About Us
County Impact Statements - Faulkner County
Gardening while Conserving our Natural ResourcesWater... one
of our most precious natural and limited resources continues to be
an issue in the eyes of the public. So, you ask, what can I do to
help; well the Extension Service of Faulkner County and the Master
Gardeners have an answer.
In 2000, approximately 20% of the water treated at the Conway Corporation
facility was from irrigation. The goal of the garden as well as the Extension
Service and the Master Gardeners is to make the public aware our limited
resources and provide education on how you can conserve.
If you are a gardener you probably realize that a majority of the time the
average gardener is in the garden he or she is watering. Wouldn’t it be great to
spend that time enjoying the fruits of your labor? Now, through the Water
Conservation Demonstration Garden you can learn how to spend more time enjoying
yourself while at the same time conserving water.
The Water Conservation Garden was established in the spring of 2001 and an
open garden held in September. Over 50 garden plants have been identified and
arbors were built to support the plantings. Benches were also built for the
public to rest and enjoy the plantings. A mailbox is utilized to hold
educational handouts about the garden.
" I believe that amending the soil and proper plant selection are both keys
to conserving water in our area. By amending the clay type soils we have in our
area you allow the water to percolate, which allows the water to get to the
roots for uptake. This in turn reduces runoff and assists in the process of
conservation." - Richie Arnold, CEO of Conway Corporation
The garden is open to the public and is located on the Conway Corporation
Service Center Grounds and is just another way that the University of Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service and the Master Gardeners of Faulkner County found
to provide the public with the information you have and continue to request.
This project began with soil preparation and progressed until it was all
blossoms and blooms. Still in the beginning stages the garden is an educational
tool to be utilized by the public as a source for information on low maintenance
plants and gardening information provided in the mailbox at the entrance to the
garden.
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Project designed to assist Master Gardener volunteers educate
the growing number of citizens interested in nature and their
natural resources.
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Impacts
- Twenty Master Gardeners have given over 300 hours to get this garden
underway doing research, amending the soil and planting the plants.
- 16 gardeners utilized the site to learn the importance of soil amending
and plant selection and how it affects watering.
- In 2001, 88 active Faulkner County Master Gardeners donated over 3,300
hours of service on 20 beautification and education community projects and
earned over 2,100 education hours for further horticulture knowledge used to
educate the public.
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