Knowledgebase

Sustainable Urban Landscaping Exhibit and Expert #754167

Asked June 05, 2021, 3:25 PM EDT

Citizens for Sustainability (CFS) in St. Anthony Village (SAV) is seeking an exhibit featuring sustainable urban landscaping information for St. Anthony Village Fest, Aug. 7th, in SAV Central Park. CFS is planning to have a 10'X10' exhibit tent, and also hoping to attract additional sustainability experts, particularly in residential energy-efficiency (insulation, solar, etc.), residential landscaping (native plants, etc.), and energy-efficient transportation (EV vehicles, machines). The UM Turf Irrigation Efficiency Truck ( https://turf.umn.edu/reserving-our-irrigation-efficiency-educational-trailer) was suggested by a friend, but it doesn't provide the desired information. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Go to the link which shows a calendar of when the exhibit is available, click on the reservation form. If it is available during your events, they will contact you to make arrangements.  

If you wish to contact the U of Mn, turf management program, see Eric Watkins’ contact info below.

1. https://turf.umn.edu/reserving-our-irrigation-efficiency-educational-trailer

2. https://horticulture.umn.edu/people/eric-watkins

Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied June 05, 2021, 3:54 PM EDT
Hi, Mary:

Thanks for your prompt response. However, I was not seeking to use the turf management program, since it is not what we need. This is what I wrote:

"The UM Turf Irrigation Efficiency Truck ( https://turf.umn.edu/reserving-our-irrigation-efficiency-educational-trailer) was suggested by a friend, but it doesn’t (DOES NOT) provide the desired information. Thanks for any help you can provide!”

We’re not interested in promoting expensive watering systems for lush green lawns, but rather native grasses and plantings that can survive on minimal water and maintenance, thereby reducing water usage naturally. We’re also interested in landscaping that provides creature habitats (pollinators, birds, etc) and available food sources (nuts, berries).

There must be some expertise in the area, maybe a non-profit organization or commercial landscaper. If you can’t help us, we’ll keep looking.

Many thanks!

Clif

Clifton Ware, D.M.
Professor Emeritus-Music; U of MN-Twin Cities 
Sustainability Education Forum
Citizens for Sustainability, founder (https://citizensforsustainability.org)
Citizen-Powered Media, board
Art to Change the World, advisory board
<personal data hidden>  



On Jun 5, 2021, at 2:54 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 05, 2021, 4:14 PM EDT

Sorry, I misinterpreted your request.  You may want to contact the Bee Lab at the U.  They may have materials/resources  that you can use. See:

https://www.beelab.umn.edu/

Another contact that may be able to help is Hennepin County Master Gardeners. They may have developed displays in this topic.  

Hennepin Master Gardeners

479 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: <personal data hidden>
Fax: <personal data hidden>
Email: <personal data hidden>



Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied June 05, 2021, 7:24 PM EDT
Mary,

I appreciate your getting back so promptly. Thanks for this helpful information. 

We’ve toured the Bee Lab and greatly enjoyed it. We also have a couple of Master Gardners in our community, but they’re mostly working with home gardens and rain gardens, both of which are part of native-plant, permaculture landscaping guidelines. 

Clif 
 



On Jun 5, 2021, at 6:24 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 06, 2021, 8:04 AM EDT

You are welcome.  Some Master Gardeners may have the expertise and interest you are looking for.  Some are working in area parks.  They would be good and may even have developed some materials. 

Another contact at the U of MN is Julie Weisenhorn.  She would know of resources as she blogs and writes on these topics.  <personal data hidden>

Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied June 06, 2021, 11:23 AM EDT

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