The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
If You Go
' What: EarthCare fall workshop: "Designing With Native Plants." ' When: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. ' Where: Greenway Farm, 5051 Gann Store Road. ' Admission: Free; advance reservation requested since lunch is provided. ' To register: earthcareonline.org/fall-retreat.html or 706-278-3979.
Christian stewardship of a homeowner's land through the use of sustainable gardening will be promoted at a free workshop for gardeners.
"Designing With Native Plants" will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at Greenway Farm in Hixson and feature local landscaper Scott Drucker. The workshop is an annual event sponsored by EarthCare, a nondenominational organization that is marking the 20th anniversary of the local chapter.
"In promoting Christian stewardship of the environment, we are saying that, since we love God the creator, we should be good stewards of the resources over which he has given us dominion," says EarthCare member Jack Pierce. "One practical way this can be accomplished is to practice sustainable gardening and landscaping."
Although EarthCare's mission is to promote creation stewardship by raising environmental awareness, Pierce says no religious message will be delivered to workshop participants. The event is not an effort to proselytize, he says.
Drucker adds that while he is "happy (EarthCare members) see a relationship between nature and a higher power," his PowerPoint presentation will focus solely on educating guests on better gardening practices.
"EarthCare members asked to learn more about native plants and gardening for wildlife," says Drucker. "So this presentation will teach people how to go from traditional landscapes with traditional evergreens to replacing them with natives and heirloom plants.
"For example, instead of boxwoods, use inkberry hollies. I like having a little bit of everything in my yard, but especially incorporating natives to help feed animals and be host plants for butterflies."
During the half-day workshop, Drucker says, his goal is to offer workable landscape solutions to meet gardeners' various needs. He will cover a dozen topics, from why gardeners should use native plants to the six S's of design to new urban/modern style using native plants. He'll also include native grass-oriented landscapes, plants that add texture, drought-tolerant landscapes and informal, semiformal and formal landscape designs using indigenous plants.
Staff from Trailhead Nursery will be at the workshop, selling native plants. Participants who wish to visit the company's website in advance may email a list of native plants they want to purchase and those choices will be brought to the workshop for their convenience.
A potluck lunch will be provided workshop participants, followed by an optional nature walk. Drucker says that short walk will take visitors through a Signal Mountain garden he landscaped using native plants. Drucker adds that a minimum of 10 people must participate for the walk to be held.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.