Washington Youth Garden spring volunteer orientation

The Washington Youth Garden will be having their annual spring volunteer orientation on Saturday, April 9th from 9am to 12pm. Volunteers are asked to attend an  orientation before they volunteer. If you can't make it on the 9th, they will be having more orientations throughout the season on the first Saturday of the month.

After you attend the orientation, they have volunteer opportunities every Tuesday and Saturday from 9am to 12pm.

Information about what the WYG does and directions to their site at the Arboretum can be found on their website:

http://www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/

For more information, contact:

Kacie Warner
Education Coordinator
Washington Youth Garden
Friends of the National Arboretum
office: 202-245-2709
www.washingtonyouthgarden.org
http://washingtonyouthgarden.blogspot.com

Fix a Leak Week - Mar. 14th - 20th

You probably didn't even realize that today is the first day of our country's 3rd annual Fix a Leak Week!

Okay. I admit it. I missed the first two Fix a Leak Weeks entirely, but now that I am trying to be more eco-conscious, it seems like a great idea to pass along.

During the week of March 14th – March 20th, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Watersense Program encourages all citizens to check their home plumbing for leaks and get them repaired.

Every Drop Counts 

Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks?  

Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. That's why WaterSense reminds Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems each year during Fix a Leak Week.

 

What this means for gardeners:

The following information is provided on the EPA website for outdoor water leak problems and solutions

Outdoors:

• If you have an in-ground irrigation system, check it each spring before use to make sure it wasn't damaged by frost or freezing.
• An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
• To ensure that your in-ground irrigation system is not leaking water, consult with a WaterSense irrigation partner who has passed a certification program focused on water efficiency; look for a WaterSense irrigation partner.
• Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
•  Or hire a WaterSense irrigation partner to inspect things  for you. These professionals have passed a certification program focused on water efficiency. They will not only help you detect and correct leaks in the system, but also maximize its efficiency.