watershed Field Trip with Carol Lane from Save Mt. Diablo (Adult/Youth)

Saturday, May 21 • 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Healthy Soil in Your Home Garden with Marian Woodard from RecycleSmart (Adult)

Peek into the Amazing World of Insects with GHF Education Staff (Youth)

For more information and to register, go to gardenshf.org.

About The Gardens at Heather Farm

A Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Green Business, The Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) provides six acres of educational gardens and programs for youth, adults and persons with disabilities. A qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GHF is self supporting through memberships, fundraisers, grants, private donations, facility rentals and program fees. The mission is to enrich the community through the beauty and environmental stewardship of our gardens while providing educational programs and a variety of venues for social and cultural events.