Fiesta In the Garden

Fiesta in the Garden On Cinco de Mayo, join Sustainability Matters and Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District for a Fiesta of sustainable gardening. The half day workshop includes three talks on environmentally friendly gardening practices, delectable Farm-to-Table Mexican snacks by Sexi-Mexi Burritos, and a preview of an exciting new sustainability-themed art exhibition curated by Sustainability Matters. Bring the family: a sustainability fiesta for kids will run concurrently outside the Barns, with separate ticketing. 1-4 pm, Sunday, May 5 Schedule: 1 pm Planting for Pollinators Sari Carp, Sustainability Matters Monarchs may be the only pollinators who undertake an epic journey to Mexico every year, but all pollinators need gardeners’ help to thrive. Discover their favorite foods, garden design for all-season snacks, what not to plant, and the importance of native hosts for pollinator larvae. 2 pm ¡Underground Fiesta! Nick Livesay, Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District Have you ever pondered the mystery resource beneath your feet? Get your hands dirty while learning garden soil basics and exploring the carnival of life underground. We’ll discuss practical techniques to improve soil health for más produce! 3 pm Grow a Salsa Garden Paula Brownlee, Sustainability Matters Hot season vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, squash, and beans enjoy similar conditions. Maximize flavor while minimizing insect damage and disease, and learn how to protect sensitive, bolt-prone salsa herbs from summer heat. Take home creative recipes from Sustainability Matters and Sexi-Mexi Burritos. Children’s Sustainability Fiesta (ages 5-12) Kids will rotate in age groups through sustainability focused games and activity stations including: Crawly composters Learn how worms recycle food waste into compost, while handling the worms and observing their every move! DIY Paper Planters Make and take your own newspaper pot planted with a seed. Trash Sort Learn what can be composted, what can be recycled, and what should go to the landfill. Sun Paper Bookmarks Make your own bookmark! Using natural objects like leaves or flowers to create designs on photosensitive paper, kids will be able to design their own bookmark to take home. Insect Investigation Not all bugs are bad! Investigate insects, distinguishing those who are very helpful in the garden from those who can be hurtful. Monarch Tag Ever wonder how a caterpillar becomes a beautiful monarch? Learn about the Monarch Butterfly stages? Learn through this fun remix of tag!