The Petaluma Regional Library is an invaluable center of learning and wonder, where thousands of people gather to work, read, and play. The creative Library staff has always dreamed of a way to bring their programs outdoors, providing more opportunities to inspire and educate the community. The big, thirsty, under-utilized lawn behind the building may just be the answer!

That’s where you come in. It’s time to transform that lawn into a water-wise, edible Learning Landscape that the whole community can be proud of. Imagine kids reading under the shade of luscious fruit trees, enjoying classes on Native History and Ethnobotany, taking in gorgeous sculptures, and birds, bees and butterflies fluttering everywhere. All that while saving over 100,000 gallons of fresh water per year and capturing thousands of gallons of rainwater before it becomes polluted stormwater. Can you lend a hand to help make this vision a reality?

We’ll be sheet mulching the lawn this fall, then planting in the spring. We’ll start off the fall workshop with an educational tour of the site’s new water harvesting earthworks, and then we’ll get to work with friends and family to compost the old lawn under a layer of mulch. Participants will learn eco-friendly landscaping techniques that can be used at home, including solarizing, sheet mulching and rain gardens. We’ll meet neighbors and enjoy giving back to this amazing community asset. Lunch and refreshments provided and don’t forget your Halloween Costume!