skip to main content
Newsroom
2005 DNRP archived news: this news release may include broken links and outdated information such as programs and contacts that no longer exist.
Feb. 1, 2005

King County Educational booth continues to "grow" at Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Master Gardeners to share best practices for eco-friendly gardening

2005 Archived News

You don't have to dig deep to get the latest information about Natural Yard Care practices that can save you money, protect the environment and produce a beautiful year round garden.

Stop by this year's King County Educational Exhibit Booth at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Feb. 9-13 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Joining county employees at the booth will be Washington State University Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners who will be available to provide expert advice and recommendations for visitors seeking helpful and practical tips on natural gardening practices.

"Of course we love that King County's promotion of environmentally friendly gardening techniques annually wins awards at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. But what's really rewarding is when gardeners tell us how Natural Yard Care is working in their yards and how good they feel that they don't have to rely on pesticides to have a beautiful yard and garden," said Pam Bissonnette, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director. "We are encouraged every year by the number of visitors that stop by and show an interest in learning more about Natural Yard Care practices and the resources we provide."

The educational booth will highlight practices that can help create safer and healthier surroundings for families and animals, focusing on composting education, organic gardening, biological pest control, mulching and more. Local companies will be providing samples of "safe" pesticides, plants and displays of recycled plastic furniture.

Enter to win 10 cubic yards of Groco – a naturally composted mixture of three parts sawdust and one part biosolids. Information about Groco, contest details and entry forms will be available at the booth.

Check out the local scene and stop by the Puget Sound Fresh booth to learn about locally grown farm products and how to find and buy these items throughout the region. The Puget Sound Fresh program promotes farm products grown in the 12 counties that border Puget Sound and provides information about businesses that support local agriculture by actively buying and offering locally grown products to their customers.

New to this year's program will be two seminars hosted by King County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD).

  • The Natural Yard Care Seminar, Saturday, Feb. 12, 9:45 a.m. in the Rainier Room, will include a panel presentation led by Water and Land Resources staff member, Doug Rice. Panelists will provide helpful and practical tips about the 5-steps of Natural Yard Care and the growing trends of garden and landscape professionals supporting environmentally sound gardening practices.

    Additional speakers on this panel include: Greg Rabourn of WLRD; Ladd Smith, with In Harmony, an organic-based landscape services firm, Lisa Taylor, soils and compost educator from Seattle Tilth; and Marianne Binetti, engaging garden columnist and author.

  • Create the Backyard Wildlife Garden, Sunday, Feb. 13, 4:45 p.m. in the Hood Room features Greg Rabourn with the King County Native Plant Salvage program. He will discuss easy steps to make a garden a vibrant and healthy wildlife haven.

King County continues to promote Natural Yard Care as the best way to build a beautiful garden or yard without the use of harmful pesticides. The county's message has enjoyed increased awareness since a federal ruling last year restricted the use of dozens of pesticides, including products such as Weed and Feed, commonly used in King County yards. By raising awareness about this pesticide–free approach to gardening, the County claims these simple yard care practices saves money, time and the environment while conserving natural resources. These practices are:

  1. Build healthy soil with compost and mulch—to end chemical dependence.
  2. Plant right for your site—saving water and time.
  3. Practice smart watering--for healthier plants.
  4. Think twice before using pesticides—to protect kids, pets and salmon.
  5. Practice natural lawn care—a great technique for healthier lawns.

For more information on these programs, contact Doug Rice at 206-296-8360, or Greg Rabourn at 206-296-1923.