MCKINNEY – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a two-day Earth-Kind Landscape Design and Management School at the Myers Park and Event Center, 7117 County Road 166 near McKinney.
The course will be held Feb. 20-21 and consist of an in-depth classroom program and outdoor laboratory session, plus a personalized, extended 1.5 hour landscape design consultation to be conducted a few weeks later.
“During this unique educational experience, attendees will learn how to design, plant and manage a landscape that is beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally responsible, as well as more tolerant to weather extremes,” said Dr. Steve George, AgriLife Extension landscape specialist and creator of the Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management System.
George said Earth-Kind landscaping combines the best of research-proven techniques of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping to provide maximum garden and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment.
“The goal of Earth-Kind landscaping is to establish a horticultural system that’s based on real- world effectiveness and environmental responsibility,” George said. “Earth-Kind gardening emphasizes water conservation, reduction in chemical use, landscaping to assist in energy conservation and reducing landscape waste that typically winds up in landfills.”
George will be the lead instructor and will conduct all of the design consultations.
Topics and hands-on activities during the course will include basic landscape design, soil enrichment, plant establishment and protecting a landscape against harsh weather such as drought and torrential rain.
“No previous design, plant or management knowledge is needed for the course,” he said.
George said attendees will be given a wealth of landscape knowledge and will leave the course with a labeled, working landscape plan for the landscape area of their choice.
“In early summer, attendees will also be invited to take a special field trip to tour the Texas A&M Earth-Kind plant trials,” he noted.
Cost for the course is $295 per household and class size is limited, so attendees are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible.
For more information and to enroll, please contact Kim Betancourt at 972-952-9211 or kim.betancourt@ag.tamu.edu .
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