This past Saturday was spent touring myself around on Marin’s Eco-Friendly Garden Tour which was sponsored by our two water districts and the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.  Henry prefaced my leaving with “That sounds boring.”  So not boring at all! Certainly the most entertaining, inspiring and educational ten dollars I have spent recently.

Two of my favorite stops happened to be in the town of Fairfax, and this, the Sustainability Center was one of them. They are located downtown in an older home with a small backyard.  When I think about the concept of permaculture my thoughts revolve around larger scale projects like Occidental’s Art and Ecology Center.  This locale was a great reminder that yes most of us don’t live on the fantasy farm quite yet and that the principals of permaculture can be applied to the suburban backyard.

The center has a 1000 tank which collects rainwater via diverted roof gutters.  The collected water feeds their pond and is used for irrigation via a drip system.  They have collected donations of non treated plywood scraps and have a non yuppie worm bin kit available, built for $45.00.  These are available as long as the plywood odds and ends hold out.  I confess to purchasing one of these and am now dreaming about how I want to decorate it.  While I currently have various forms of composting going on in my garden this is my first worm bin!  That would be a retail and garden high you hear. That and the fantasy of gallons of worm tea.

The center is on Facebook for you addicts out there and they also have a website. http://www.sustainablefairfax.org