Come get inspired at this two-household family compound! Four years ago, Melanie & Nick bought the house next door for her parents. Since then, they have been working to transform the formerly all-gravel backyard into a pollinator- and people-friendly space with shade, food, flowers, and habitat for birds & humans. They've planted over thirty trees on the two properties and removed or covered over 3000 square feet of asphalt and over 2500 square feet of gravel, replacing both with water-permeable, organic mulch, which has significantly reduced the temperature in their yards.
Melanie & Nick had a bolt-on pool cover installed asap after buying the house next door, which has dramatically reduced the pool's water and chemical use, while simultaneously serving as an additional rainwater catchment area. The pool cover reduced their water use by about 10,000 gallons a year while also adding 2,500 gallons in rainwater harvested from on top of it and 2,000 gallons of low-chemical pool backwash water suitable for plants.
Location sent after registration (West Side, biking distance from the end of the bus line)
Event Staff
Melanie Cooley
Education Specialist