University News

A photo of the garden of Randy Powell and Jeri Scott in Macomb from the 2009 Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens Tour Benefit for WIU's Horn Field Campus (HFC). The 2011 event is slated for Saturday, July 23, and HFC Program Coordinator Mindy Pheiffer is looking for gardeners who would like to show their gardens in this year's tour.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

3rd Annual Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens Tour July 23; Call for Host Sites

April 29, 2011

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – Landscapers and gardeners looking to showcase their sustainable home projects in Macomb are invited to participate in the Third Annual Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens Tour. The event, which is a fundraiser for Western Illinois University's Horn Field Campus, is slated for 9 a.m.–noon on Saturday, July 23 in Macomb. Mindy Pheiffer, program coordinator at WIU's Horn Field Campus (HFC), is looking for gardeners in Macomb who are interested in including their sustainable landscapes and/or gardens in this year's tour.

The tour provides a sustainable education experience for the community, as well as helps to raise funds to continue environmental education and leadership programs for youth at Horn Field Campus, Pheiffer noted.

"Sustainable landscaping helps prevent soil and water erosion, is drought and cold resistant and is naturally resistant to many pests and diseases, which can decrease maintenance, labor and expenses," she explained. "And for wildlife enthusiasts, native landscaping also provides nesting sites and attracts bees, butterflies and birds."

The Annual Landscapes and Gardens Tour features sustainable garden and landscaped outdoor spaces in various stages of development. For those who do not have a yard in which to plant a garden, however, Pheiffer noted the popularity of container gardening and community gardening is on the rise.

"So even if you don't have a garden you'd like to show in our annual tour, you can still enjoy the benefits of gardening using containers, such as children's wading pools, or you can rent garden space via the Macomb Community Garden program. You can get your own plot by contacting Rob Porter at macombgardens@gmail.com," Pheiffer explained.

Last year, Porter (an assistant professor in Western's recreation, park and tourism administration, or RPTA, department), Pheiffer, as well as other WIU faculty and staff, were integral in the establishment of community gardens at a few McDonough County Housing Authority locations. Porter also helps direct the Macomb Community Garden, which, this year, will be located on East Wheeler Street.

To get your yard included in the Third Annual Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens Tour, contact Pheiffer by Friday, May 20, at (309) 833-5798 or MJ-Pheiffer@wiu.edu or HF-Campus@wiu.edu. Learn more about the Macomb Community Garden initiative by contacting Porter at macombgardens@gmail.com, R-Porter@wiu.edu or (309) 298-1967.

Information about Horn Field Campus and its programs for WIU, Macomb and surrounding communities is available at www.wiu.edu/hfc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing