So far this year, the Press Democrat has run two Sunday articles on getting rid of lawns. This is proof positive that low water landscaping is now mainstream. 

A popular low cost method of residential lawn conversion is sheet mulching. This technique  was also employed to build the community garden at La Tercera Park and to create a low water landscape around the Cavanagh Center…

Now the Mulching Phenom moves to take on CITY HALL!!

This month, the City of Petaluma, Daily Acts, Petaluma Bounty, and Rebuilding Together Petaluma will be working together to “… transform the water intensive turf & landscape around City Hall  into a dynamic, water harvesting eco-scape, complete with community gardens, water catchment systems, native and edible plants.” 

Overall, they will be sheet mulching almost an acre of turf.  Note: There will be no alterations to the soccer field on the west side of City Hall.  But everything else is going to be sheet mulched!

According to Rebuilding Together Petaluma, there are two workdays scheduled to complete this transformation:

• “The first day is Monday, October 12th  8:00 am to 4:00 pm, where we will need 10 to 20 strong volunteers   to help remove bushes, and cut an edge in the sod around all of the walks. Breakfast, lunch, and massive helpings of appreciation will be served.”
• “The second is Saturday, October 24th  8:00 am to 4:00 pm, where we will need 200 volunteers to do large amounts of sheet mulching and planting. The landscape we plant will provide food, habitat, inspiration, demonstration and education for our community. Coffee, Lunch, snacks and relentless appreciation will be provided.”

Imagine yourself as part of a group with shovels, pitchforks, and rakes at City Hall–and not  for the purpose of Public Comment!

To participate in the project, register to volunteer for either day at www.rtpetaluma.org or simply call 765-3944.  Perhaps even the Council Members will join in the effort.