Water Wise Workshops

Cabrillo College is offering Water Wise Workshops:

1. Water Wise Landscaping
2. Harvesting Systems
3. Greywater Workshop

1. City of Watsonville - 768-3103
2. Soquel Creek Water District - 475-8501 x 142
3. Scotts Valley Water District - 600-1907

Visit http://www.cabrillo.edu/services/extension/green.html for class details

This interactive workshop will provide an overview of how to transform your yard into a beautiful landscape that uses little to no water. Topics will include plants, alternative water sources such as graywater and rainwater, and local resources available to help you make your water wise landscape a reality. Participants are encouraged to bring photos, plans or drawings of their own yards, ask questions and participate in discussion. The class will visit several local water wise landscapes in the afternoon for inspiration.

Class will be taught by Golden Love who is a horticulturalist, certified arborist, licensed landscape contractor and lifelong avid gardener who has worked in sustainable landscaping for nearly 30 years. He specializes in local landscapes that are "water neutral" and is an expert on rain harvesting and greywater systems.

Learn about storing the rain from your roof at this Cabrillo College extension class taught by Bobby Markowitz. Rainwater harvesting is a popular alternative for homeowners and gardeners who want to become more self-sufficient by collecting rainwater while reducing their water bills. Rainwater can be used to water gardens and for emergency water supply. In this class we will discuss the fundamentals of designing a domestic rainwater harvesting system, how to optimize capture and usage, filtration and distribution. Graywater systems will also be discussed.

There will be a lunch break followed by a field trip to visit two nearby residential rainwater harvesting system projects.

Class will be taught by Bobby Markowitz, a licensed landscape architect specializing in rainwater harvesting design. His passion about rainwater harvesting has come out of his 30 years experience in landscaping, from his own organic garden and concern for the environment.

Learn about using greywater in your garden at this Cabrillo College extension class taught by Jim Heaney. This class gives participants information on re-purposing water which was previously considered waste water and can now be redirected for landscape and garden irrigation. Participants will learn about current plumbing code standards, gray water compliant products, irrigation techniques, system design, installation, materials and tools required to complete their own residential system.

Class will be taught by Jim Heaney who has been employed at the County of Santa Cruz Planning Department for the past 14 years as a Building Plans Examiner and a Building Inspector. In addition, Jim is part time faculty at Cabrillo College, where he has been teaching the Commercial and Residential Building Codes, the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes over the last 12 years. He is also a volunteer consultant for the Central Coast Greywater Alliance.

For additional information call Nancy Lockwood, City of Watsonville Environmental Projects Manager at 768-3103.