PRESS RELEASE
Ocean Beach and Point Loma residents have long endured problems of stormwater flooding, an eroding coastline, and polluted beaches from rainwater runoff, but now they can learn firsthand how to mitigate those problems by attending Surfrider Foundation’s Garden Party event at the Ocean Beach Hotel on Thursday, June 28th from 5-8pm.
“The event will be a beautiful evening of music, wine, and appetizers, but more importantly we will be introducing local homeowners to our Ocean Friendly Gardens Program” said Susan Krzywicki, Chair of the Ocean Friendly Gardens program.
“Everyone always wants to know why Surfrider is involved in gardening. Well, in nature, everything is connected. An Ocean Friendly Garden can help stop erosion, stop polluted runoff, save water (thereby lowering water bills,) create native habitat for birds and butterflies, and is part of a comprehensive landscaping solution needed for the Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs area,” she said.
The 3-year old program from Surfrider is having a lot of success in coastal communities which see it as an answer to cleaner beaches, better coastal preservation, and lower water and energy use. The event will offer an opportunity for residents to get answers on how to make an impact on their community.
“Most people don’t understand that they can help control erosion in their neighborhood,” said Shauna McKellar, a Surfrider volunteer, and member of the Ocean Friendly Gardens committee. “We want people to make the connection between their coastal property and the bottom of the hill when it rains. Everyone can play a part in preserving the coast by making their landscape ocean-friendly, and because Sunset Cliffs was recently named one of the top five “disappearing places” in the country, we think it’s more important than ever to implement proper water management techniques in support of a healthy coastline!”
“We are NOT talking about xeriscaping,” said Susan. “We are talking about using lush flowering native plants, techniques to bank water in our soil, and sustainable ways to improve our communities during times of drought or flood which is what we deal with in Southern California.”
Flamenco guitar by Dennis Bergstrom of B’Entertained will perform. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. RSVPs are required. Please RSVP to info@surfriderSD.org
For more on the Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Campaign go to http://sandiego.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens, or contact San Diego County Campaign Coordinator Julia Chunn-Heer at (619) 246-8881 or Julia@surfridersd.org.
For more on the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, go to http://surfridersd.org/.
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