Class! PPUG Growing Warm Season Veggies

Hundreds of gardeners attend these sessions led by local expert Larry Stebbins.  Registration urged but not required.  Large number of local vendors also on hand with regionally appropriate products.

CLASS #4 "How to Grow the Best Warm Season Vegetables...And Get Incredible Yields in Less Space!" Saturday, April 16, 2016

Event: Sustainnovate at UCCS

It's not too late to attend.  Look at the great line-up they have planned for tomorrow:

Sustainnovate at UCCS

2016 Sustainability Season!

Welcome back!  As described in the right column, this is the Pikes Peak Library Green Team blog--your source for regional organizations, resources, events, classes, etc.  While our Facebook page is a constantly updated site with much of the same information, we hope you will find this blog readily searchable if you are trying to track down that previously mentioned organization, website, or local resource.

We started the blog about a year ago, knowing that early spring is the busiest time for many green living groups in the Pikes Peak Region.  Sure enough, it has been a quiet winter, but everyone's gearing up now for a full spring of recurring and new programs and events.  Below are just a few of the events planned around the region for March.  Remember, you can search for just organizations, resources, events and classes by clicking on those label options to the right.

EVENTS FOR MARCH 2016

Pikes Peak Urban Gardens CLASS #3 "How to Grow The Best Cool Season Vegetables... All Season Long" SaturdayMarch 19,10 AM - 11:30 a.m.


Colorado Springs Utilities has posted a full list of summer classes on Xeriscaping, landscape design and outstanding plants.  They're free. 

Catamount Institute has posted the Sustainability in Progress speaker series gathering, planned for Wed. March 16 at 6:30 p.m.

And the Pikes Peak Library District is offering the following programs on gardening.

Also, save the dates:  coming up in April:

The Big Cool Science Festival at Colorado College, Saturday, April 2, 2016.

Save the Date!  UCCS office of Sustainability, Sustainnovate: Sustainable Mobility Summit, Wednesday, April 13th 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Looking forward to Spring!

Stay tuned for more information about a fun, free upcoming program. The PPLD Green Team and the Healthy Living Committee will host Master Gardener, Valerie Brodar, for a hands-on demonstration of making your very own urban garden! You will learn how to build your own raised garden bed, learn how to recognize good soil, and how to plant seeds. You will leave with some free garden supplies and tons of helpful gardening information.

We will meet at the Green Team Urban Garden at the Penrose Library, located near the lower parking lot on West Pikes Peak Avenue. More details coming soon. Registration is not required, but highly recommended to make sure you get your own supplies at the end!

If you have access to any land, even a small patch in the grassy strip by the street - you can become an urban farmer!

Happy New Year! Sustainability in February

Happy 2016.  We took January off, but there are some nice things coming up, and it's going to get more exciting as spring approaches.  Here are a couple events this month:

Pikes Peak Urban Gardens is continuing a series:
CLASS #2 "All You Need to Know to Start Your Vegetable Garden": Garden Planning and Design, Preparing Soil and Site, Seed Starting, Container Gardening and More"
Saturday, February 20, 2016:
10 AM - 11:30 Am (doors open at 9:15 AM, please come early to visit all our local garden vendors and so we can get everyone in the door before the class starts at 10 AM)
Cost: $10 per person (pay at the door)
Designed to instruct the gardener on what needs to be done in the next 30 days to have a successful garden come planting time. Topics will include details on Larry's favorite varieties that grow well in this region, affordable season extending and hail protection structures that you can build now, seed starting in details, small space gardening, keyhole garden beds, planting perennial veggies and fruits like rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries. Learn Larry's secrets to have an abundant strawberry crop year after year and more.


Sustainability in Progress
February 17 @ 7:30 am - 9:00 amEach month the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future hosts a morning speaker series Sustainability in Progress, also known as SIP. The Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future promotes regional sustainability and advances the PPR2030 through regional collaboration and outreach.



And for the most current updates, be sure and follow our Facebook page.

Class! Taming Energy and Water Waste

Don't miss the last session in a 4 part series on Saving Money:  Taming Energy and Water Waste. Downloads from previous sessions are available.  From their website:

Session 4 will focus on residential renewable energy.  The basics of how solar and wind energy systems work; how much do they cost; what’s the return on investment; “are they right for me?”– limitations of these systems.

Guest speaker:  Mr. Phil Brodhagen, Owner, El Paso Green Energies. Local installer certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)

The Southeastern Colorado Renewable Energy Society (SECRES) presents a series of 4 energy efficiency seminars designed to help residents and businesses make wiser decisions with their energy and water use. Choose one or all of the seminars to become more aware of your consumption, explore the benefits of saving resources, both financially and ecologically, and discover how you can become an energy producer, rather than just a consumer.

Sustainability in June

June is a great month to celebrate sustainability. As we mentioned last month, this is mostly an Earth Month blog, but the organizations and resources described in March, April and May are active and available year round.

Coming up this month, don't miss:

 Farmers markets are starting up:

Don't miss Colorado Springs Utilities open house event at their Mesa Road complex that we posted last month

Colorado Springs Utilities is also having monthly classes and events:

And finally, Colorado Springs Utilities has great tips, updates and news for the region

Lastly, Green Cities Coalition is promoting World environment day with a party June 5th at Hillside Gardens

Classes! H.A.S. Vegetable Gardening Success Lecture

Heres an upcoming lecture sponsored by the Horticultural Arts Society, including a tour of theformer Penrose home gardens:

The April 11th Spring Lecture Series of the Horticultural Art Society is being held at the Carriage Room at Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, starting at 10 am. A garden tour of the beautiful grounds of the former home of El Pomar founders Spencer and Julie Penrose, will follow the lecture.
The Lecture will be “Yes You Can: Veggie Gardening Success: Come learn the ABCs of vegetable gardening, plus some special tips and techniques that will help you succeed in our challenging area. ” Planning and persistence will pay off when you go out to harvest your own veggies! Lecturer Leslie Holzmann has been growing plants since she was a toddler, a very long time ago. The lessons learned from over 20 years of successes and failures in her Black Forest vegetable garden, added to the knowledge gained during an eleven year stint as a volunteer Colorado Master Gardener, enable her to offer proven advice to help you succeed in growing your own food here in the Pikes Peak region.
This event will be free to HAS members AND to the general public. PLEASE NOTE: Please pre-register (seating is limited) at hasgardens@gmail.com or by phone (719)357-9427.
We are always delighted to see everyone at this event.  We take great pride in offering an event at this lovely conference center each year.  If you have any questions, please call or email us at the above address and phone.

Classes! Colorado Springs Utilities Xeriscape Classes

From the Colorado Springs Utilities site: "We are committed to the intelligent use of water. We provide classes with experienced instructors to help you make the best use of this precious resource. There is no charge for classes and reservations are not required, unless otherwise noted; however, seating is limited and first come, first served. All classes are held at Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation and Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Road, home of our beautiful xeriscape demonstration garden. For more information call (719) 668-8232." Click here for more information.