MEDIA ADVISORY Contacts: Krystal Kyer, Conservation Coordinator, Tahoma Audubon Society, ph: 253- 232-9978 or email: kkyer@tahomaaudubon.org Chris Gilliand, Green Tacoma Project Manager, Cascade Land Conservancy, ph: 253-247-5673 or email: chrisg@cascadeland.org Dr. Chalker-Scott at lindacs@wsu.edu and find more information on her web page http://www.theinformedgardener.com. Earth Day: Green Tacoma Partnership Quarterly Meeting with Guest Speaker Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott on "How Sustainable Landscaping Practices Can Ensure a Successful Restoration Project" Date: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: University of Puget Sound - Wheelock Student Center Rotunda Tacoma, WA – The Green Tacoma Partnership welcomes all to celebrate Earth Day at its Quarterly Meeting. Enjoy a delicious potluck, updates on Tacoma's Urban Forestry Code and Open Space/Habitat Strategic Action Program and a special presentation by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott. Anyone interested in learning how to improve the health of their yard or a local park should attend. Whether you are working on a restoration site or in your home garden, sustainable landscaping practices can help you improve the health of the land. Dr. Chalker-Scott will discuss how to select trees and shrubs, prepare restoration soils, properly install plant materials, and maintain your site with minimal work. She will also present a case study of an enhanced wetland buffer restoration project in Pierce County. All practices demonstrated and recommendations made in this seminar are based on current, appropriate plant and soil sciences relevant to permanent landscapes. There will also be time for a question and answer session at the end. Dr. Chalker-Scott has a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Oregon State University and is an ISA certified arborist. She is WSU’s Extension Urban Horticulturist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. In her position, she develops educational materials for home gardeners, certified arborists, restoration ecologists, pesticide applicators, and the nursery and landscape industry. She wrote The Informed Gardener, an examination of some common horticultural myths and also co-wrote Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens. The Green Tacoma Partnership is a public-private partnership between the City of Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma, Tahoma Audubon Society, Cascade Land Conservancy, citizens, educational organizations, neighborhood groups, non-profits, faith-based organizations and businesses all working together to sustain a viable healthy network of natural spaces throughout Tacoma. You can find more information about GTP and this event at www.greentacoma.org. The Sound Policy Institute (http://www.ups.edu/soundpolicy.xml) at the University of Puget Sound is a proud sponsor of this event. Funding for this event is made possible by a 2008 City of Tacoma Make a Splash! grant to the Green Tacoma Partnership. For directions to the site and agenda visit: http://www.cascadeland.org/stewardship/green-cities/green-tacoma-partnership-1/agenda-directions ### -- Krystal Kyer Conservation Coordinator Tahoma Audubon Society 2917 Morrison Road W., University Place, WA 98466 www.tahomaaudubon.org c: 253-232-9978