Earth Play
Volunteers and the garden coordinator spent Saturday in the peaceful Ojai Meadows Preserve, participating in Ojai's first EarthPlay on the Meadow Earth Day celebration. 
The City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden display was designed to teach children about composting and vermicomposting, or composting with worms. 
The worm viewing box was by far the most popular feature of the display.
Children who stopped by received a recycling coloring book or a recycling activity book. 
There was plenty of information available for grown-ups, as well. Volunteers were happy to share their knowledge and answered questions about composting throughout the day. 
Photos by Les Dublin.
A path was cleared and mulched, the edible landscaping demonstration got some TLC, and a pizza plot that is in the works was cleared of weeds. 
Photos by Les Dublin.
John, of John Lamar Design and Consulting, gave an excellent presentation that covered the history of low-flow irrigation, basic water management practices, and the main components of a low-flow irrigation system. 
After the talk, John answered participants' questions before heading out into the garden to demonstrate how to hook up the lines. 
Workshop participants had a chance to get some hands-on practice setting up drip irrigation for a row of vegetables that had been planted a few weeks ago at Steve Sprinkel's workshop. 
Next, the group made their way to a sloped area. There, California native shrubs and ground covers, that had been planted over the winter, were waiting for some irrigation to help them get through the hot, dry days until the next rainy season. 
Members of the group set up irrigation to these plants as well.
After getting a look at the valves in the garden, and watching John demonstrate the correct way to flush out a filter
everyone went home prepared to set up their own low-flow irrigation system, and save water. Photos by Les Dublin. 
The ground cover demonstration area contains several plants that can be used as lawn substitutes. The area highlights Zoysia, California native yarrow, Santa Barbara daisy, and thyme. All require much less water than a traditional lawn. Photo by Les Dublin.