FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS: Gordon Tepper, Rebecca Cheng, Matthew Leonenko and Michael Anderson | (516) 869-7794
Town Announces Dates for Home Sustainability Classes at Clark Garden
Dates for Composter and Rain Barrel Sales Also Announced
North Hempstead, NY - Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board are pleased to announce that the Town will once again be offering residential sustainability classes including: Native Plant Gardening, Creating Rain Gardens and Sustainable Yard Care. These classes are FREE to all, even non-residents of the Town. The Town will also be selling composters and rain barrels multiple times throughout the year. All classes and sales will be held at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson from April to September.
Rain barrels allow rainwater to be recycled and used for irrigation in your yard and gardens. Composters turn yard and kitchen waste into a nutrient filled soil amendment that enhances any landscape. A rain barrel and/or composter can be purchased by Town residents only (please bring ID) at a discounted rate of $50 (only 1 each per household). Payment must be made by check or credit only, no cash (a minimum convenience fee of $1.50 applies to credit/debit transactions). See a full list of dates and times for purchasing below.
The Sustainable Yard Care class will teach attendees how to make their outdoor landscape more sustainable by composting, using a rain barrel, saving water, creating wildlife habitat, using alternatives to pesticides, applying fertilizer properly and more.
In the Rain Garden class attendees will learn about the environmental benefits of these gardens and how to construct one in their own landscape. Rain gardens are bowl shaped gardens that are positioned near a water run-off source, like a gutter downspout or driveway, to capture rainwater. This prevents stormwater from picking up pollutants and flowing into storm sewers and underground aquifers, where Long Island gets all of its drinking water. Rain garden plants and soil reduce pollution by filtering out contaminants and provide resources for wildlife.
The Native Plant Gardening class instructs attendees on how to utilize native plants in their own landscapes. Native plants have historically occurred on Long Island and are adapted to its weather and climate. Therefore these plants help to conserve water, reduce fertilizers and pesticides and provide food and habitat for native wildlife.
All classes and composter and rain barrel sales are held at Clark Botanic Garden, located at 193 I. U. Willets Rd in Albertson, and are rain or shine. Residents must register in advance for all classes (registration not necessary for sales). For a full list of class dates and sales, see below:
Upcoming Rain Barrel and Composter sales will be held:
Friday, April 3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 14, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 7, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday, July 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday, July 16, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, August 14, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday, September 25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Upcoming Sustainable Yard Care will be held (90 minutes):
Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m.
Sunday, August 2, 10 a.m.
Upcoming Rain Garden classes will be held (90 minutes):
Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.
Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m.
Upcoming Native Garden Classes will be held (60 minutes):
Saturday, April 18, 12 p.m.
Sunday, July 19, 12 p.m.
Spots are limited and registration is required. For more information or to register call 311 or 516-869-6311 or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/sustainability.
