Thursday, April 16 , 7 pm,

Solvang Public Library,

                The word sustainable is everywhere these days, but just what makes a sustainable landscape and why does it matter?
    

        Join Owen Dell, author of the newly published book Sustainable Landscaping for  Dell is the smart man behind the Dummies title, who shares more than 38 years of knowledge and experience as a landscape architect and contractor with a passion for good design that makes sense for the homeowner and the environment.

        Part of the phenomenally successful "Dummies" book series, with its give me the facts, make me smarter format that have made them so popular, Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies provides hands-on, how-to instructions for the novice and expert alike.  From creating abundant edible landscapes, to making your home safe in wildfires, to making the most of rainfall that falls on your land, the book describes processes that don't just make things less bad, they make them a lot better. 

    A long time "guru" for sustainable landscaping, Dell suggests we can mimic nature for best design.  Humorously describing traditional landscape design as an "environmental train wreck", he seriously notes these practices destroy native habitats, consume natural resources, cause strip mining and forest clear cutting, and annually poison nearly 70 million birds with pesticides.

      Working since the 1970's with his first landscape design business, Dell found a niche designing beautiful and functional gardens using native plants.  Later, taking inspiration from natural disasters he created "firescapes" for the fire ecology of southern California, and water-wise gardens, that responded to drought conditions in the 1980's.  More recently he developed the concept of "fossil free" landscapes, noting the need for less fossil fuel (oil) powered equipment used in our gardens, and has incorporated many permaculture design ideas as well.

    Owen Dell  is an award-winning California-licensed landscape architect and contractor, and the owner of County Landscape and Design in Santa Barbara, California. He is one of the founders of the Firescape Demonstration Garden in Santa Barbara, which was the first of its kind in the nation. He has been a contributor to Sunset Magazine, Pacific Horticulture and many other publications.  Dell is the co-star of “Garden Wise Guys,” a sitcom about sustainable landscaping.  He has presented workshops and lectures for homeowners and professional audiences at botanic gardens, colleges and universities, and conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas.

        The event takes place on Thursday, April 16, 7pm at the Solvang Public Library, 1745 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463 Santa Barbara Permaculture Network , Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society, Solvang Public Library and Grace Hernandez, co sponsors the event.    For more information please call (805) 962-2571, or  email margie@sbpermaculture.org,  www.sbpermaculture.org.

 
Visit www.owendell.com for update on his upcoming book tour in California.

More good info about the book:

Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies will show you how to design, build, and live with an earth-friendly landscape that:

   Requires minimal maintenance
    Is inexpensive to construct and maintain
        Is made from safe, natural materials
    Resists pests and diseases
      Is drought-tolerant and long-lasting
    Supplies wholesome, organic food for you and your family
        Provides outdoor rooms for many uses
    Is stunningly beautiful

Some of the inside tricks you'll learn in Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies:

   How to make use of "heritage" materials that will last many lifetimes
   How to design and build a drip irrigation system that really works
      How to make use of the "world's best design tool"
       How to cut your maintenance costs by half or much more
  How to supercharge your plants by adding one natural element one time only, for pennies per plant
       How to virtually eliminate fertilizing by using the "chop and drop" technique
   How to develop a Neighborhood Foodshed in your community

-end-

 www.sbpermaculture.org

"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." - Anonymous

First Annual Southern California Permaculture Convergence August 2008
 http://socalifornia.permacultureconvergence.org

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Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
   an educational non-profit since 2000
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.org
 www.sbpermaculture.org

"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." - Anonymous