The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its partners are hosting a workshop on corporate site design and landscape management, part of the Green Design $aves Green series,  on October 30 at Lutron electronics, 7200 Suter Road, Coopersburg, Lehigh County, starting at 9:00.

Designing and maintaining a corporate campus or industrial site can be an expensive undertaking.  Mowing, fertilizing and keeping turfgrass free from insect pests and weeds can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year, and dealing with storm water management on-site can be a real headache. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  There are sustainable landscape design and maintenance practices that can reduce costs, support a healthier, more productive workforce and protect water quality.

Within the Lehigh Valley there are some businesses already benefiting from this new landscape management idea, and they are willing to share their successes and lessons learned with you. 

During the workshop you will hear firsthand from several local companies that are managing stormwater using vegetated swales and rain gardens, improving air quality and lowering energy bills with an enhanced tree canopy, lowering mowing costs by planting meadows, and saving money in the process. 

Then you’ll get to tour the facility and grounds at Lutron to see what they are doing along these lines.  Plus you’ll have the chance to network with other site managers, landscape professionals and other businesses to share your thoughts and best management practices.

The cost of the workshop is $50, which includes lunch and handouts.  Continuing education credits through the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association and American Society of Landscape Architects (PA and DE chapter) are being pursued.

Click Here to download the workshop announcement. Contact Jessica at 717-214-7511 for more information.  For more information on this and other workshops, visit the DCNR Sustainable Lands Events webpage.

(Reprinted from DCNR’s August 21 Resource newsletter.)

8/26/2013